Mel Tormé
Biography
Mel Tormé was an American singer, composer and arranger who also worked as a drummer, actor and author. Born in Chicago, he first performed professionally at age 4 and acted in radio programs as a child. In 1943 he made his movie debut in Higher and Higher, and his appearance in the musical Good News (1947) made him a teen idol. He formed the group Mel Tormé and His Mel-Tones before starting a solo career, gaining the nickname the Velvet Fog. He wrote more than 250 songs and composed the music for The Christmas Song, co-writing its lyrics with Bob Wells. He won two Grammy Awards from 14 nominations. His screen work included Girls Town (1959) and voice roles in Daffy Duck's Quackbusters (1988); he also appeared as himself on television, including Seinfeld. A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out (1992) was among his later credits. He died in 1999.
73years old at death
- Born Chicago
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22
- Melvin Howard Tormé (birth name)Also credited as The Velvet Fog, Mel Torme and Melvin Howard Torme
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 45 years1947 to 1992
Every film, newest first
- 1992A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-OutIMDb rating 6.4
- 1988Daffy Duck's QuackbustersIMDb rating 7.0
- 1959Girls TownIMDb rating 3.9
- 1947Good NewsIMDb rating 6.7
Genres
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A role that slipped away
In 1963 and 1964, Tormé wrote arrangements and songs for The Judy Garland Show, appearing as a guest three times. A dispute with Garland led to his firing.
Behind the camera
Tormé collaborated with Bob Wells on "The Christmas Song" in 1946. On a swelteringly hot and sunny California day, they came up with mid-wintery images to cool down, and Tormé said the music took him 45 minutes, calling it "my annuity".
A first
Tormé's 1949 move to Capitol produced his only No. 1 hit, "Careless Hands", and his composition California Suite became Capitol's first 12-inch LP album.
Beyond film
Tormé provided the vocals for Daffy Duck in the 1988 Warner Bros. cartoon The Night of the Living Duck, after Daffy inhales a substance called "Eau de Tormé".
Mel Tormé movies on Netflix
Worked with
Mel Tormé made one film with each of them. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Robin Williams's page
Michael McKean's page
Jamie Lee Curtis's page
Morris Ankrum's page
Mel Blanc's page
Martin Short's page
All films by Charles Walters
All films by Friz Freleng
Greg FordDirector, 1 film, 1988
All films by Greg Ford
Awards
Two awards and honors, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grammy Awards | |||
| 1999 | Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award | Won | |
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.