Date of Death: February 15, 1984 (76)
Birth Place: Astoria, NY, USA
POPULAR
She has been called "the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage". Over her distinguished career in theater she became known for her performances in shows such as Anything Goes, Annie Get Your Gun, Gypsy, and Hello, Dolly!
She is also known for her film roles in Anything Goes (1936), Call Me Madam (1953), There's No Business Like Show Business (1954), and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963). Among many accolades, she received the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in Call Me Madam, a Grammy Award for Gypsy and Drama Desk Award for Hello, Dolly!
Among the many standards introduced by Merman in Broadway musicals are "I Got Rhythm" (from Girl Crazy); "Everything's Coming Up Roses", "Some People", and "Rose's Turn" (from Gypsy—Merman starred as Rose in the original 1959 Broadway production); and the Cole Porter songs "It's De-Lovely" (from Red, Hot and Blue), "Friendship" (from Du Barry Was a Lady), and "I Get a Kick Out of You", "You're the Top", and "Anything Goes" (from Anything Goes). The Irving Berlin song "There's No Business Like Show Business", written for the musical Annie Get Your Gun, became Merman's signature song.
[1930]Follow the Leader Helen King
[1934]We're Not Dressing Edith
[1934]Kid Millions Dot Clark
[1935]The Big Broadcast of 1936 Ethel Merman
[1936]Strike Me Pink Joyce Lennox
[1936]Anything Goes Reno Sweeney
[1938]Alexander's Ragtime Band Jerry Allen
[1938]Happy Landing Flo Kelly
[1938]Straight Place and Show Linda Tyler
[1943]Stage Door Canteen Ethel Merman
[1953]Call Me Madam Sally Adams
[1954]There's No Business Like Show Business Molly Donahue
[1963]It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World Mrs. Marcus
[1965]The Art of Love Madame Coco La Fontaine
[1972]Journey Back to Oz Mombi, The Bad Witch
[1976]Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood Hedda Parsons
[1980]Airplane! Lieutenant Hurwitz
Ethel Merman
Ethel MermanHello, Dolly!
Ethel MermanHello, Dolly!
Ethel Merman, Gypsy
Ethel Merman, Happy Hunting
Ethel Merman, Call Me Madam
Ethel Merman has appeared on Broadway in 19 shows.
Ethel Merman has not appeared in the West End
Ethel Merman has been nominated for several awards throughout her career. She received a Special Tony Award at the Tony Awards. She was also nominated for Outstanding Performance at the Drama Desk Awards for her role in "Hello, Dolly!" Additionally, she received nominations for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards for her roles in "Gypsy," "Happy Hunting," and "Call Me Madam."
Ethel Merman has won several awards throughout her career in Broadway. She received a Special Tony Award at the Tony Awards. She also won the Outstanding Performance award at the Drama Desk Awards for her role in "Hello, Dolly!" Additionally, she won the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards for her performance in "Call Me Madam."
Videos
TICKET CENTRAL
Recommended For You