By Ligia Fernandez
To access past Entertainers columns, click on the Entertainers archive
link to the left.
June 2007
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Source:
Reel Classics.com
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Ann Miller
(1923 - 2004)
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MGM tap-dancing sensation sensation Ann Miller was born
Johnnie Lucille Collier in Texas, but moved to California at the age of nine
with her mother after her parents split up. At age 14, she faked her
way into a movie contract at RKO by obtaining a doctored birth certificate
stating she was 18. The under-age ingenue went on to
appear in several films including STAGE DOOR, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU and
the musical TOO MANY GIRLS with Desi Arnaz. Bigger
roles came her way when she joined MGM in the 1940s where she appeared in
the hit musicals ON THE TOWN, KISS ME KATE and EASTER PARADE.
She had a brief Broadway stage career beginning with the
GEORGE WHITE SCANDALS OF 1939. Her film career would keep her busy
during the next few decades, but she returned to Broadway as the last
performer to take on the role of MAME during its original run. In 1979-82,
she and fellow MGM icon Mickey Rooney starred in the smash hit revue SUGAR
BABIES. One of her last stage musical performances was belting out
"I'm Still Here" in the Paper Mill Playhouse's 1998 production of Stephen
Sondheim's FOLLIES. Among her television work are
guest-starring spots on THE LOVE BOAT, LOVE AMERICAN STYLE and the 1971 TV
adaptation of the Broadway musical DAMES AT SEA with Ann-Margret. |
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Source:
Playbill.com |
Michael Crawford
(1942 - ) |
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Long before he sang "Music of the Night" as the original
Broadway PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Michael Crawford had an extremely successful
stage and film career in his native England, most notably in the 1965 film
THE KNACK AND HOW TO GET IT. He also starred opposite Zero Mostel in
the film version of A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (1966)
and played hapless clerk Cornelius Hackl in HELLO DOLLY! (1969) with Barbra
Streisand and Walter Matthau. On stage, he headlined
in the West End musicals BILLY, FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON and BARNUM.
Superstardom came when he was cast first in the West End PHANTOM, followed
by a Tony award-winning performance on Broadway. Unfortunately, his
next Broadway musical, 2002's DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES, was not a success.
Michael has recorded a number of well-received CDs and
starred in the Las Vegas stage production EFX at the MGM Grand. As a
solo artist, he has toured extensively throughout the United States, the UK
and Australia.
For the latest on Michael, go to his official authorized
fan site: The Michael Crawford
International Fan Association.
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