She also starred in a nine-month national tour, staying with the show until the end of Merman divorced her third husband in December She married actor Ernest Borgnine on June 26, , but they separated after 38 days and divorced in November She also gave concerts, notably one at Carnegie Hall on May 10, She died of a brain tumor in Nicolas Slonimsky, Editor Emeritus. Schirmer, Ethel Merman Born: January 16, Main ad Learn More. With her earthy style and powerhouse pipes restored, Merman was ready for her shot at the big time.
In , Merman was performing songs between film screenings at the Brooklyn Paramount Theatre. When George misinterpreted Ethel's thoughtful expression as an indication of disapproval, he offered to change anything she didn't like in the songs.
A flabbergasted Merman managed to blurt out, "They will do very nicely, Mr. With the Gershwin musical in preparation, Merman filled in the time by making her debut at The Palace, America's high temple of vaudeville. Outstanding reviews provided the first hint that a new star was being born, but nothing could have prepared anyone for the opening night of Girl Crazy - Merman's clarion rendition of "I Got Rhythm," which included belting a C note for sixteen exhilarating bars, left the audience demanding multiple encores.
During the intermission, George Gershwin left the orchestra pit and charged up to her dressing room. When she replied in the negative, he said, "Well, never go near a singing teacher. Ironically, he would be dead in six years, while Merman would sing full out for the next five decades. Merman stepped in to add some much needed star power to a shaky edition of George White's Scandals , then stole the troubled Take A Chance with her crackling rendition of "Eadie Was a Lady.
It was soon clear that the studios still had no clue what to do with Merman's unique talents, so she returned to Broadway. With the Great Depression in full swing, producer Vinton Freedley needed a hit to restore his fortunes. He assembled a stellar team, raised the money, and guided the show through a tortuous series of revisions. When the script of Anything Goes - was re-written during rehearsals, Ethel put her secretarial skills to good use by taking down dialogue as the authors improvised.
She then typed out the material herself. Just think how Actor's Equity would scream if an actor pitched in like that today! However, when the show was filmed in , Merman's role went to Betty Hutton who also had been given the film lead in Red, Hot and Blue!
Merman took pride in always knowing her lines, but also did not like last minute changes. It's frozen. Merman also starred in the film version made in Merman's last great stage hit was 's Gypsy, with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Her number "Everything's Coming Up Roses" was an instant hit, as was the show itself; it ran for performances. She was deeply disappointed when her role in the film version went to Rosalind Russell.
After Gypsy, Merman starred in a revival of Annie Get Your Gun and then joined the cast of Hello Dolly for three months during the seventh year of its run. Despite Merman's flashy, self-confident stage and screen image, her personal life never matched the success of her professional life.
She was married and divorced four times: to film agent William B. Smith; airline president Robert F. Six; publishing executive Robert D.
Levitt; and, finally, actor Ernest Borgnine for 38 days in She had two children with Levitt, who committed suicide years after their divorce. Merman's daughter nicknamed "Ethel Jr. She died in following a drug and alcohol overdose, in a vacation cabin with her visiting young children in the next room. Merman continued to perform well into her seventies. She retired from Broadway in , after starring in Hello Dolly, but during the s and s she frequently appeared on television programs.
Merman also made several films during this time, although none were the hit musicals that had made her famous. Her last major public appearance was at a Carnegie Hall benefit performance in The next year Merman underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor that was discovered after she suddenly collapsed in her apartment.
However, the tumor was not operable and she continued to decline. Sadly, the woman with a giant singing voice and vibrant stage presence became bedridden and had to struggle to speak even a few words.
Merman died in New York City, where she had lived her entire life, on February 15,
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