Allison Janney at a Glance
- Categories: Celebrities > Actors, Celebrities
- Net Worth: $14 Million
- Birthdate: Nov 19, 1959 (64 years old)
- Birthplace: Boston
- Gender: Female
- Profession: Actor, Voice Actor, Musician
- Nationality: United States of America
- Height: 6 ft (1.83 m)
Allison Janney: Net Worth, Career Highlights, and Personal Life
Allison Janney is a highly acclaimed American actress known for her versatility and captivating performances across film, television, and stage. With a career spanning several decades, she has earned a substantial net worth and numerous accolades, solidifying her status as one of Hollywood’s most respected talents. This article delves into Allison Janney’s impressive net worth, explores the key milestones of her career, and provides insights into her personal life and philanthropic endeavors.
Table of Contents
- What is Allison Janney’s Net Worth and Salary?
- Early Life and Education
- Theatre Career
- Television Career
- Film Career
- Personal Life
- Awards and Nominations
- Real Estate
What is Allison Janney’s Net Worth and Salary?
Allison Janney has amassed an estimated net worth of $14 million through her successful acting career. Her income streams primarily consist of salaries from her television roles, earnings from film projects, and revenues from her theatre performances. Janney has consistently commanded significant salaries throughout her career, reflecting her established reputation and the value she brings to each project.
Janney’s salary for “Mom” significantly contributed to her net worth. Initially, she and her co-star, Anna Faris, earned $125,000 per episode. This was later increased to $200,000, and eventually to at least $350,000 per episode, totaling approximately $7 million per season. Additionally, Janney’s peak salary on “The West Wing” reached $70,000 per episode, contributing to her financial success.
Early Life and Education
Allison Brooks Janney was born on November 19, 1959, in Boston, Massachusetts. She grew up in Dayton, Ohio, in a household that fostered artistic expression. Her mother, Macy, was a former actress, and her father, Jervis, was a jazz musician and real estate developer. Janney’s upbringing cultivated her appreciation for the arts. She has two brothers, Jay and Hal.
Janney’s educational journey includes attendance at the Miami Valley School in Dayton, Ohio, and the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut. Her alma mater, Miami Valley, honored her as a distinguished alumna in 2005, and Hotchkiss named her Alumna of the Year in 2016. Initially, Janney pursued a career in figure skating, but an accident led her to change her career aspirations. She then enrolled at Kenyon College in Ohio, where she majored in theatre.
During her time at Kenyon College, Janney crossed paths with renowned figures such as Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, who encouraged her pursuit of acting. She further honed her skills at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York and later attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, furthering her training with a scholarship.
Theatre Career
Allison Janney’s passion for acting extended beyond the screen. She made her professional stage debut in 1989 in an Off-Broadway production of “Ladies.” She subsequently took on minor roles in “Prescribed Laughter In The Emergency Café” (1991) and “Breaking Up” (1993). Her theatre career gained momentum in 1993 when she was cast in “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress.”
Janney made her Broadway debut in 1996, portraying Liz Essendine in “Present Laughter.” This role earned her critical acclaim, leading to a Theatre World Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, and Clarence Derwent Award. Her exceptional talent continued to shine as she delivered a memorable performance in “A View from the Bridge” in 1998. In 2009, she demonstrated her musical prowess by co-starring in the Broadway production of “9 to 5” alongside Megan Hilty and Stephanie J. Block. After taking a break from the stage, she returned in 2017 in “Six Degrees of Separation,” winning an Outer Critics Circle Award for her performance.
Television Career
Allison Janney’s television career began with guest appearances on “Morton & Hayes” in 1991. She then appeared in popular shows such as “Law & Order” (1992, 1994), “Guiding Light” (1994, 1995), and “New York Undercover” (1995). Janney’s breakthrough role came in 1999 when she was cast as C. J. Cregg in the NBC drama “The West Wing.”
Her portrayal of White House Press Secretary C. J. Cregg earned her widespread recognition and numerous accolades, including multiple Emmy Awards. Janney appeared in 145 episodes of “The West Wing,” which ran for seven seasons. During this period, she also lent her voice to the Spanish animated series “Scruff” (2000-2003). In addition, she guest-starred on “Frasier” (2001, 2002), “Weeds” (2005), and appeared in the TV movie “A Girl Thing” (2000).
Her television work continued with guest roles in “Two and a Half Men” and “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” in 2007. From 2008 to 2013, she voiced Charlene Doofenshmirtz in nine episodes of “Phineas and Ferb.” She appeared in episodes of “Lost” (2010), “In Plain Sight” (2010), “Mr. Sunshine” (2011), “The Big C” (2012), and “Veep” (2013). Furthermore, she was a recurring cast member in nine episodes of “Masters of Sex” (2013-2015). In 2013, Janney took on the role of Bonnie Plunkett in the CBS sitcom “Mom,” which earned her critical acclaim and multiple Emmy nominations. She has also appeared on shows such as “Web Therapy” (2014), “Comedy Bang! Bang!” (2016), “Nobodies” (2017), “The Kominsky Method” (2019), and provided voice work for “The Simpsons” (2016), “F Is for Family” (2017), “American Dad!” (2017), and “DuckTales” (2018–present).
Film Career
Allison Janney’s film career commenced in 1989 with “Who Shot Patakango?.” She subsequently appeared in several films, including “Dead Funny,” “The Cowboy Way,” “Wolf,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” and “Heading Home” in 1994. Her filmography expanded to include “Private Parts” (1997), “Primary Colors” (1998), “The Object of My Affection” (1998), and “American Beauty” (1999).
In 2000, Janney appeared in “Nurse Betty” and “The Hours” in 2002. In 2003, she provided the voice of Peach in “Finding Nemo.” She appeared in “Hairspray” (2007) and played Brenda “Bren” MacGuff in “Juno” (2007). Her film roles continued with “The Help” (2011), “Bad Words” (2013), “The DUFF” (2015), “Spy” (2015), “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” (2016), and “The Girl on the Train” (2016).
In 2017, Janney garnered critical acclaim and several awards for her portrayal of LaVona Golden in “I, Tonya.” The role was specifically written for her by screenwriter Steven Rogers. In 2019, Janney starred in “Troop Zero,” “Ma,” “Bad Education,” “The Addams Family” (voice only), and “Bombshell.” In 2020, she led the comedy “Lazy Susan.”

(Photo by Ian Tuttle/Getty Images)
Personal Life
Allison Janney’s personal relationships have been of interest to fans. She dated computer programmer Dennis Gagomiros from 1994 to 2001 and production manager Philip Joncas from 2012 to 2017. She was engaged to her “Our Very Own” co-star in 2004, after two years of dating, but they ended their relationship in 2006.
Janney has openly discussed the loss of her brother, Hal, who struggled with drug addiction and died by suicide. In her acceptance speech for the Academy Award for “I, Tonya,” she dedicated her win to Hal, highlighting her commitment to raising awareness about substance abuse and its impact on individuals and families.
Janney is an outspoken advocate for various social causes. She supports same-sex marriage, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and addiction recovery. Janney has lent her support to numerous charities, including Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the American Heart Association, and GLAAD. She participated in the Los Angeles Women’s March in 2018 and the “When We All Vote” initiative in 2020, working alongside her “The West Wing” co-stars.
In 2016, Janney spoke at the “Champions of Change” event at the White House. Starting in character as C.J. Cregg, she addressed the opioid epidemic, highlighting the importance of prevention, treatment, and recovery programs. She made a $250,000 donation to Planned Parenthood in 2017 and a $10,000 donation to the Dayton Foodbank in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Awards and Nominations
Allison Janney has received numerous awards and nominations throughout her career, showcasing her exceptional talent. In 2018, she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for “I, Tonya.” The film also brought her wins at the Golden Globes, BAFTA Awards, AACTA International Awards, Awards Circuit Community Awards, Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards, Film Independent Spirit Awards, Hollywood Film Awards, Online Film & Television Association, Screen Actors Guild, and Women Film Critics Circle Awards.
Janney’s recognition extends to other notable achievements. She received an Austin Film Critics Association award for “Juno” in 2007, a CinEuphoria Award for “Away We Go” in 2011, a Hollywood Critics Association award for “Bad Education” in 2020, and a Mar del Plata Film Festival award for “Life During Wartime” in 2009.
Her television work has earned her significant accolades. Janney has received 14 Primetime Emmy nominations, winning for “The West Wing” in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2004, “Masters of Sex” in 2014, and “Mom” in 2014 and 2015. She has also won three Critics Choice Television Awards (one for “Masters of Sex,” two for “Mom”), a Gracie Allen Award (“Mom”), a Gold Derby Award (“Masters of Sex”), a Golden Nymph award from the Monte-Carlo TV Festival (“The West Wing”), six Online Film & Television Association Awards (“The West Wing,” “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” “Veep,” and “Mom”), two Prism Awards (“Mom” and “Our Very Own”), a Satellite Award (“The West Wing”), and four Screen Actors Guild Awards (two individual awards and two ensemble awards for “The West Wing”). In 2016, Janney was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, cementing her place in Hollywood history.
Real Estate
Allison Janney has made several real estate investments over the years. In 2001, she purchased a 1,925 square foot home in the Studio City area of Los Angeles for $799,000. She listed this 3-bedroom house for $1.495 million in 2015 and sold it for $1.585 million. In 2014, she acquired a 4,829 square foot, 5-bedroom home in Studio City for $3.25 million. Janney and a friend bought a Palm Springs home in 2006 for $3.95 million as an investment property; however, they lost it to foreclosure in 2012, and it was eventually sold at auction for $2.2 million.
Career Earnings
Source / Title | Amount |
---|---|
The West Wing | $70 Thousand/episode |
Total Earnings | $70 Thousand |