 She and her one sibling, elder sister Sheryn Rae, attended Southwestern High School in Jamestown, New York, graduating in 1955 (Sheryn) and 1958 (Janis).A one-time Playboy bunny, Hansen appeared on Broadway in "The Riot Act" (March–April 1963), a short-lived comedy, starring Dorothy Stickney, Ruth Donnelly, Sylvia Miles, and another young ingenue, Linda Lavin.Hansen may be best known for her recurring role as "Gloria", the ex-wife of Felix Unger on "The Odd Couple" (1971–75).