Jan Leighton (December 27, 1921 - November 16, 2009) was an American
actor and model who appeared in more than 3,000 roles. He specialized
in portraying historic characters, but also worked as a voice actor
and hand model. He was credited by the Guinness Book of World Records
with having played more roles than any other actor.Leighton was born
in The Bronx, New York as Milton Lichtman in 1921. He would later
change his professional name to Jan Leighton in 1949 to de-emphasize
his Jewish heritage in order to get more work. His father owned a
fleet of taxis, and his mother was a housewife. He attended Aviation
High School, but left school at age 17 to work as a mechanic for an
aeronautics firm. He joined the U.S. military during World War II,
working as a physical training instructor. He briefly attended the
University of Mexico in Mexico City after the war, but moved to El
Paso, Texas after six months. While living in Texas, he received
government funding to attend an acting workshop in New York.Leighton
began his acting career appearing in live television dramas and in
theater. He was described as "a large, broad-shouldered man with an
amiable face." He won a small role in the Broadway production, Home Is
Tomorrow and roles in the television series, Robert Montgomery
Presents, Kraft Television Theater, Studio One and Man Against Crime.
In 1960, he appeared on Broadway with Lucille Ball in Wildcat.Leighton
later developed a career as an impersonator of historic characters in
numerous mediaâ€"television and print advertisements, industrial and
training films, radio, personal appearances and at least one feature
film. To prepare for a role, Leighton read biographies on the subject
and studied any available reproductions of the subject's appearance
and voice.
actor and model who appeared in more than 3,000 roles. He specialized
in portraying historic characters, but also worked as a voice actor
and hand model. He was credited by the Guinness Book of World Records
with having played more roles than any other actor.Leighton was born
in The Bronx, New York as Milton Lichtman in 1921. He would later
change his professional name to Jan Leighton in 1949 to de-emphasize
his Jewish heritage in order to get more work. His father owned a
fleet of taxis, and his mother was a housewife. He attended Aviation
High School, but left school at age 17 to work as a mechanic for an
aeronautics firm. He joined the U.S. military during World War II,
working as a physical training instructor. He briefly attended the
University of Mexico in Mexico City after the war, but moved to El
Paso, Texas after six months. While living in Texas, he received
government funding to attend an acting workshop in New York.Leighton
began his acting career appearing in live television dramas and in
theater. He was described as "a large, broad-shouldered man with an
amiable face." He won a small role in the Broadway production, Home Is
Tomorrow and roles in the television series, Robert Montgomery
Presents, Kraft Television Theater, Studio One and Man Against Crime.
In 1960, he appeared on Broadway with Lucille Ball in Wildcat.Leighton
later developed a career as an impersonator of historic characters in
numerous mediaâ€"television and print advertisements, industrial and
training films, radio, personal appearances and at least one feature
film. To prepare for a role, Leighton read biographies on the subject
and studied any available reproductions of the subject's appearance
and voice.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.