Vera-Ellen

Vera-Ellen Westmeyer Rohe (February 16, 1921 - 30 August, 1981) was an American actress and dancer known best by just her hyphenated first name.

Related Topics:
February 16 - 1921 - 30 August - 1981 - American - Actress - Dancer

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Vera-Ellen was born in Norwood, Ohio. She began dancing when she was nine and quickly developed into a very proficient dancer. When she was 16, she won a competition on the Major Bowes Amateur Hour and began dancing professionally.

Related Topics:
Norwood, Ohio - Major Bowes Amateur Hour

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In 1939, Vera-Ellen made her Broadway debut in the Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein musical Very Warm For May. She became one of the youngest Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. This led to a career on broadway, where she was spotted by Samuel Goldwyn, who cast her opposite Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo in the film "Wonder Man."

Related Topics:
Jerome Kern - Oscar Hammerstein - Rockettes - Radio City Music Hall - Samuel Goldwyn - Danny Kaye - Virginia Mayo - Wonder Man

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Never a major star, she appeared in several films including White Christmas, On the Town, and Call Me Madam. Vera-Ellen was also one of the stars in the last Marx Brothers movie, Love Happy. After Fred Astaire's return to film musicals in 1948 she was chosen as his costarr in Three Little Words (1950) and in The Belle of New York (1952) and is considered by many to be one his most accomplished dance partners.

Related Topics:
White Christmas - On the Town - Call Me Madam - Marx Brothers - Love Happy - Fred Astaire - Three Little Words - The Belle of New York

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Although she suffered from anorexia earlier in her life, she died of cancer.

Related Topics:
Anorexia - Cancer

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