Jennifer Jason Leigh Biography

Fast Facts

• Dropped out of high school; later attended Teenage Drama Workshop of the California State University in Northridge, CA
• Born Jennifer Leigh Morrow, changed her name to prove she could succeed as an actress independent of her prominent family name; she took her new middle name from family friend Jason Robards
• Lost her father, actor Vic Morrow, when a helicopter spun out of control on the set of 1983's Twilight Zone--The Movie, killing him and two child actors
• Won Best Actress at the Montreal Film Festival and from the New York Film Critics for her performance in 1995's Georgia, a film penned by her mother, screenwriter Barbara Turner
• Was featured in Faith No More's 1997 music video "Last Cup of Sorrow
• " Originally cast in a pivotal role in Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut (1999); was replaced by actress Marie Richardson because of scheduling conflicts with reshoots
• Appeared in the 2011 Broadway production of The House of Blue Leaves, opposite Edie Falco and Ben Stiller
• Maintains close friendships with Fast Times at Ridgemont High costar Phoebe Cates and The Anniversary Party costar Alan Cumming