Janet Burston
- March 3, 1998
- 63 years
- cancer
About Janet Burston
Janet Burston, 63, American child actress, cancer.
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Full Biography
|Janet Elizabeth Burston (January 11, 1935 – March 3, 1998) was an American child actress who was the final leading lady in the Our Gang short subjects series, replacing Darla Hood in 1942.
Career
Burston was discovered and trained by Maurie Rubens at the Reubens Workshop .
She began her film career in the Our Gang film All About Hash as a background child character in 1940 at age five. Burston stayed as a background character for two years before replacing Darla Hood as leading lady in 1941.
In March 1942, she was signed to a seven year contract with MGM, and debuted in "Doing Our Bit"
She stayed with the gang until the end of the series in 1944. She appeared in a few outside films, including Blondie Goes Latin (1941) and Ginger (1946).
Burston left show business in 1964. After her retirement from acting, she kept a low profile and attended few Our Gang reunions.[citation needed]
Personal life
Janet Burston was the daughter of Lester F. Burston of Oakland, California. She married four times. Burston died in her sleep on March 3, 1998. She was 63.[citation needed]
Our Gang filmography
- All About Hash (1940)
- Waldo's Last Stand (1940)
- Baby Blues (1941)
- Melodies Old and New (1942)
- Surprised Parties (1942)
- Doin' Their Bit (1942)
- Rover's Big Chance (1942)
- Benjamin Franklin, Jr. (1943)
- Family Troubles (1943)
- Calling All Kids (1943)
- Election Daze (1943)
- Little Miss Pinkerton (1943)
- Three Smart Guys (1943)
- Radio Bugs (1944)
- Tale of a Dog (1944)
- Dancing Romeo (1944)
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Burston
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Janet Burston's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what year was Janet Burston born?
- A.1940
- B.1932
- C.1938
- D.1935correct
Janet Elizabeth Burston was born on January 11, 1935.
Source: biography header
2.Who discovered and trained Janet Burston for her career?
- A.Lester F. Burston
- B.Maurie Rubenscorrect
- C.Darla Hood
- D.MGM Studios
Janet Burston was discovered and trained by Maurie Rubens at the Reubens Workshop.
Source: career section
3.What was the first Our Gang film Janet Burston appeared in?
- A.Doing Our Bit
- B.Waldo's Last Stand
- C.All About Hashcorrect
- D.Baby Blues
Janet Burston began her film career in the Our Gang film All About Hash in 1940.
Source: career section
4.Janet Burston replaced which actress as the leading lady in Our Gang?
- A.Little Miss Pinkerton
- B.Blondie
- C.Ginger Rogers
- D.Darla Hoodcorrect
Janet Burston served as the final leading lady in the Our Gang series, replacing Darla Hood in 1942.
Source: biography header
5.In what year did Janet Burston retire from show business?
- A.1944
- B.1974
- C.1964correct
- D.1954
Janet Burston left the show business industry in 1964.
Source: career section
6.How many times was Janet Burston married during her life?
- A.One
- B.Three
- C.Fourcorrect
- D.Two
Janet Burston was married four times throughout her life.
Source: personal life section
7.What was the name of Janet Burston's father?
- A.Waldo Burston
- B.Benjamin Burston
- C.Maurie Burston
- D.Lester F. Burstoncorrect
Janet Burston was the daughter of Lester F. Burston of Oakland, California.
Source: personal life section
8.In what year did Janet Burston die?
- A.1994
- B.1998correct
- C.1990
- D.2002
Janet Burston passed away on March 3, 1998.
Source: biography header
9.At what age did Janet Burston start her film career in 1940?
- A.Fivecorrect
- B.Four
- C.Seven
- D.Six
Janet Burston began her film career in 1940 at the age of five.
Source: career section
10.What was one of the outside films Janet Burston appeared in?
- A.Blondie Goes Latincorrect
- B.Little Miss Pinkerton
- C.Election Daze
- D.Radio Bugs
Outside of the Our Gang series, Janet Burston appeared in films including Blondie Goes Latin and Ginger.
Source: career section
11.How long was the contract Janet Burston signed with MGM in 1942?
- A.Ten years
- B.Five years
- C.Seven yearscorrect
- D.Three years
In March 1942, Janet Burston was signed to a seven year contract with MGM.
Source: career section
12.What was the cause of Janet Burston's death?
- A.Cancercorrect
- B.Heart failure
- C.An accident
- D.Old age
Janet Burston died at the age of 63 due to cancer.
Source: biography header
13.In which city did Janet Burston's father reside?
- A.Oaklandcorrect
- B.San Francisco
- C.Los Angeles
- D.San Diego
Janet Burston was the daughter of Lester F. Burston of Oakland, California.
Source: personal life section
14.When did Janet Burston's tenure with the Our Gang series end?
- A.1941
- B.1942
- C.1943
- D.1944correct
Janet Burston stayed with the gang until the end of the series in 1944.
Source: career section
15.How did Janet Burston die?
- A.At a film studio
- B.In her sleepcorrect
- C.During a reunion
- D.In a hospital
Janet Burston died in her sleep on March 3, 1998.
Source: personal life section
16.Which of these films is listed in the Our Gang filmography for 1944?
- A.Radio Bugscorrect
- B.Baby Blues
- C.Three Smart Guys
- D.Family Troubles
Radio Bugs is listed as an Our Gang film released in 1944.
Source: Our Gang filmography section
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