Carol Channing

Carol Channing Headshot

Actress • Singer • Comedian

Birth Date: January 31, 1921

Death Date: January 15, 2019

Birth Place: Seattle, Washington

Dubbed The First Lady of Musical Comedy, Carol Channing spent over five decades on the Broadway stage and was forever linked with signature leading roles in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and "Hello, Dolly!" The flamboyant peroxide blonde with the fire engine red lipstick and ever-present smile earned multiple Tony Awards for her extended stage runs in those Broadway blockbusters, as well as recognition for musicals "Vamp," "Showgirl" and "Lorelei." But Channing became a recognized pop culture icon far from New York theater circles, bringing her larger-than-life personality to primetime as the star of variety specials and with her Oscar- and Golden Globe-nominated starring turn in the musical film "Thoroughly Modern Millie" (1967). With the exception of that stroke of pitch perfect casting and a brilliant performance, Channing's talent generally did not translate successfully to the big screen. No matter, as audiences were most captivated by the "Channing" persona, which they were able to enjoy with her many appearances on cheeky celebrity panel game shows, variety specials and awards shows. While Channing's highly recognizable voice was a favorite of impressionists, and female impersonators latched onto her thick-lashed caricature of a Broadway diva, the singer, dancer, and comedienne performed throughout her eighties, continually criss-crossing the country in musical comedy revues, one-woman shows, and endless revivals of her best loved characters, Dolly and Lorelei. After Carol Channing died on January 15, 2019 at the age of 97, the lights on Broadway were dimmed in her honor, a rare tribute to one of the American theater's most iconic performers.

Credits

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway

Actor
Movie
2005

InnerVIEWS With Ernie Manouse

Guest
Show
2004

Family Guy

Guest Voice
Carol Channing - Celebrity Boxing
Show
1999

Family GuyStream

Guest Voice
Carol Channing - Celebrity Boxing
Series
1999

Style & Substance

Guest Star
Show
1998

The ViewStream

Guest
Talk
1997

The Line King: The Al Hirschfeld Story

Actor
Movie
1996

The Drew Carey ShowStream

Guest Star
Series
1995

Touched by an AngelStream

Guest Star
Series
1994

Space Ghost Coast to CoastStream

Guest
Series
1994

Burke's Law

Guest Star
Daphne LeMay
Show
1994

Thumbelina Pulgarcita

Voice
Movie
1994

Happily Ever After

Voice
Muddy
Movie
1993

The Addams Family

Voice
Series
1992

Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers

Guest Voice
Show
1989

Alice Through the Looking Glass

Actor
White Queen
Movie
1985

Super PasswordStream

Guest
Game Show
1984

Magnum, P.I.Stream

Guest Star
Series
1980

Shinbone Alley

Voice
Mehitabel
Movie
1971

Sesame StreetStream

Guest
Franchise
1969

Carol Channing Proudly Presents the Seven Deadly Sins

Actor
Show
1969

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-InStream

Guest
Series
1968

Skidoo

Actor
Flo Banks
Movie
1968

Carol Channing and 101 Men

Actor
Show
1967

The Carol Burnett ShowStream

Guest
Series
1967

Thoroughly Modern Millie

Actor
Muzzy
Movie
1967

The Best on Record

Actor
Show
1965

The Big Party for Revlon

Actor
Party Host
Show
1959

The George Burns Show

Guest Star
Show
1958

The DuPont Show of the Month

Actor
Show
1957

La Mujer Viajera

Actor
Movie
1956

La Primera Agente Viajeza

Actor
Movie
1956

The First Traveling Saleslady

Actor
Molly Wade
Movie
1956

Svengali and the Blonde

Actor
Trilby O'Farrell
Show
1955

I've Got a SecretStream

Guest
Game Show
1952

TodayStream

Guest
News
1952

The Red Skelton ShowStream

Actor
Series
1951

The Red Skelton ShowStream

Guest Star
Series
1951

What's My Line?Stream

Guest
Game Show
1950

Paid in Full

Actor
Mrs. Peters (uncredited)
Movie
1950

News about
Carol Channing