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Ethel Merman (1908–1984)

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 ... See full bio »
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Airplane!
Thu, Sep 20 11:45 AM EDT on IFC (082)
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Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 wins. See more awards »

Known For

It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World Mrs. Marcus
(1963)
Call Me Madam
Call Me Madam Sally Adams
(1953)
There's No Business Like Show Business
There's No Business Like Show Business Molly Donahue
(1954)
Airplane!
Airplane! Lieutenant Hurwitz
(1980)
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Filmography

Hide Hide Show Show Soundtrack (64 credits)
 2018 Zeit.geschichte (TV Series documentary) (performer - 1 episode)
- Die AUA - 60 Jahre österreichische Fluggeschichte (2018) ... (performer: "There's No Business Like Show Business" - uncredited)
 2017 I'm Dying Up Here (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- Sugar and Spice (2017) ... (performer: "Anything You Can Do")
 2014 The Sugarcube Critic (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- Boast Busters (2014) ... (performer: "Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better)")
 2013 Six by Sondheim (TV Movie documentary) (performer: "Rose's Turn")
 2012 The Secret Disco Revolution (Documentary) (performer: "No Business Like Show Business")
 2012 The Joy of Disco (TV Movie documentary) (performer: "Alexander's Ragtime Band")
 2010 Michael Feinstein's American Songbook (TV Mini-Series documentary) (performer - 1 episode)
- Best Band in the Land (2010) ... (performer: "Why Do They Call a Private a Private?")
 2009 Johnny Mercer: The Dream's on Me (TV Movie documentary) (performer: "There's No Business Like Show Business")
 2006 Bones (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- The Girl with the Curl (2006) ... (performer: "I Got Rhythm")
 2004 Joey (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- Pilot (2004) ... (performer: "Hooray for Hollywood")
 2004 AMV Hell (Short) (performer: "Anything You Can Do")
 2002 Sinatra: The Classic Duets (TV Movie 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")
 1997 Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults (TV Movie 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) (performer - 1 episode)
- Episode #30.120 (1992) ... (performer: "Everything's Coming Up Roses" (1959) - uncredited)
 1991 Designing Women (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- A Toe in the Water (1991) ... (performer: "Doin' What Comes Natur'lly")
 1989 The Wonder Years (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- 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) (performer - 1 episode)
- The Best of Broadway (1985) ... (performer: "Everything's Coming Up Roses", "They Say It's Wonderful")
 1983 Terms of Endearment (performer: "Anything Goes" (1934))
 1980 The Love Boat (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- Not So Fast, Gopher/Haven't We Met Before?/Foreign Exchange (1980) ... (performer: "You're the Top")
 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 Parade Pass You By")
 1978 A Special Sesame Street Christmas (TV Movie) (performer: "Tomorrow", "Christmas Medley: Jingle Bells / Sleigh Ride / Winter Wonderland / I Saw Three Ships" - uncredited)
 1977 You're Gonna Love It Here (TV Movie) (performer: "You're Gonna Love It Here")
 1977 The Muppet Show (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- 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")
 1976 Evening at Pops (TV Series documentary) (performer - 1 episode)
- 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))
 1972 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) (performer - 1 episode)
- Episode #9.104 (1970) ... (performer: "For Once In My Life", "September Song")
 1967 That Girl (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- Pass the Potatoes, Ethel Merman (1967) ... (performer: "Small World", "After You've Gone", "There's No Business Like Show Business", "Everything's Coming Up Roses" - uncredited)
 1965 The Art of Love (performer: "M'sieur")
 1958 The Frank Sinatra Show (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- Ethel Merman (1958) ... (performer: "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart", "You're the Top", "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" - uncredited)
 1957 Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- Episode #10.4 (1957) ... (performer: "You're Just in Love", "There's No Business Like Show Business" - uncredited)
 1954 There's No Business Like Show Business (performer: "When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam'", "Play a Simple Melody", "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody", "Let's Have Another Cup o' Coffee", "Alexander's Ragtime Band", "A Sailor's Not a Sailor ('Til a Sailor's Been Tattooed)", "There's No Business Like Show Business" - uncredited)
 1954 The Colgate Comedy Hour (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- Anything Goes (1954) ... (performer: "Anything Goes", "You Do Something To Me", "I Get A Kick Out Of You", "You're the Top", "It Was Just One of Those Things", "Blow Gabriel Blow", "Friendship" - uncredited)
 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")
 1949 Texaco Star Theatre (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- Episode #1.42 (1949) ... (performer: "I Get A Kick Out Of You", "I Got Rhythm", "Friendship" (uncredited), "The Varsity Drag")
 1943 Stage Door Canteen (performer: "Marching Through Berlin" (1943) - uncredited)
 1938 Straight Place and Show (performer: "With You on My Mind" (1938), "Why Not String Along With Me" (1938) - uncredited)
 1938 Alexander's Ragtime Band (performer: "Say It with Music" (1921), "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody" (1919), "Blue Skies" (1927), "Pack Up Your Sins and Go to the Devil" (1922), "My Walking Stick" (1938), "Everybody Step" (1921), "Heat Wave" (1933), "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), "Calabash Pipe" (1935), "Shake It Off with Rhythm" (1935) - uncredited)
 1935 The Big Broadcast of 1936 (performer: "It's the Animal in Me")
 1934 Kid Millions (performer: "An Earful of Music" (1934) (uncredited), "Mandy" (1918), "Ice Cream Fantasy" (1934) (uncredited), "Red Hot Rhythm" (uncredited))
 1934 We're Not Dressing (performer: "It's Just a New Spanish Custom" (1934), "Let's Play House" (1934) - uncredited) / (producer: "It's the Animal in Me" (1934) - uncredited)
 1933 Song Shopping (Short) (performer: "Sing, You Sinners", "I'm Yours" - uncredited)
 1932 Time on My Hands (Short) (performer: "Time on My Hands")
 1932 You Try Somebody Else (Short) (performer: "You Try Somebody Else")
 1932 Ireno (Short) (performer: "Shadows on the Wall", "Wipe That Frown Right Off Your Face" - uncredited)
 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" - uncredited)
 1931 Be Like Me (Short) (performer: "Be Like Me", "After You've Gone" - uncredited)
 1931 Old Man Blues (Short) (performer: "He Doesn't Love Me Anymore" (uncredited), "Old Man Blues")
 1931 Devil Sea (Short) (performer: "Old Devil Sea", "Glory, Glory" - uncredited)
 1930 Her Future (Short) (performer: "My Future Just Passed", "Sing, You Sinners")
Show Show Actress (42 credits)
Show Show Self (84 credits)
Show Show Archive footage (41 credits)

Related Videos

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Personal Details

Other Works:

Stage: Appeared (as "Nails O'Reilly Duquesne") in "Red, Hot and Blue" on Broadway. Musical comedy. Based on material by Howard Lindsay (also director) and Russel Crouse. Music / lyrics by Cole Porter. Music arranged by Robert Russell Bennett. Musical Direction by Frank Tours. Alvin Theatre: 29 Oct 1936-10 Apr 1937 (183 performances). ... See more »

Publicity Listings:

8 Print Biographies | 2 Portrayals | 7 Articles | See more »

Alternate Names:

Miss Ethel Merman

Height:

5' 5½" (1.66 m)
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

Broadway has been very good to me. But then, I've been very good to Broadway. See more »

Trivia:

Recreated both her Broadway starring roles of Mrs. Sally Adams from "Call Me Madam" and Reno Sweeney from "Anything Goes!" in the movie versions. See more »

Trademark:

The song, sung in her inimitable way, "There's No Business Like Show Business" See more »

Star Sign:

Capricorn
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