Was discovered by Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward while acting in a play, directed by Newman, at Kenyon College, Ohio. They encouraged her to head to New York City after graduation in order to study at the Neighborhood Playhouse.

In an article praising the most exceptional women of the year ("Those we loved in 2005," The Guardian, 16 December 2005), Laura Barton gave "a big thank you" to Allison Janney, "aka CJ from "The West Wing" (1999) -- her mere existence is reason enough to give thanks".

Dating actor Richard Jenik since February 2003. Announced live on WCBM Radio's "Tom Moore Show" that she has accepted his proposal and is now engaged to be married around Christmas, 2004. Her birthday precedes Jenik's by two days.

Formerly lived with Dennis Gagomiros, a computer programmer, in a Manhattan loft. They first met at the New York City Playhouse in 1982. [2001]

Her dad is a jazz musician, and she has two brothers who are also both musicians. She had dreams of becoming an Olympic skater before a freak accident derailed that -- she ran blindly through a glass door and was severely injured. She was educated at Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio; Neighborhood Playhouse, New York and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, London, England, UK.

Lives across the street from her "The West Wing" (1999) co-star Janel Moloney.

Nominated for Broadway's 1998 Tony Award as Best Actress (Play) for a revival of Arthur Miller's "A View From the Bridge".

Mother was an actor.

Her great-uncle, Stuart Janney, owned many racehorses, including Ruffian.

While struggling to make it as an actress, she told people who inquired about what she did for a living that she was a photographer for "National Geographic."

In the 1998 movie The Object of My Affection (1998), she played Alan Alda's wife. In the early 1990s, she attended Kenyon College with Alda's daughter, Elizabeth Alda. Alda co-starred on "The West Wing" (1999) from 2005-2006 with Janney, though they have not appeared together on camera.

She won an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play for "Present Laughter" in 1997. She shared the award with Deborah Findlay and Celia Weston.

Her character on "The West Wing", Cj Cregg, also came from Dayton, Ohio.

Graduated from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio.

Most admires Susan B. Anthony.