Carol Channing
Biography
Carol Elaine Channing is an American actress, singer, dancer, and comedian. She studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City. Channing began her career as a Broadway musical actress, starring in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1949 and Hello, Dolly! in 1964. She won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in Hello, Dolly!. Channing revived both roles several times throughout her career, most recently playing Dolly in 1995. She is known for her characters' fervent expressiveness and easily identifiable voice, whether singing or for comedic effect. Channing has 87 known credits in acting.
Career overview
Carol Channing began her career as a Broadway musical actress, starring in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1949. She also starred in Hello, Dolly! in 1964. Channing won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in Hello, Dolly!. She revived both roles throughout her career, most recently playing Dolly in 1995.
Channing studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City. Her characters typically radiated a fervent expressiveness and an easily identifiable voice, whether singing or for comedic effect. She is known for starring in Broadway and film musicals.
Throughout her career, Channing appeared in numerous productions, earning her a reputation as a talented and versatile actress. Her extensive experience in musical theater has made her a household name. Channing's performances have been characterized by her unique voice and energetic stage presence.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
95 titles- Commitment to Life (2023) as Self (archive)
- Kaye Ballard - The Show Goes On! (2019) as Self
- The Outrageous Sophie Tucker (2014) as Self
- Carol Channing: Larger Than Life (2012) as Self
- Ruth Lyons: First Lady of Television (2011) as Self
- RuPaul's Drag Race (2009) as Self - Video Message
- Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1920s: The Dawn of the Hollywood Musical (2008) as Self
- ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway (2007) as Self
- Words and Music by Jerry Herman (2007) as Self
- Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards (2005) as Self - Host
- Broadway: The American Musical (2004) as Self
- Broadway's Lost Treasures (2003) as Dolly Levi (segment "Hello, Dolly!")
- Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There (2003) as Self
- Great Broadway Musical Moments from the Ed Sullivan Show (2003) as Lorelei Lee (archive footage)
- Family Guy (1999) as Carol Channing (voice)
- Hollywood Squares (1998) as Self - Panelist
- Style & Substance (1998)
- The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars (1998) as Fanny (voice)
- The View (1997) as Self
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996) as Self - Guest
- The Line King: The Al Hirschfeld Story (1996) as Self
- The Drew Carey Show (1995) as Carol Channing
- The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies (1995) as Self
- Live from Broadway: Hello, Dolly! (1995)
- Touched by an Angel (1994) as Carol Channing
- Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1994) as Self
- Burke's Law (1994) as Daphne LeMay
- The Magic School Bus (1994) as Cornelia C. Contralto II (voice)
- Thumbelina (1994) as Ms. Fieldmouse (voice)
- Jerry Herman's Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl (1994) as Self
- Late Show with David Letterman (1993) as Self
- The Nanny (1993) as Carol Channing
- The Addams Family (1992) as Grandmama (voice)
- Where's Wally? (1991) as (voice)
- Night of 100 Stars III (1990) as Self
- Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers (1989) as Canina LaFur (voice)
- Happily Ever After (1989) as Muddy (voice)
- George Burns: His Wit and Wisdom (1989) as Self - Burns Dinner Friend (uncredited)
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self
- Alice in Wonderland (1985) as White Queen
- Night of 100 Stars II (1985) as Self
- George Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business (1983) as Self
- Night of 100 Stars (1982) as Self
- Magnum, P.I. (1980) as Carol Channing
- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978) as Our Guests at Heartland
- The Love Boat (1977) as Sylvia Duvall
- The Love Boat (1977) as Aunt Sylvia
- The Love Boat (1977) as Aunt Sylvia Duvall
- The People's Command Performance: '77 (1977) as Self
- The Muppet Show (1976) as Self - Special Guest Star
- Free to Be… You and Me (1974) as Self (voice) (uncredited)
- The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards (1974) as Self - Presenter
- One More Time (1974) as Self
- Great Performances (1971) as Self
- Festival at Ford's (1971) as Self
- The Flip Wilson Show (1970) as Self
- Shinbone Alley (1970) as Mehitabel (voice)
- Carol Channing and Pearl Bailey: On Broadway (1969) as Self
- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968) as Self
- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968) as Self (uncredited)
- Skidoo (1968) as Flo Banks
- Carol Channing and 101 Men (1968) as Self
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self - Guest / Various Characters
- Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967) as Muzzy Van Hossmere
- The Carol Channing Show (1966) as Carol Honeycutt
- The Dean Martin Show (1965)
- The Day of the Oath (1965) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- Password (1961)
- Show Girl (1961) as Lynn / Naomi / Performer
- The Big Party (1959) as Self
- The George Burns Show (1958) as Carol Channing
- The George Burns Show (1958) as Self
- The Christmas Tree (1958) as Promenade Member
- DuPont Show of the Month (1957) as Self
- The Lux Show (1957) as Self
- Three Men on a Horse (1957) as Mabel
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Presenter
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Recipient
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Presenter / Performer
- The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1956) as Self
- The Rosemary Clooney Show (1956) as Self
- The First Traveling Saleslady (1956) as Molly Wade
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Omnibus (1952)
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951)
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self - Mystery Guest
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self - Panelist
- The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950) as Self
- Paid in Full (1950) as Mrs. Peters (uncredited)
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Presenter
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Carol Channing best known for?
Carol Channing is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including RuPaul's Drag Race (2009), Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There (2003), Family Guy (1999), Hollywood Squares (1998).
When and where was Carol Channing born?
Carol Channing was born on January 31, 1921 in Seattle, Washington, USA.
How many credits does Carol Channing have?
Carol Channing has accumulated over 95 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2023.
What is Carol Channing's background in cinema and television?
Carol Elaine Channing is an American actress, singer, dancer, and comedian. She studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City. Channing began her career as a Broadway musical actress, starring in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1949 and Hello, Dolly! in 1964. She won a Tony Award for B...
Carol Channing by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) — aged about 30
- The Nanny (1993) as Carol Channing — aged about 72
- The Muppet Show (1976) as Self - Special Guest Star — aged about 55
- Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1994) as Self — aged about 73
- The Magic School Bus (1994) as Cornelia C. Contralto II (voice) — aged about 73
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self — aged about 46
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