[ad_1]
Carol Channing, the legendary Broadway actress who played Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly! died, his agent said in a statement.
Channing was 97 years old and died at his home in Rancho Mirage, California.
His hoarse voice and big, bright smile became the trademarks of an artist who originated some of the most iconic Broadway roles in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.
In a statement, Harlan Boll said that "it is with extreme sorrow," she announced "the passing of an original Industry Pioneer, Legend and Icon."
"I admired her before I met her and loved her since the day she stepped on … or fell … in my life," wrote the publicist. "It's very difficult to see the last curtain down on a woman who is part of my life daily for more than a third of her."
Her big break came in 1949 when she was cast as the diamond-obsessed showgirl Lorelei Lee in the Broadway musical The gentleman prefers laurels, in which she performed the now classic music Diamonds are a girl's best friends (Marilyn Monroe played the same role in the film.
In 1964, she marked her most iconic role as Dolly Gallagher Levi, a turn of the century matchmaker, in the musical Hello Dolly!
Channing defeated Barbra Streisand, who starred Funny girl, for the Tony Award for Best actress in a musical in turn starring.
Channing repeated the role three times on Broadway and in the West End for over 5000 performances until 1995.
The main role Hi Dolly Bette Midler would also win a Tony Award in 2017.
Channing was cast as Muzzy Van Hossmere in the 1967 musical film Completely Modern Millie, starring Julie Andrews.
She won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress, as well as an Oscar nomination.
Muzzy is most remembered for the now iconic line, "Raspberries," which has become synonymous with Channing ever since.
She was first married to writer Theodore Naidish and then Canadian football player Alex Carson with whom she had a son, Channing Carson.
Channing then married his agent and publicist Charles Lowe in 1956 and, although it lasted 42 years, she claimed in a divorce case in 1998 that they had only slept together twice and that he had mismanaged his finances. He died a year later, before the divorce was finalized.
In 2003, she married her childhood sweetheart, Harry Kullijian, and they stayed together until Kullijian's death eight years later.
[ad_2]
Source link