Ethel Merman

Biography

Ethel Merman was an American singer and actress who built a career as a leading performer in Broadway musical comedies. Born in Astoria, Queens, she began singing in nightclubs before George and Ira Gershwin cast her in Girl Crazy, which opened in 1930, where singing I Got Rhythm turned her into an instant star. She starred in Broadway musicals including Anything Goes, Annie Get Your Gun, Call Me Madam, and Gypsy. Her awards included a Tony for Call Me Madam, a Grammy for Gypsy, and a Drama Desk Award for Hello, Dolly! On screen she appeared in Anything Goes (1936), Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938), Call Me Madam (1953), There's No Business Like Show Business (1954), and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963). She died in 1984.

76years old at death

Born January 16, 1908Astoria
Died February 15, 1984Manhattan
Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
Ethel Agnes Zimmermann (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 7
Career span: 41 years1938 to 1979

Genres

Comedy57%, 4 films
Adventure29%, 2 films
Animation29%, 2 films
Drama29%, 2 films
Romance29%, 2 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Big break
Merman was cast in Girl Crazy after singing "I Got Rhythm" for the Gershwins, and the performance made her an instant star.
Early training
Merman never had vocal lessons. According to Broadway lore, George Gershwin told her not to take them after she opened in Girl Crazy.
Behind the camera
Merman co-wrote two memoirs. The first, Who Could Ask for Anything More?, came out in 1955 with help from Pete Martin, and the second, Merman, was published in 1978 with George Eels.

Ethel Merman movies on Netflix

Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July1979IMDb rating 6.3as Lilly Loraine (voice)
Journey Back to Oz1972IMDb rating 5.7as Mombi (voice)
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World1963IMDb rating 7.4as Mrs. Marcus
Marilyn1963IMDb rating 7.6as Self (scene from "There's No Business Like Show Business")
There's No Business Like Show Business1954IMDb rating 6.4as Molly Donahue
Call Me Madam1953IMDb rating 6.8as Sally Adams
Alexander's Ragtime Band1938IMDb rating 6.8as Jerry Allen

Best known for

The films on Netflix with the most votes on IMDb, with the part played in each.

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It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World1963 Action, Adventure, Comedyas Mrs. Marcus
IMDb rating 7.452K votes
There's No Business Like Show Business1954 Comedy, Drama, Musicalas Molly Donahue
IMDb rating 6.47.5K votes
Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July1979as Lilly Lorainevoice
IMDb rating 6.33.0K votes
Alexander's Ragtime Band1938as Jerry Allen
IMDb rating 6.82.5K votes
Call Me Madam1953as Sally Adams
IMDb rating 6.81.6K votes
Journey Back to Oz1972as Mombivoice
IMDb rating 5.7831 votes
Marilyn1963as Self (scene from "There's No Business Like Show Business")
IMDb rating 7.6138 votes

Most often with

Walter Lang directed two of these films. Mickey Rooney appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Mickey Rooney

Marilyn Monroe

George Chakiris

Milton Berle

Chick Chandler

Dan DaileyWalter LangDirector, 2 films

Films together

Mickey Rooney3 films together, 1963 to 1979
Mickey Rooney's page
- Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July1979IMDb rating 6.3Merman as Lilly LorainevoiceRooney as Santa Clausvoice
- Journey Back to Oz1972IMDb rating 5.7Merman as MombivoiceRooney as Scarecrowvoice
- It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World1963IMDb rating 7.4Merman as Mrs. MarcusRooney as Ding Bell
Marilyn Monroe2 films together, 1954 to 1963
Marilyn Monroe's page
- Marilyn1963IMDb rating 7.6Merman as Self (scene from "There's No Business Like Show Business")Monroe as Himself
- There's No Business Like Show Business1954IMDb rating 6.4Merman as Molly DonahueMonroe as Vicky Parker
George Chakiris2 films together, 1953 to 1954
George Chakiris's page
- There's No Business Like Show Business1954IMDb rating 6.4Merman as Molly DonahueChakiris as Dancer
- Call Me Madam1953IMDb rating 6.8Merman as Sally AdamsChakiris as Dancer in The Ocarina Number
Milton Berle2 films together, 1963 to 1972
Milton Berle's page
- Journey Back to Oz1972IMDb rating 5.7Merman as MombivoiceBerle as Cowardly Lionvoice
- It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World1963IMDb rating 7.4Merman as Mrs. MarcusBerle as J. Russell Finch
Chick Chandler2 films together, 1938 to 1963
Chick Chandler's page
- It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World1963IMDb rating 7.4Merman as Mrs. MarcusChandler as Detective Outside Chinese Laundromat
- Alexander's Ragtime Band1938IMDb rating 6.8Merman as Jerry AllenChandler as Louie
Dan Dailey2 films together, 1954 to 1963
Dan Dailey's page
- Marilyn1963IMDb rating 7.6Merman as Self (scene from "There's No Business Like Show Business")Dailey as Self…
- There's No Business Like Show Business1954IMDb rating 6.4Merman as Molly DonahueDailey as Terence Donahue
Walter LangDirector, 2 films, 1953 to 1954
All films by Walter Lang
- There's No Business Like Show Business1954IMDb rating 6.4Merman as Molly Donahue
- Call Me Madam1953IMDb rating 6.8Merman as Sally Adams
Also two films together2 more actors
- Donald O'ConnorThere's No Business Like Show Business (1954) and Call Me Madam (1953)
- Mitzi GaynorMarilyn (1963) and There's No Business Like Show Business (1954)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Awards

Four awards and honors from 1951 to 1966, one of them major.

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Ethel Merman's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Result
Tony Awards
1951	Best Actress in a Musical	Won
Other honors
1966	Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year	Won
	Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical	Won
	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame	Honored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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