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Ethel Merman (1908–1984)


Born in the Astoria section of Queens, New York City, Ethel Merman was surely 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... See full bio »

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Won Golden Globe. Another 3 wins See more awards »

Known For


Filmography

Hide HideSoundtrack (52 titles)
2012 The Joy of Disco (TV documentary) (performer: "Alexander's Ragtime Band")
 
2010 Michael Feinstein's American Songbook (TV series documentary)
Best Band in the Land (2010) (performer: "Why Do They Call a Private a Private?")
 
2009 Johnny Mercer: The Dream's on Me (TV documentary) (performer: "There's No Business Like Show Business")
 
2009 Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression (video documentary) (performer: "Mandy" - uncredited)
 
2006 Bones (TV series)
The Girl with the Curl (2006) (performer: "I Got Rhythm" - uncredited)
 
2004 Joey (TV series)
Pilot (2004) (performer: "Hooray for Hollywood")
 
2002 Sinatra: The Classic Duets (TV documentary) (performer: "Moonlight in Vermont" - uncredited)
 
2000 The Next Best Thing (performer: "They Say It's Wonderful")
 
1999 Drop Dead Gorgeous (performer: Everything's Coming Up Roses")
 
1998 Little Voice (performer: "There's No Business Like Show Business" 1946)
 
1997 Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults (TV documentary) (performer: "Marching Along with Time", "When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam'" - uncredited, "Anything You Can Do")
 
1997 In & Out (performer: "Everything's Coming Up Roses")
 
1996 The Late Shift (TV movie) (performer: "There's No Business Like Show Business")
 
1995 Discovery (video) (performer: "Together Wherever We Go")
 
1995 Stuart Saves His Family (performer: "Everything's Coming Up Roses")
 
1992 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV series)
Episode dated 22 May 1992 (1992) (performer: "Everything's Coming Up Roses" 1959 - uncredited)
 
1991 Designing Women (TV series)
A Toe in the Water (1991) (performer: "Doin' What Comes Natur'lly")
 
1989 The Wonder Years (TV series)
On the Spot (1989) (performer: "There's No Business Like Show Business" - uncredited)
 
1986 The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years (TV movie) (performer: "There's No Business Like Show Business")
 
1985 Great Performances (TV series)
The Best of Broadway (1985) (performer: "Everything's Coming Up Roses", "They Say It's Wonderful")
 
1983 Terms of Endearment (performer: "Anything Goes" 1934)
 
1979 All That Jazz (performer: "There's No Business Like Show Business" 1946)
 
1979 Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (TV movie) (performer: "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", "Don't Let the Circus Pass You By")
 
1978 A Special Sesame Street Christmas (TV movie) (performer: "Tomorrow" - uncredited, "Christmas Medley: Jingle Bells/Sleigh Ride/Winter Wonderland/I Saw Three Ships" - uncredited)
 
1977 The Muppet Show (TV series)
Ethel Merman (1977) (performer: "You're the Top", "Friendship", "De Lovely", "Together Wherever We Go", "You're Just In Love", "Anything You Can Do", "Mutual Admiration Society", "There's No Business like Show Business")
 
1977 You're Gonna Love It Here (TV movie) (performer: "You're Gonna Love It Here")
 
1976 Evening at Pops (TV series documentary)
Special Guest: Ethel Merman (1976) (performer: "I Got Rhythm", "They Say It's Wonderful")
 
1975 Brother Can You Spare a Dime (documentary) (performer: "You're the Top" 1934)
 
1974 Journey Back to Oz (performer: "An Elephant Never Forgets", "If You're Gonna Be A Witch - Be A Witch")
 
1970 The Mike Douglas Show (TV series)
Episode dated 11 September 1970 (1970) (performer: "For Once In My Life", "September Song")
 
1967 That Girl (TV series)
Pass the Potatoes, Ethel Merman (1967) (performer: "Small World" - uncredited, "After You've Gone" - uncredited, "There's No Business Like Show Business" - uncredited, "Everything's Coming Up Roses" - uncredited)
 
1958 The Frank Sinatra Show (TV series)
Episode dated 25 April 1958 (1958) (performer: "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart" - uncredited, "You're the Top" - uncredited, "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" - uncredited)
 
1957 Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall (TV series)
Episode dated 5 October 1957 (1957) (performer: "You're Just in Love" - uncredited, "There's No Business Like Show Business" - uncredited)
 
1954 There's No Business Like Show Business (performer: "There's No Business Like Show Business" - uncredited, "A Sailor's Not a Sailor 'Til a Sailor's Been Tattooed" - uncredited, "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody" - uncredited, "Simple Melody" - uncredited, "When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam'" - uncredited, "Alexander's Ragtime Band" - uncredited, "Let's Have Another Cup o' Coffee" - uncredited, "Remember" - uncredited)
 
1954 The Colgate Comedy Hour (TV series)
Anything Goes (1954) (performer: "You're the Top", "Anything Goes")
 
1953 Call Me Madam (performer: "The Hostess with the Mostes", "Can You Use Any Money Today", "That International Rag", "You're Just In Love", "The Best Thing For You Would be Me", "You're Just in Love" reprise, "Finale: You're Just In Love/Something to Dance About")
 
1943 Stage Door Canteen (performer: "Marching Through Berlin" 1943 - uncredited)
 
1938 Straight Place and Show (performer: "With You on My Mind" 1938 - uncredited, "Why Not String Along With Me" 1938 - uncredited)
 
1938 Alexander's Ragtime Band (performer: "Say It with Music" 1921 - uncredited, "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody" 1919 - uncredited, "Blue Skies" 1927 - uncredited, "Pack Up Your Sins and Go to the Devil" 1922 - uncredited, "My Walking Stick" 1938 - uncredited, "Everybody Step" 1921 - uncredited, "Heat Wave" 1933 - uncredited, "Marching Along with Time" 1938 - uncredited)
 
1938 Happy Landing (performer: "Hot and Happy", "You Are the Music to the Words in My Heart", "You Appeal To Me")
 
1936 Anything Goes (performer: "Anything Goes" partial, "I Get a Kick Out of You", "You're the Top" with new lyrics, "Shanghai-Dee-Ho")
 
1936 Strike Me Pink (performer: "First You Have Me High Then You Have Me Low" 1935 - uncredited, "Calabash Pipe" 1935 - uncredited, "Shake It Off with Rhythm" 1935 - uncredited)
 
1935 The Big Broadcast of 1936 (performer: "It's the Animal in Me")
 
1934 We're Not Dressing (performer: "It's Just a New Spanish Custom" 1934 - uncredited, "Let's Play House" 1934 - uncredited / producer: "It's the Animal in Me" 1934 - uncredited)
 
1934 Kid Millions (performer: "An Earful of Music" 1934 - uncredited, "Mandy" 1918 - uncredited, "Ice Cream Fantasy" 1934 - uncredited, "Red Hot Rhythm" - uncredited)
 
1932 Time on My Hands (short) (performer: "TIME ON MY HANDS")
 
1932 You Try Somebody Else (short) (performer: "YOU TRY SOMEBODY ELSE WE'LL BE BACK TOGETHER AGAIN")
 
1932 Ireno (short) (performer: "SHADOWS ON THE WALL", "WIPE THAT FROWN RIGHT OFF YOUR FACE")
 
1932 Let Me Call You Sweetheart (short) (performer: "LET ME CALL YOU SWEETHEART")
 
1931 Roaming (short) (performer: "Hello, My Lover, Good Bye", "Shake Well Before Using It!")
 
1931 Be Like Me (short) (performer: "Be Like Me", "After I'm Gone")
 
1930 Her Future (short) (performer: "My Future Just Passed", "Sing, You Sinners")
 
Show ShowActress (41 titles)
1980 Airplane!
Lieutenant Hurwitz
 
1979 Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (TV movie)
Lilly Loraine (voice)
 
1977 You're Gonna Love It Here (TV movie)
Lolly Rogers
 
1974 Journey Back to Oz
Mombi, the Bad Witch (voice)
 
1968 That's Life (TV series)
Moving In (1968)
 
1967 Tarzan (TV series)
Rosanna McCloud
Mountains of the Moon: Part 2 (1967) … Rosanna McCloud
Mountains of the Moon: Part 1 (1967) … Rosanna McCloud
 
1967 Batman (TV series)
Lola Lasagne
A Horse of Another Color (1967) … Lola Lasagne
The Sport of Penguins (1967) … Lola Lasagne
The Wail of the Siren (1967) … Lola Lasagne (uncredited)
 
1967 Annie Get Your Gun (TV movie)
Annie Oakley
 
1965 The Art of Love
Madame Coco La Fontaine
 
1965 Kraft Suspense Theatre (TV series)
Clara Lovelace
Twixt the Cup and the Lip (1965) … Clara Lovelace
 
1963 The Red Skelton Hour (TV series)
Mother Hughes
Get Thee to the Cannery (1963) … Mother Hughes
 
1963 Maggie Brown (TV movie)
Maggie Brown
 
1963 Vacation Playhouse (TV series)
Maggie Brown
Maggie Brown (1963) … Maggie Brown
 
1956 The United States Steel Hour (TV series)
Libby Marks
Honest in the Rain (1956) … Libby Marks
 
1956 G.E. True Theater (TV series)
Muriel Flood
Reflected Glory (1956) … Muriel Flood
 
1955 Shower of Stars (TV series)
All-Star Line-Up (1955)
 
1954 Panama Hattie (TV movie)
Hattie Maloney
 
1954 The Best of Broadway (TV series)
Hattie Maloney
Panama Hattie (1954) … Hattie Maloney
 
1954 The Colgate Comedy Hour (TV series)
Reno Sweeney
Anything Goes (1954) … Reno Sweeney
 
1953 Call Me Madam
Sally Adams
 
1943 Stage Door Canteen
Ethel Merman
 
1938 Straight Place and Show
Linda Tyler
 
1938 Alexander's Ragtime Band
Jerry Allen
 
1938 Happy Landing
Flo Kelly
 
1936 Strike Me Pink
Joyce Lennox
 
1935 The Big Broadcast of 1936
Ethel Merman
 
1934 Kid Millions
Dot Clark
 
1934 We're Not Dressing
Edith
 
1932 Ireno (short)
Irene
 
1931 Roaming (short)
Mary, Show Owner's Daughter
 
1931 Old Man Blues (short)
Helen
 
1931 The Devil Sea (short)
 
1931 Be Like Me (short)
Eve
 
1930 Follow the Leader
Helen King
 
1930 Her Future (short)
Defendant
 
1930 The Cave Club (short)
 
Show ShowSelf (71 titles)
1981-1985 Great Performances (TV series)
Herself
The Best of Broadway (1985) … Herself
 
1983 Texaco Star Theater: Opening Night (TV movie)
Herself
 
1982 The Royal Variety Performance 1982 (TV movie)
Herself
 
1980-1982 The Merv Griffin Show (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 21 October 1980 (1980) … Herself
 
1982 Night of 100 Stars (TV special)
Herself
 
1982 Broadway! A Special Salute (TV movie)
Herself
 
1981 All-Star Inaugural Gala (TV movie)
Herself
 
1980 Hee Haw (TV series)
Herself
Episode #12.1 (1980) … Herself
 
1979 Musical Comedy Tonight (TV documentary)
Herself
 
1979 Good Morning America (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 13 August 1979 (1979) … Herself
 
1979 The Muppets Go Hollywood (TV movie)
Herself (uncredited)
 
1978 A Special Sesame Street Christmas (TV movie)
Herself
 
1978 A Salute to American Imagination (TV documentary)
Herself
 
1978 The People's Command Performance (TV movie)
Herself
 
1977 Super Night at Forest Hills (TV movie)
Herself
 
1977 The Muppet Show (TV series)
Herself
Ethel Merman (1977) … Herself
 
1977 The David Steinberg Show (TV series)
Herself
Episode #1.13 (1977) … Herself
 
1976 Match Game 73 (TV series)
Guest Panelist
Episode dated 6 August 1976 (1976) … Guest Panelist
Episode dated 5 August 1976 (1976) … Guest Panelist
Episode dated 4 August 1976 (1976) … Guest Panelist
Episode dated 3 August 1976 (1976) … Guest Panelist
Episode dated 2 August 1976 (1976) … Guest Panelist
 
1975-1976 The Hollywood Squares (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 7 June 1976 (1976) … Herself
Episode dated 14 April 1975 (1975) … Herself
 
1976 Evening at Pops (TV series documentary)
Herself
Special Guest: Ethel Merman (1976) … Herself
 
1975 At Long Last Cole (TV movie)
Herself
 
1975 Dinah! (TV series)
Herself
Episode #1.90 (1975) … Herself
 
1965-1975 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV series)
Herself / Herself - Guest
Episode dated 15 January 1975 (1975) … Herself
Episode dated 20 March 1974 (1974) … Herself
Episode dated 20 November 1972 (1972) … Herself
Episode dated 9 September 1970 (1970) … Herself
Episode dated 18 June 1965 (1965) … Herself - Guest
 
1973 Broadway (TV movie)
Herself
 
1972 The 26th Annual Tony Awards (TV movie)
Herself - Winner: Special Award
 
1972 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin (TV movie)
Herself
 
1971 This Is Your Life (TV series)
Herself
Ethel Merman (1971) … Herself
 
1970 The Mike Douglas Show (TV series)
Herself / Herself - Co-Host
Episode dated 11 September 1970 (1970) … Herself
Episode dated 21 January 1970 (1970) … Herself - Co-Host
 
1969 The 23rd Annual Tony Awards (TV special)
Herself - Presenter: Best Director for a Musical Play
 
1969 The Carol Burnett Show (TV series)
Herself
Episode #2.20 (1969) … Herself
 
1968 The Dean Martin Comedy Hour (TV series)
Herself
1968 Christmas Show (1968) … Herself (uncredited)
Episode dated 15 February 1968 (1968) … Herself
 
1966-1968 The Hollywood Palace (TV series)
Herself - Singer
Episode #6.11 (1968) … Herself - Singer
Episode #5.12 (1967) … Herself - Singer
Episode #3.24 (1966) … Herself - Singer
 
1968 Around the World of Mike Todd (TV documentary)
Herself
 
1955-1968 The Ed Sullivan Show (TV series)
Herself - Singer / Herself / Herself - Guest Host
Episode #21.34 (1968) … Herself
Episode #21.6 (1967) … Herself
Episode #20.18 (1967) … Herself - Singer
Episode #20.3 (1966) … Herself - Singer
Episode #19.22 (1966) … Herself - Singer
 
1967-1968 That Girl (TV series)
Herself
The Other Woman (1968) … Herself
Pass the Potatoes, Ethel Merman (1967) … Herself
 
1968 Personality (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 22 January 1968 (1968) … Herself
 
1967-1968 The Joey Bishop Show (TV series)
Herself
Episode #2.87 (1968) … Herself
Episode #1.6 (1967) … Herself
 
1967 Gypsy (TV series)
Herself
Ethel Merman (1967) … Herself
 
1966 Hollywood Talent Scouts (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 21 March 1966 (1966) … Herself
 
1965 I've Got a Secret (TV series)
Guest star
Episode dated 22 November 1965 (1965) … Guest star
 
1963-1965 What's My Line? (TV series)
Herself - Mystery Guest
Episode dated 27 June 1965 (1965) … Herself - Mystery Guest
Episode dated 27 October 1963 (1963) … Herself - Mystery Guest
 
1965 The 19th Annual Tony Awards (TV special)
Herself - Presenter
 
1965 An Evening with Ethel Merman (TV documentary)
Herself
 
1964 The Jack Paar Program (TV series)
Herself - Guest
Episode #3.9 (1964) … Herself - Guest
 
1964 Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium (TV series)
Herself - Top Of The Bill
Episode #9.24 (1964) … Herself - Top Of The Bill
 
1964 The Lucy Show (TV series)
Herself
Ethel Merman and the Boy Scout Show (1964) … Herself
Lucy Teaches Ethel Merman to Sing (1964) … Herself
 
1960-1964 The Bell Telephone Hour (TV series)
Herself - Hostess / Herself - Singer
The Music of Cole Porter (1964) … Herself - Hostess
The Four of Us (1960) … Herself - Singer
 
1963-1964 The Judy Garland Show (TV series)
Herself
Episode #1.16 (1964) … Herself
Episode #1.2 (1963) … Herself
 
1963 The Jerry Lewis Show (TV series)
Herself
Episode #1.7 (1963) … Herself
 
1962 The Bob Hope Show (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 29 November 1962 (1962) … Herself
 
1960 The Arthur Murray Party (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 22 March 1960 (1960) … Herself
 
1960 The Arthur Murray Special for Bob Hope (TV movie)
Herself
 
1959-1960 Startime (TV series)
Herself
The Talent Scouts Program (1960) … Herself
Merman on Broadway (1959) … Herself
 
1957-1958 Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 29 November 1958 (1958) … Herself
Episode dated 5 October 1957 (1957) … Herself
 
1958 The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (TV series)
Herself / Herself - Guest Hostess
Episode #3.3 (1958) … Herself
Episode #2.22 (1958) … Herself - Guest Hostess
Episode #2.13 (1958) … Herself
 
1958 The Frank Sinatra Show (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 25 April 1958 (1958) … Herself
 
1958 The Eddie Fisher Show (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 4 March 1958 (1958) … Herself
 
1957 The DuPont Show of the Month (TV series)
Herself
Crescendo (1957) … Herself
 
1955 Shower of Stars (TV series)
Herself - Guest Vocalist / Herself - Vocalist
Ethel Merman's Show Stoppers (1955) … Herself - Vocalist
Show Stoppers (1955) … Herself - Guest Vocalist
 
1955 Person to Person (TV series documentary)
Herself
Episode #3.2 (1955) … Herself
 
1953-1954 The Colgate Comedy Hour (TV series)
Herself - Host / Herself - Singer / Singer
Episode #4.17 (1954) … Herself - Host/Singer
Episode #4.10 (1953) … Herself - Singer
 
1953 The Ford 50th Anniversary Show (TV movie)
Herself
 
1950 This Is Show Business (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 2 April 1950 (1950) … Herself
 
1949 Inside U.S.A. with Chevrolet (TV series)
Herself
Episode #1.7 (1949) … Herself
 
1949 The Buick-Berle Show (TV series)
Herself - Singer
Episode #2.5 (1949) … Herself - Singer
Episode #1.47 (1949) … Herself - Singer
Episode #1.42 (1949) … Herself - Singer
 
1933 Song Shopping (short)
Herself
 
1932 Time on My Hands (short)
Herself
 
1932 You Try Somebody Else (short)
Herself
 
1932 Let Me Call You Sweetheart (short)
Herself
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (29 titles)
2012 The Joy of Disco (TV documentary)
Herself
 
2010 Michael Feinstein's American Songbook (TV series documentary)
 
2010 Special Collector's Edition (TV series)
 
2009 Johnny Mercer: The Dream's on Me (TV documentary)
Herself
 
1990-2009 American Masters (TV series documentary)
 
2008 Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon (documentary)
Herself
 
2008 The O'Reilly Factor (TV series)
 
2006 The Best of the Royal Variety (TV series)
 
2006 The Delegate (documentary short)
Herself
 
2006 The American Experience (TV series documentary)
 
1985-2005 Great Performances (TV series)
 
2004 Broadway: The American Musical (TV series documentary)
 
2002 Cinerama Adventure (documentary)
Mrs. Marcus (uncredited)
 
1999-2001 Biography (TV series documentary)
 
2001 Walk on By: The Story of Popular Song (TV series documentary)
 
1999 ABC 2000: The Millennium (TV documentary)
 
1995 Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons (documentary)
Herself
 
1993 The Carol Burnett Show: A Reunion (TV documentary)
Herself
 
1991 Something a Little Less Serious: A Tribute to 'It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World' (TV documentary)
Mrs. Marcus (uncredited)
 
1990 Frank Sinatra: The Voice of Our Time (TV documentary)
Herself
 
1986 The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years (TV movie)
Herself
 
1985 Muppet Video: Muppet Treasures (video)
Herself
 
1975 Brother Can You Spare a Dime (documentary)
Herself
 
1974 Fred Astaire Salutes the Fox Musicals (TV movie)
Herself
 
1970 The Hollywood Palace (TV series)
 
1963 Marilyn (documentary)
Herself (scene from "There's No Business Like Show Business") (uncredited)
 
1953-1954 The Ed Sullivan Show (TV series)
 

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Personal Details

Other Works:

(1930) Stage: Appeared (as "Kate Fothergill"; Broadway debut) in "Girl Crazy" on Broadway. Musical comedy. Music by / Music Conducted by George Gershwin. Lyrics by Ira Gershwin. Book by Guy Bolton and John McGowan. Music orchestrated by Robert Russell Bennett. Musical Director: Earl Busby... See more »

Publicity Listings:

8 Print Biographies  | 2 Articles  | See more »

Height:

5' 5½" (1.66 m)
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

I don't want to sound pretentious, but in a funny way I feel I'm the last of a kind. I don't mean that there aren't some girls out there somewhere who are just as talented as I was. But even if they are, where will they find the shows like Girl Crazy, Anything Goes, Annie Get Your Gun, Call Me Madam and Gypsy? They just don't produce those vehicles anymore. See more »

Trivia:

Former mother-in-law of murdered Barbara Colby whose untimely funeral she attended See more »

Trademark:

Powerful belting mezzo-soprano vocal range See more »

Star Sign:

Capricorn