Ethel Merman
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!
Date of Birth: January 16, 1908
Date of Death: February 15, 1984 (76)
Birth Place: Astoria, NY, USA
Latest News on Ethel Merman:
BIO
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.
Photos
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Adolph Green, Betty Comden, Al Pacino, Jerry Herman, Burgess Meredith, Susan Strassberg, Angela lansbury, Lillian Gish, Carol Channing, Ethel Merman, Princess Grace Kelly and Ellen Burstyn attend the Theatre Hall Of Fame Awards held on March 28, 1982 at t
From: Photo Flashback: Inside the 1982 Theatre Hall Of Fame Awards
Adolph Green, Betty Comden, Al Pacino, Jerry Herman, Burgess Meredith, Susan Strassberg, Angela lansbury, Lillian Gish, Carol Channing, Ethel Merman, Princess Grace Kelly and Ellen Burstyn at the Theatre Hall Of Fame Awards held on March 28, 1982 at the U
From: Photo Flashback: Inside the 1982 Theatre Hall Of Fame Awards
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STAGE CREDITS
See how Ethel Merman connects to other Broadway stars and creatives.
Six Degrees of Broadway Beta
See how many degrees separate Ethel Merman from another Broadway star or creative.
Ethel Merman
Connection
Movies
[ 1930 ] Helen King
[ 1934 ] Dot Clark
[ 1934 ] Edith
[ 1935 ] Ethel Merman
[ 1936 ] Joyce Lennox
[ 1936 ] Reno Sweeney
[ 1938 ] Flo Kelly
[ 1938 ] Jerry Allen
[ 1938 ] Linda Tyler
[ 1943 ] Ethel Merman
[ 1953 ] Sally Adams
[ 1954 ] Molly Donahue
[ 1963 ] Mrs. Marcus
[ 1965 ] Madame Coco La Fontaine
[ 1972 ] Mombi, The Bad Witch
[ 1976 ] Hedda Parsons
[ 1980 ] Lieutenant Hurwitz
TV Shows
Ethel Merman
Roz Smith
Awards and Nominations
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Ethel Merman
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Ethel Merman, Hello, Dolly!
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Ethel Merman, Hello, Dolly!
Ethel Merman, Gypsy
Ethel Merman, Happy Hunting
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Ethel Merman, Call Me Madam
Videos
Video: John Cameron Mitchell Discusses His Take on Mary Todd Lincoln in OH, MARY!
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-03-05 10:38:01
Exclusive: Alysha Umphress Sings 'Love is Only Love' from HELLO, DOLLY!
by Joey Mervis - 2025-06-18 15:39:31
Audra McDonald Will Return to Broadway This Fall in GYPSY; Watch New Trailer
by Nicole Rosky - 2024-05-29 15:30:20
News
by Michael Gioia - Sep 20, 2026
When you go to a show and find out that an understudy is going on for one of the leading roles, you may actually be seeing a future Tony Award winner in the making.
by Elliot Lanes - Sep 15, 2026
Cabarets are always a bit of a crap shoot depending on the performer’s theme and choice of material. Signature Theatre’s current cabaret offering is a prime example of what happens when the performer and the material are in perfect sync. Take the immeasurable talents of Tracy Lynn Olivera, add a red hot trio of musicians and a song list featuring songs from Broadway and the movies’ golden age and you have what is Something Wonderful: Broadway’s Leading Ladies.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 9, 2026
Bells Are Ringing will return in a special concert celebration of the musical’s 70th anniversary, at 54 Below, with tickets available both in-person and via a one-time-only livestream.
by Theresa Bertram - Sep 8, 2026
What did our critic think of FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: GREATEST HITS at Music Box Lounge Hot Springs?
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 1, 2026
Carly Ozard will bring back THE ETHEL MERMAN DISCO PROJECT for a brunch performance at The Green Room 42, joined by musical director Lon Hoyt and a live band.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 12, 2026
RR Auction is offering a 24-letter archive from Irving Berlin to journalist Irving Hoffman and his father, spanning nearly three decades of Broadway and Hollywood correspondence.
by R. Scott Reedy - Aug 4, 2026
Mickey White is about to realize one of his career dreams – playing the title role in “Dear Evan Hansen,” the 2016 Tony Award winner for Best Musical.
by June August - Jul 16, 2026
Whether he's Broadway World's New Prince of Cabaret or Queen (his own term) of the Night, Glenn is sure to entertain.
by Rob Lester - Jul 13, 2026
Old showtunes prove there's life in old-school show tunes when the Pocket Change Combo combines forces with young singers. Terrific Tyler J. Landusky led the combo platter of jazz and Broadway in CURTAINS & CADENZAS at 54 Below.
by Rebecca Kaplan - Jul 3, 2026
The June 19 show at the Manhattan hotspot revitalized and re-imagined Ethel Merman's cult hit 1970s album. See photos from the show snapped by photographer Conor Weiss.
by Rob Lester - Jul 2, 2026
Carly Ozard's ETHEL MERMAN DISCO ALBUM PROJECT was a lively show from a live-wire performer (to say the least)! Ozard's big, belting voice was a perfect match for Merman's material.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 17, 2026
Kat Kramer's Films That Change the World will present a 70mm Ultra-Panavision screening of Stanley Kramer's 1963 classic at Fine Arts Theatre Beverly Hills, with Barrie Chase, Jeff Garlin, and a book signing in attendance.
by Josh Sharpe - Jun 17, 2026
Julien's Auctions has partnered with Turner Classic Movies for The Ann Miller Collection, an online auction dedicated to the stage and screen performer, featuring more than 200 items from the personal estate of the tap dancer and Golden Age musical star.
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 16, 2026
Second Street Players will present GYPSY at their Riverfront Theater in Milford, DE, featuring Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim's score, including 'Everything's Coming Up Roses' and 'Rose's Turn.'
by Rebecca Kaplan - Jun 16, 2026
The singer is re-imagining the classic 1979 album with a full live band and fresh EDM flair on June 19 at NYC's Green Room 42 in Hell's Kitchen. Read a conversation with Carly about the new show.
by Stephen Mosher - Jun 12, 2026
The cabaret stylings of Goldie Dver and the prolific lyrics of Dorothy Fields go hand in hand as only a pair of empowered female artists from different centuries could and should.
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 8, 2026
Actor and content creator Will Parry will bring a new solo cabaret show about musical theatre cast recordings on vinyl to the Toronto Fringe Festival at Jamii Hub, with dramaturg Ryan G. Hinds and a full creative team.
by Stephi Wild - May 27, 2026
The Off Broadway Alliance has announced the winners of the 15th Annual Off-Broadway Alliance Awards, including Mexodus, Cold War Choir Practice, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and more. Checkout the full list here!
by Jim Munson - May 19, 2026
BroadwayWorld chats with lesbian icon Lea DeLaria about her upcoming performances at Feinstein's at the Nikko on May 29th & 30th. DeLaria will perform an evening of classic jazz tunes leavened with comedic tales.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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 performances in "Gypsy," "Happy Hunting," and "Call Me Madam."
Ethel Merman has won several awards throughout her career. 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.
