Date of Death: November 23, 2006 (87)
Birth Place: Brooklyn, NY, USA
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Betty Comden, born in Brooklyn in 1917, was an American lyricist, screenwriter, and actress. She is best known for her work with Adolph Green, with whom she collaborated on numerous musicals and films.
Comden and Green met in 1938 while both were studying at New York University, and began writing together shortly thereafter. Their first Broadway credit was for On the Town, a musical about three sailors on a 24-hour leave in New York City. The show premiered in 1944 and was a huge success, cementing Comden and Green's place in the world of musical theater.
Comden and Green went on to write the books and lyrics for several other successful Broadway shows, including Wonderful Town (1953), Bells Are Ringing (1956), and On the Twentieth Century (1978). They also wrote the screenplay for the classic film Singin' in the Rain (1952), which starred Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O'Connor.
In addition to her work in the theater and film industries, Comden also had a successful career as an actress. She appeared in several Broadway shows, including On the Town and A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green. She also had a recurring role on the television series The Cosby Show in the 1980s.
Comden and Green were known for their witty and clever lyrics, as well as their ability to craft memorable characters and stories. Their work was often characterized by its lightheartedness and humor, but also had a depth and complexity that set it apart from other musicals of the time.
Comden continued to work in the theater and film industries until her death in 2006 at the age of 89. Her most recent work included the 2001 Broadway revival of Follies, for which she wrote additional lyrics, and the 2003 film adaptation of the musical The Last 5 Years.
Throughout her career, Comden received numerous accolades for her work, including four Tony Awards, two Academy Awards, and a Kennedy Center Honor. She was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1980.
Comden's legacy as a lyricist and writer continues to influence the world of musical theater today. Her work with Adolph Green helped to shape the genre and set a standard for the kind of clever, witty, and heartfelt storytelling that audiences have come to expect from Broadway shows.
[1947]Good News writer
[1949]The Barkleys of Broadway writer
[1952]Singin' in the Rain writer
[1953]The Band Wagon writer
[1955]It's Always Fair Weather songs
[1958]Auntie Mame writer
[1960]Bells Are Ringing lyricist, lyricist
[1964]What a Way to Go! writer
[1989]Slaves of New York Mrs. Wheeler
Betty Comden, The Will Rogers Follies
Betty Comden, The Will Rogers Follies
Betty Comden Wonderful Town!
Betty Comden , Singin' in the Rain
Betty Comden, A Doll's Life
Betty Comden , A Doll's Life
Betty ComdenOn The 2th Century
Betty Comden, On the Twentieth Century
Betty Comden , On the Twentieth Century
Betty Comden, Applause
Betty Comden, Hallelujah, Baby!
Betty Comden, Wonderful Town
Betty Comden, Wonderful Town
Betty Comden, On the Town
Betty Comden has appeared on Broadway in 4 shows.
Betty Comden has appeared on London's West End in 1 shows.
Betty Comden's first West End show was On the Town which opened in 1992
Betty Comden has been nominated for several awards throughout her career. Some of her notable nominations include Best Musical (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for "The Will Rogers Follies," Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for "The Will Rogers Follies" and "A Doll's Life," Musical of the Year (Olivier Awards) for "Wonderful Town!," Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for "Singin' in the Rain," "A Doll's Life," and "On The 20th Century," Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for "On the Twentieth Century" and "Hallelujah, Baby!," Best Musical (Tony Awards) for "Applause," "Wonderful Town," and "On the Town," and Performance (Theatre World Awards) for "On the Town."
Betty Comden has won several awards throughout her career. Some of her notable awards include: - Best Musical (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for "The Will Rogers Follies" - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for "The Will Rogers Follies" - Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for "On the Twentieth Century" - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for "On the Twentieth Century" - Best Musical (Tony Awards) for "Applause" - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for "Hallelujah, Baby!" - Best Musical (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for "Wonderful Town" - Best Musical (Tony Awards) for "Wonderful Town" - Performance (Theatre World Awards) for "On the Town".
Betty Comden has written 31 shows including The Revuers (Sketches/Composer/Lyricist), On the Town (Book and Lyrics), Billion Dollar Baby (Bookwriter), Bonanza Bound (Bookwriter/Lyricist), Two on the Aisle (Sketches/Lyricist), Wonderful Town (Lyricist), Peter Pan (Lyricist), Bells Are Ringing (Bookwriter), Say, Darling (Lyricist), A Party with Betty Comden & Adolph Green (Bookwriter/Lyricist), Do Re Mi (Lyricist), Subways Are for Sleeping (Bookwriter/Lyricist), Fade Out - Fade In (Bookwriter/Lyricist), Hallelujah, Baby! (Lyricist), Applause (Bookwriter), Lorelei (Lyricist), Straws in the Wind (Lyricist), By Bernstein (Bookwriter), On the Twentieth Century (Bookwriter), The Madwoman of Central Park West (Lyricist), A Doll's Life (Bookwriter), Singin' in the Rain (Bookwriter), Diamonds (Lyricist), On the 20th Century (Bookwriter), Barbara Cook: A Concert for the Theatre (Lyricist), Jerome Robbins' Broadway (Bookwriter), The Will Rogers Follies (Lyricist), Elaine Stritch At Liberty (Lyricist), Barbara Cook's Broadway! (Lyricist), Stairway to Paradise (Sketches/Composer/Lyricist), The Skin of Our Teeth (Bookwriter/Lyricist).
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