Mitzi Gaynor

Mitzi Gaynor (born September 4, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois, although some sources indicate 1930) is an American actress, singer, and dancer.

Related Topics:
September 4 - 1931 - Chicago, Illinois - 1930 - American - Actress - Singer - Dancer

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Gaynor's original surname was Gerber; she sometimes claimed to be descended from royalty with the birth name Francesca Marlene von Gerber. She trained as a ballerina as a child and began her career as a chorus dancer. She sang, acted and danced in a number of film musicals, often paired with some of the biggest male musical stars. Notable early roles included There's No Business Like Show Business (1954) which featured Irving Berlin's music and also starred Ethel Merman and Marilyn Monroe, Les Girls (1957, directed by George Cukor) with Gene Kelly and Kay Kendall, and Anything Goes (1956), co-starring Bing Crosby and Donald O'Connor and with screen-play written by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse.

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Ballerina - Musicals - There's No Business Like Show Business - Irving Berlin - Ethel Merman - Marilyn Monroe - Les Girls - Gene Kelly - Kay Kendall - Anything Goes - Bing Crosby - Donald O'Connor - P.G. Wodehouse

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Gaynor's biggest international fame came from her starring role in the film version of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II's South Pacific, one of the most successful musicals of all time. For her performance, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for best actess. She made films with many other well-known stars, including Ginger Rogers, Frank Sinatra, David Niven, Dan Dailey, Betty Grable and Oscar Levant. She made her last film in the early 1960s; one of her last films was the UK production Surprise Package (1960), a musical comedy thriller directed by Stanley Donen. Her co-stars were Yul Brynner and Noel Coward and the film had a theme song by Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn.

Related Topics:
Richard Rodgers - Oscar Hammerstein II - South Pacific - Musical - Golden Globe Award - Ginger Rogers - Frank Sinatra - David Niven - Dan Dailey - Betty Grable - Oscar Levant - UK - Yul Brynner - Noel Coward - Jimmy Van Heusen - Sammy Cahn

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After her retirement from films, Gaynor remained a popular favorite; she often performed songs at Academy Awards ceremonies, starred in a series of high-rated TV specials, had a This Is Your Life special dedicated to her, and often appeared on television and in local theater. She also successfully battled cancer.

Related Topics:
Academy Awards - This Is Your Life - Television

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