Ethel MermanEthel Merman (January 16, 1908 - February 15, 1984) was a star of stage and film musicals, well known for her strident voice and comic acting. She was born Ethel Agnes Zimmermann, in Astoria, Queens, New York, of a German Lutheran father and Scottish Presbyterian mother, although many people assumed she was Jewish. Merman was married and divorced four times.
She was known for her powerful alto voice, exact enunciation, and accurate pitch. Because stage singers performed without microphones when she began singing professionally, she had great advantages in show business. She began singing while working as a secretary. She eventually became a full time vaudeville performer, and played the pinnacle of vaudeville, the Palace Theater in New York City. She had already been engaged for Girl Crazy, a musical with songs by George and Ira Gershwin. Her rendition of "I Got Rhythm" in the show was popular, and by the late 1930s she had become the first lady of the Broadway musical stage. Many consider her the leading Broadway musical performer of the twentieth century with her signature song being There's No Business Like Show Business. Theater performances
Film performances
Television performances
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She eventually became a full time vaudeville performer, and played the pinnacle of vaudeville, the Palace Theater in New York City. A year later, she played Henry Fonda's beleaguered wife in Hitchcock's The Wrong Man (1957). She began singing while working as a secretary. Then John Ford cast her as Jeffrey Hunter's spirited love interest in The Searchers (1956), and her career took a dramatic turn upward. She was known for her powerful alto voice, exact enunciation, and accurate pitch. Because stage singers performed without microphones when she began singing professionally, she had great advantages in show business. She posed for cheesecake photos, and married her leading man from Tarzan's Hidden Jungle (1955), Gordon Scott (they later split). Merman was married and divorced four times. She began her career as a beauty queen and, as a result, earned a minor part in Two Tickets to Broadway (1951). She was born Ethel Agnes Zimmermann, in Astoria, Queens, New York, of a German Lutheran father and Scottish Presbyterian mother, although many people assumed she was Jewish. August 23, 1929) is a American actress. Ethel Merman (January 16, 1908 - February 15, 1984) was a star of stage and film musicals, well known for her strident voice and comic acting. Vera Miles (b. 1985 Judy Garland: The Concert Years (archival footage from The Judy Garland Show). 1978 A Special Sesame Street Christmas. 1977 The Love Boat (5 episodes). 1976 The Muppet Show. 1975 Match Game PM. 1972 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin. 1970 Evening at Pops. 1967 The Carol Burnett Show. 1967 That Girl. 1967 Annie Get Your Gun. 1966 Batman (as recurring character "Lola Lasagne"). 1965 An Evening with Ethel Merman. 1963 The Judy Garland Show (2 appearances). 1962 The Lucille Ball Show (2 appearances). 1961 Merman on Broadway. 1958 Panama Hattie. 1954 Anything Goes. 1954 There's No Business Like Show Business. 1953 The Ford 50th Anniversary Show. 1981 Something a Little Less Serious. 1980 Airplane!. 1979 Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July. 1978 A Salute to American Imagination. 1976 Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood. 1971 Journey Back to Oz (voice). 1968 Around the World of Mike Todd. 1967 Tarzan and the Mountains of the Moon. 1965 The Art of Love. 1963 It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. 1954 There's No Business Like Show Business. 1953 Call Me Madam. 1943 Stage Door Canteen. 1938 Straight, Place and Show. 1938 Alexander's Ragtime Band. 1938 Happy Landing. 1936 Anything Goes. 1936 Strike Me Pink. 1936 The Big Broadcast of 1936. Kid Millions. 1934. 1934 We're Not Dressing. 1933 Be Like Me. 1933 Song Shopping. 1932 Ireno. 1932 Old Man Blues. 1932 Time on My Hands. 1932 You Try Somebody Else. 1932 Let Me Call You Sweetheart. 1931 Roaming. 1931 The Devil Sea. 1930 The Cave Club. 1930 Follow the Leader. 1977 Together on Broadway (Mary Martin & Ethel Merman). 1975 A Gala Tribute to Joshua Logan. 1966 Annie Get Your Gun. 1966 Hello, Dolly! (replacement). 1959 Gypsy. 1956 Happy Hunting. 1950 Call Me Madam. 1946 Annie Get Your Gun. 1944 Sadie Thompson (replaced in previews). 1943 Something for the Boys. 1940 Panama Hattie. 1939 Du Barry Was a Lady. 1939 Stars In Your Eyes. 1936 Red, Hot and Blue. 1934 Anything Goes. 1932 Take a Chance. 1931 George White's Scandals. 1930 Girl Crazy. Merman filed for divorced after 32 days.). Ernest Borgnine (Actor, in 1964. Robert Six (Airline executive, 1953-1960). Divorced in 1952.). The couple had two children. Robert Levitt (Newspaper executive. Sam Neuman (a marriage of convenience). Bill Smith (Theatrical agent.). |