Source: micheleleeonline.com

Michele Lee
(1942 - )

Michele Lee is best-known for her role of Karen MacKenzie in the long-running primetime drama KNOTS LANDING, one of several spin-offs of the blockbuster TV series DALLAS.

Born in Los Angeles, she grew up around the California entertainment industry courtesy of her father, Jack Dusick, a make-up artist for the TV series "Rawhide" with Clint Eastwood as well as numerous western and horror films.

Shortly after high school, she was cast in the Los Angeles musical revue VINTAGE '60 which was transferred to Broadway by legendary producer David Merrick.  The show was not successful.  Another flop musical, BRAVO GIOVANNI, followed.

She had much better luck with her next Broadway role -- Rosemary in the smash Pulitzer-prize winning musical HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING.  She and her co-star, Robert Morse, were later cast in the 1967 film version.

In her only other Broadway musical to date, SEESAW (1973), she earned a Tony nomination playing wacky dancer Gittel Mosca opposite Tommy Tune and Ken Howard, introducing the musical's best-known song "Nobody Does It Like Me."

Among her film and TV credits are the hit Disney film THE LOVE BUG, THE COMIC, BUD & LOU, SCANDALOUS ME: THE JACQUELINE SUSANN STORY, COLOR ME PERFECT, BIG DREAMS & BROKEN HEARTS: THE DOTTIE WEST STORY and a TV version of the Gershwin musical OF THEE I SING.

Source: Answers.com

His parents were vaudevillians whose act consisted of singing and dancing with a heavy dose of comic acrobatics. Donald and his siblings quickly joined the family act. By age 12, young Donald had perfected the skills that would serve him well for the rest of his long career.

While still a child he landed a contract at Paramount Pictures and appeared in a number of small, forgettable films. He later signed with Universal and rose to fame starring in the hit 1950 film FRANCIS about a young soldier (O'Connor) who takes advice from a wise-cracking talking mule (voiced by Chill Wills). FRANCIS proved so popular that five other FRANCIS films were made with O'Connor reprising his role.

He co-starred in one of the best-loved musicals of the 1950s, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN opposite Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds. His "Make 'Em Laugh" number (where he put his acrobatics skills to good use) is still considered a classic.

His other screen musicals include CALL ME MADAM, THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS (both co-starring with musical theatre legend Ethel Merman), I LOVE MELVIN and ANYTHING GOES.

Like many of his contemporaries, he headlined in Las Vegas and performed extensively on TV variety shows and series. On the Broadway stage, he appeared in the short-lived BYE BYE BIRDIE sequel BRING BACK BIRDIE and played Captain Andy in 1984 revival of SHOWBOAT.

In his final film role, he portrayed a cruise ship dance instructor in the comedy OUT OF SEA with Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon.

Next update to this page: Sunday, November 2, 2008