Born in the Astoria section of Queens, New York City, Ethel Merman surely is the pre-eminent star of 'Broadway' musical comedy. Though
untrained in singing, she could belt out a song like quite no one else, and was sought after by major songwriters such as
Irving Berlin and
Cole Porter. Having debuted in 1930 in "Girl Crazy, " she is yet remembered for her marvelous starring appearances in so many great musicals that were later adapted to the silver screen. Among the film versions, Merman herself starred in
Anything Goes (1936) and
Call Me Madam (1953). That wonderfully boisterous blonde,
Betty Hutton, had the Merman lead in both
Red, Hot and Blue (1949) and
Annie Get Your Gun (1950). Besides Betty Hutton, other Merman screen stand-in roles include
Lucille Ball, (in
Du Barry Was a Lady (1943)),
Ann Sothern, (in
Panama Hattie (1942)),
Vivian Blaine (in
Something for the Boys (1944)) and
Rosalind Russell (in
Gypsy (1962)).
(Russell could never render
Stephen Sondheim and
Jule Styne's "Everything's Coming Up Roses" the way the immortal Merman did, over
and over again.)
Ethel Merman's lifetime facts: her dare of birth, was on Thursday, January 16th, 1908 & her life expired on Wednesday, February 15th, 1984. Thursday, January 16th, 1908 & Wednesday, February 15th, 1984, differ 27,789 days, equaling 3,969 weeks & 6 days.
The Love Boat(1977)as Roz Smith
Airplane!(1980)as Lieutenant Hurwitz
Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July(1979)as Lilly Loraine
You're Gonna Love It Here(1977)as Lolly Rogers
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood(1976)as Hedda Parsons
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There(2003)
That's Hollywood(1976)
Show Tunes at the BBC: Volume 2(2025)
Show Tunes at the BBC: Volume 1(2024)
Reboot(2022)
Hollywood(2020)
Mr. Mercedes(2017)
Great Performances(1971)as Self
The Royal Variety Performance 1982(1982)as Self
Texaco Star Theater: Opening Night(1982)as Self
The Merv Griffin Show(1962)as Self, Self - Guest
American Experience(1988)as Self - Disco Artist, Annie Oakley in 'Annie Get Your Gun' (stage version)
It's a Zabriskie, Zabriskie, Zabriskie, Zabriskie Point(2023)as Mrs. Marcus
CBS News Sunday Morning with Jane Pauley(1979)as Self
