Ethel Merman
Biography
Ethel Merman was an American actress and singer known primarily for her powerful voice and roles in musical theatre. She was referred to as "the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage." Born on January 16, 1908, in Astoria, New York, Merman worked as a secretary and sang in nightclubs and vaudeville before making her debut in the 1930 musical "Girl Crazy." Merman was known for introducing many standards in Broadway musicals, including "I Got Rhythm," "Anything Goes," and "There's No Business Like Show Business," which later became her theme song.
Career overview
Ethel Merman was an American actress and singer known primarily for her powerful voice and roles in musical theatre. She has been called "the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage." Merman introduced many standards in Broadway musicals, including "I Got Rhythm", "I Get a Kick Out of You", "It's De-Lovely", "Friendship", "You're the Top", "Anything Goes", and "There's No Business Like Show Business", which later became her theme song.
Merman's career in acting is notable for her performances in various stage productions, including "Girl Crazy" in 1930. She also appeared in several television shows, such as "The Judy Garland Show", "Připoutejte se, prosím!", and "Great Performances". These roles demonstrate her versatility as an actress and singer.
Merman's acting credits are extensive, with 91 known credits listed. Her career spanned multiple decades, and she worked with numerous notable figures in the entertainment industry, including George Gershwin, Cary Grant, and Noel Coward. Despite receiving reviews, Merman remained indifferent, as noted by George Gershwin.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
95 titles- It's a Zabriskie, Zabriskie, Zabriskie, Zabriskie Point (2023) as Mrs. Marcus (archive footage)
- The Fabulous Allan Carr (2017) as Self (archive)
- This Is Bob Hope... (2017) as Self (archive footage)
- JFK: The Lost Inaugural Gala (2017) as Self
- Six by Sondheim (2013) as Self (archive footage)
- Marilyn Monroe: In The Movies (2012)
- Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression (2009) as Self (archive footage)
- Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon (2008) as Self (archive)
- Judy Garland Duets (2005) as Self (archive footage)
- Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards (2005) as Self (segment "Ethel Merman Medley") (archive footage)
- Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There (2003) as Self (archive footage)
- Great Broadway Musical Moments from the Ed Sullivan Show (2003) as Self - Interviewee (archive footage)
- Television: The First Fifty Years (1999) as Self (archive footage)
- Creating Ragtime (1998) as Self (archival footage)
- Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons (1995) as Self (archive footage)
- Something a Little Less Serious: A Tribute to 'It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World' (1991) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story (1990) as Self (archive footage)
- The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years (1986) as Self (archive footage)
- Muppet Treasures (1985) as Self
- The Best of Broadway (1985) as Herself
- Night of 100 Stars (1982) as Self
- Airplane! (1980) as Lieutenant Hurwitz
- The Muppets Go Hollywood (1979) as Self
- Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979) as Lilly Loraine (voice)
- Musical Comedy Tonight (1979)
- A Special Sesame Street Christmas (1978) as Self
- The Love Boat (1977) as Roz Smith
- The Muppet Show (1976) as Self - Special Guest Star
- Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976) as Hedda Parsons
- Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1975) as Self (archive footage)
- Journey Back to Oz (1972) as Mombi (voice)
- S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin (1972) as Self
- Great Performances (1971) as Self
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- Cilla (1968) as Self
- That's Life (1968) as Decorator
- The Dean Martin Christmas Show (1968) as Self (uncredited)
- Around the World of Mike Todd (1968) as Self
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self
- The Mountains of the Moon (1967) as Rosanna McCloud
- Annie Get Your Gun (1967) as Annie Oakley
- Batman (1966) as Lola Lasagne
- Tarzan (1966) as Rosanna McCloud
- That Girl (1966) as Herself
- The Art of Love (1965) as Madame Coco La Fontaine
- The Hollywood Palace (1964) as Self - Singer
- Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963) as Clara Lovelace
- Vacation Playhouse (1963) as Maggie Brown
- It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) as Mrs. Marcus
- The Judy Garland Show (1963) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Lucy Show (1962) as Ethel Merman
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self - Co-Host
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self - Co-Hostess
- The Bell Telephone Hour (1959) as Self
- Startime (1959) as Self – Host
- Startime (1959) as Self
- DuPont Show of the Month (1957) as Self
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Presenter
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Recipient / Performer
- The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1956) as Self
- The Chevy Show (1955) as Self
- There's No Business Like Show Business (1954) as Molly Donahue
- The Best of Broadway (1954) as Hattie Maloney
- Anything Goes (1954) as Reno Sweeney
- The United States Steel Hour (1953) as Libby Marks
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Muriel Flood
- Call Me Madam (1953) as Sally Adams
- The Ford 50th Anniversary Show (1953) as Herself
- The Red Skelton Show (1951) as Mother Hughes
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self - Mystery Guest
- The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950) as Self
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- Stage Door Canteen (1943) as Ethel Merman
- Happy Landing (1938) as Flo Kelly
- Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938) as Jerry Allen
- Straight, Place and Show (1938) as Linda Tyler
- Strike Me Pink (1936) as Joyce Lennox
- Anything Goes (1936) as Reno Sweeney
- The Big Broadcast of 1936 (1935) as Ethel Merman
- We're Not Dressing (1934) as Edith
- Kid Millions (1934) as Dot Clark
- Song Shopping (1933) as Ethel Merman
- Ireno (1932) as Irene
- Let Me Call You Sweetheart (1932) as Herself
- You Try Somebody Else (1932) as Self
- Time on My Hands (1932) as Self
- Devil Sea (1931) as Arlene
- Old Man Blues (1931) as Helen
- Be Like Me (1931) as Eve
- Roaming (1931) as Mary
- Her Future (1930)
- Follow the Leader (1930) as Helen King
- The Cave Club (1930)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Ethel Merman best known for?
Ethel Merman is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There (2003), Airplane! (1980), Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979), A Special Sesame Street Christmas (1978).
When and where was Ethel Merman born?
Ethel Merman was born on January 16, 1908 in Astoria, New York, USA. They passed away on February 15, 1984.
How many credits does Ethel Merman have?
Ethel Merman has accumulated over 95 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1930 to 2023.
What is Ethel Merman's background in cinema and television?
Ethel Merman was an American actress and singer known primarily for her powerful voice and roles in musical theatre. She was referred to as "the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage." Born on January 16, 1908, in Astoria, New York, Merman worked as a secretary and sang in nightclubs and vaudeville before m...
Ethel Merman by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Judy Garland Show (1963) as Self — aged about 55
- The Muppet Show (1976) as Self - Special Guest Star — aged about 68
- Cilla (1968) as Self — aged about 60
- The Bell Telephone Hour (1959) as Self — aged about 51
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self — aged about 59
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self — aged about 54
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