Lena Horne Headshot

Lena Horne

Birth Place: Brooklyn, NY, USA

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Lena Horne BIO

Horne was an American dancer, actress, Grammy-winning singer, and civil rights activist. Horne's career spanned over 70 years, appearing in film, television, and theater. Horne joined the chorus of the Cotton Club at the age of 16 and became a nightclub performer before moving to Hollywood.

Horne advocated for human rights and took part in the March on Washington in August 1963. Later she returned to her roots as a nightclub performer and continued to work on television, while releasing well-received record albums. She announced her retirement in March 1980, but the next year starred in a one-woman show, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, which ran for more than 300 performances on Broadway. She then toured the country in the show, earning numerous awards and accolades. Horne continued recording and performing sporadically into the 1990s, retreating from the public eye in 2000. Horne died of congestive heart failure on May 9, 2010, at the age of 92.

Lena Horne Photos

Lena Horne STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Unknown, 1981
Performer

[Broadway]
Concert [Broadway], 1974
Performer

[Broadway]
Closed on the road, 1961
Performer

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1957
Savannah

[Broadway]
1939
Performer

[Broadway]
1934
A Quadronne Girl

[Los Angeles]
Los Angeles Revival, 1978
Vera Simpson


Lena Horne Movies

The Duke Is Tops
[ 1938 ] Ethel Andrews
Cabin in the Sky
[ 1943 ] Georgia Brown
Swing Fever
[ 1943 ] Lena Horne
I Dood It
[ 1943 ] Lena Horne
Thousands Cheer
[ 1943 ] Lena Horne
Stormy Weather
[ 1943 ] Selina Rogers
Broadway Rhythm
[ 1944 ] Fernway de la Fer
Two Girls and a Sailor
[ 1944 ] Lena Horne
Ziegfeld Follies
[ 1945 ] Lena HorneLove
Words and Music
[ 1948 ] Lena Horne
Duchess of Idaho
[ 1950 ] Lena Horne
Meet Me in Las Vegas
[ 1956 ] Lena Horne
Death of a Gunfighter
[ 1969 ] Claire Quintana
The Wiz
[ 1978 ] Glinda the Good

Lena Horne Awards and Nominations


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1981 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Lena Horne, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music


winner
New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 1981 - Special Citation

Lena Horne, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music


winner
Tony Awards - 1981 - Special Tony Award

Lena Horne, The Lady and Her Music

Tony Awards - 1958 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Lena Horne, Jamaica

Lena Horne Videos

Lena Horne News


SIX Will Host Second Broadway Sing-Along Performance in October


SIX will host its second Broadway Sing-Along Performance of the show on Sunday, October 6 at 2:00pm, at the Lena Horne Theatre.

Perform Onstage at SIX on Broadway's Upcoming Karaoke Event


The Broadway production of SIX will host a SIX Karaoke event as part of the SIXth of the Month Series, set for the Sixth of June 2024. 

SIX Extends West End Run and Will Host Post-Show Karaoke


SIX has just extended its reign in the West End at the Vaudeville Theatre through to Sunday 4 May 2025. Over 152,000 seats will be going on sale as part of the new booking extension, including tickets for six new access performance dates and two new sing-along performances.

SIX Releases New Block of Tickets through January 5, 2025


A new block of tickets has just been released for Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’s Tony Award®-winning musical SIX. Tickets are now available through January 5, 2025. SIX is currently running on Broadway at the Lena Horne Theatre.

SIX Sets Final Extension for Run at Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre


Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’s SIX is extended again. Learn more about the show and see how to purchase tickets.

Petition Launched to Rename Broadway Theatre for Chita Rivera


A petition has been launched to rename a Broadway theatre for the late stage icon Chita Rivera. Learn more bout the petition!

Review: VENETIAN EVENINGS - A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO THE FAIRMONT'S VENETIAN ROOM At Venetian Room


What did our critic think of VENETIAN EVENINGS - A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO THE FAIRMONT'S VENETIAN ROOM at Venetian Room?

Broadway Stage and Screen- A Spring 2024 Watch Guide


A new Broadway season has arrived at last, full of exciting new shows and revivals of beloved classics. While many of them are original concepts or based on plays, 10 are already films that you can watch from home. If you are seeing any of the below productions in 2024, check out how you can study up beforehand or unpack afterwards!

Lainie Kazan's Four Classic 60s Albums Available for the First Time in Almost 60 Years


Available for the first time in the nearly 60 years since they were introduced, the four 1960s vocal albums from Lainie Kazan are now streaming on all digital platforms.

Meet the Cast of LEMPICKA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway


Performances begin tonight, March 19, at the Longacre Theatre for Lempicka, the new musical celebrating the true story of renowned artist Tamara de Lempicka.  Meet the cast of Lempicka here!

Review: Treat Yourself to MELBA MOORE: FROM BROADWAY WITH LOVE at 54 Below


MELBA MOORE: FROM BROADWAY WITH LOVE had its first performance March 15th at 54 Below. Ms. Moore’s show is a dynamic travelogue through her Broadway career with a few added treasures for good measure. There is one more nearly sold out show tonight at 7 pm; get your tickets while you can.

Interview: Actor from Massachusetts David Benoit talks GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY


When you’re considered to be one of the greatest songwriters ever, with a catalogue stretching back 60 years, it’s not surprising that you would want to put your music in proven hands when it’s time for Broadway.

Photos: SIX Celebrates 1,000 Performances on Broadway


On Saturday, March 9, SIX, the Tony Award-winning new musical by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, celebrated its 1,000th performance on Broadway at the Lena Horne Theatre. See photos from the celebration!

Lucie Jones, Carole Bufford, and More to Play 54 Below Next Week


Next week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club and 2022 Tony Awards Honoree for Excellence in the Theatre, will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. Learn more about the performances and how to get tickets here!

SIX Celebrates 1000 Performances on Broadway This Weekend


SIX will celebrate its 1,000th performance on Broadway on March 9 at the 8pm show. Learn more about SIX and this historic milestone here!

SIX to Launch Lottery for North Charleston Performing Arts Center Engagement


The national tour of SIX will launch a daily digital ticket lottery for its engagement at North Charleston Performing Arts Center. Learn how to purchase tickets.

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day With DRAG OUT LOUD at Purgatory


Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Drag Out Loud, a live-singing drag show at Purgatory stage in Brooklyn. Learn how to purchase tickets.

Amas Musical Theatre To Honor Patricia Birch And Len Cariou At 55th Annual Benefit Gala Concert


Amas Musical Theatre will celebrate its 55th Anniversary at its annual Gala Benefit Concert on Monday, May 13, 2024 at Baruch Performing Arts Center.

Stars to Celebrate HISTORY OF BLACK BROADWAY: WOMEN'S EDITION at 54 Below


Celebrate the history of Black Broadway through the eyes of Black women. Stars from & JULIET, THE LION KING, BACK TO THE FUTURE, and more pay tribute to legends like Lena Horne, Audra McDonald, and Diahann Carroll. Live and streaming.

LaChanze and More Set For Bay Area Cabaret's VENETIAN EVENINGS


Bay Area Cabaret will present Venetian Evenings, a musical celebration paying homage to the world-famous Venetian Room of the Fairmont San Francisco.

Lena Horne FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Lena Horne been in?

Lena Horne has appeared on Broadway in 6 shows.

How many West End shows has Lena Horne been in?

Lena Horne has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has Lena Horne been nominated for?

Lena Horne has been nominated for several awards, including Outstanding Actress in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for "Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music," a Special Citation at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for the same production, a Special Tony Award at the Tony Awards for "The Lady and Her Music," and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards for "Jamaica."

What awards has Lena Horne won?

Lena Horne has won the following awards: Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, Special Citation (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, and Special Tony Award (Tony Awards) for The Lady and Her Music.

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