Esther Williams
Biography
Esther Jane Williams (August 8, 1921 – June 6, 2013) was an American competitive swimmer who became an actress. Born in Inglewood, California, she set regional and national swimming records in her late teens while a member of the Los Angeles Athletic Club. The outbreak of World War II prevented her from competing in the 1940 Summer Olympics, after which she joined Billy Rose’s Aquacade, assuming the position previously held by Eleanor Holm when the production moved from New York City to San Francisco. While in San Francisco she spent five months swimming with Olympic gold‑medalist and Tarzan star Johnny Weissmuller. Her performances attracted Metro‑Goldwyn‑Mayer scouts; she subsequently appeared in several small film roles, including work alongside Mickey Rooney. The TMDB database lists her gender as female, records her birth and death dates, notes her place of birth, and credits her with seventy acting appearances.
Career overview
Esther Jane Williams was born on August 8, 1921, in Inglewood, California. In her late teens she set regional and national swimming records as a member of the Los Angeles Athletic Club team. The outbreak of World II prevented her from competing in the 1940 Summer Olympics, and she subsequently joined Billy Rose’s Aquacade. When the Aquacade moved from New York City to San Francisco, Williams assumed the position previously held by Eleanor Holm. During her five‑month tenure in San Francisco she swam alongside Olympic gold‑medalist and film star Johnny Weissmuller, an experience that brought her to the attention of Metro‑Goldwyn‑Mayer talent scouts.
Williams leveraged the MGM interest to begin a career in motion pictures. After appearing in several small roles, she performed alongside Mickey Rooney, establishing herself as an actress in the studio’s productions. The Movie Database records her as having seventy acting credits, and she is listed primarily for her work as an actress. Williams continued to combine her aquatic expertise with her screen work, becoming known for roles that showcased her swimming ability. She remained active in the entertainment industry until her death on June 6, 2013, at the age of ninety‑one.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
70 titles- Esther Williams: Hollywood's Mermaid (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- The Fabulous Allan Carr (2017) as Self (archive)
- Hollywood Legenden (2004) as Self
- Busby Berkeley: Going Through the Roof (2003) as Self
- Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer (2002) as Self (archive footage)
- The Original Mermaid (2002) as Herself (archive footage)
- Hollywood Musicals of the 40's (2000) as Self (archive footage)
- Parkinson (1998) as Self
- Glorious Technicolor (1998) as Self
- Private Screenings (1996) as Self
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996) as Self
- That's Entertainment! III (1994) as Self - Co-Host / Narrator
- MGM: When the Lion Roars (1992)
- Pebble Mill (1991) as Self
- Burt Reynolds' Conversations with... (1991) as Self
- Stars and Stripes: Hollywood and World War II (1991) as Self
- Dance Crazy in Hollywood (1990) as Self - Actress (archive footage)
- Tom & Jerry's 50th Birthday Bash (1990) as Self
- Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood (1987) as Self
- That's Dancing! (1985) as From 'Bathing Beauty' (archive footage)
- Night of 100 Stars II (1985) as Self
- That's Entertainment, Part II (1976) as (archive footage)
- That's Entertainment! (1974) as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972) as Self (archive footage)
- Magic Fountain (1963) as Hyacinth Tower
- The Big Show (1961) as Hillary Allen
- The Big Party (1959) as Self
- The Donna Reed Show (1958) as Molly Duncan
- Andy Hardy Comes Home (1958) as Sheila Brooks (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Raw Wind in Eden (1958) as Laura
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Sarah Harmon
- The Steve Allen Show (1956) as Self - Swimmer
- The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1956) as Self
- The Unguarded Moment (1956) as Lois Conway
- MGM Parade (1955) as Self - Water Ballerina in 'Ziegfeld Follies' (archive footage)
- Jupiter's Darling (1955) as Amytis
- Reflets de Cannes (1954) as Self
- The Jimmy Durante Show (1954) as Self
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Dangerous When Wet (1953) as Katy Higgins
- Easy to Love (1953) as Julie Hallerton
- Omnibus (1952)
- Million Dollar Mermaid (1952) as Annette Kellerman
- Skirts Ahoy! (1952) as Whitney Young
- Callaway Went Thataway (1951) as Esther Williams (uncredited)
- Texas Carnival (1951) as Debbie Telford
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Vicki
- The Costume Designer (1950) as Self (archive footage)
- Duchess of Idaho (1950) as Christine Riverton Duncan
- Screen Actors (1950) as Self (uncredited)
- Pagan Love Song (1950) as Mimi Bennett
- Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949) as K.C. Higgins
- Neptune's Daughter (1949) as Eve Barrett
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- On an Island with You (1948) as Rosalind Rennolds
- Fiesta (1947) as Maria Morales
- This Time for Keeps (1947) as Nora Cambaretti
- Till the Clouds Roll By (1946) as Esther Williams - Signing Autographs (uncredited)
- The Hoodlum Saint (1946) as Kay Lorrison
- Easy to Wed (1946) as Connie Allenbury
- Thrill of a Romance (1945) as Cynthia Glenn
- Ziegfeld Follies (1945) as Esther Williams (segment "A Water Ballet")
- Parade of Aquatic Champions (1945) as Herself
- Bathing Beauty (1944) as Caroline Brooks
- A Guy Named Joe (1944) as Ellen Bright
- Twenty Years After (1944) as (archive footage)
- Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942) as Sheila Brooks
- Inflation (1942) as Mrs. Smith
- Personalities (1942) as Sheila Brooks (screen test footage) (uncredited)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Esther Williams best known for?
Esther Williams is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Parkinson (1998), Glorious Technicolor (1998), Paranormal Activity 2 (2010), The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996).
When and where was Esther Williams born?
Esther Williams was born on August 8, 1921 in Inglewood, California, USA. They passed away on June 6, 2013.
How many credits does Esther Williams have?
Esther Williams has accumulated over 70 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1942 to 2024.
What is Esther Williams's background in cinema and television?
Esther Jane Williams (August 8, 1921 – June 6, 2013) was an American competitive swimmer who became an actress. Born in Inglewood, California, she set regional and national swimming records in her late teens while a member of the Los Angeles Athletic Club. The outbreak of World War II prevented her from competing in th...
Esther Williams by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Private Screenings (1996) as Self — aged about 74
- MGM: When the Lion Roars (1992) — aged about 70
- MGM Parade (1955) as Self - Water Ballerina in 'Ziegfeld Follies' (archive footage) — aged about 33
- That's Entertainment! (1974) as (archive footage) (uncredited) — aged about 52
- That's Entertainment! III (1994) as Self - Co-Host / Narrator — aged about 72
- That's Entertainment, Part II (1976) as (archive footage) — aged about 54
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