Name: Ethel Merman
Date of Birth: 16 January 1908 Thrice-wed Merman married twice-wed Ernest Borgnine in 1964. Their marriage was dissolved after 32 days. They had announced their impending nuptials at the legendary New York night spot P.J. Clarke's, but Borgnine, who was riding high as the star of "McHale's Navy" (1962) at the time, said the marriage began unraveling on their honeymoon, when he received more fan attention than she did. The competitive Merman was left seething. "By the time we got home, it was hell on earth," Borgnine recalled in a 2001 interview. "And after 32 days I said to her, 'Madam, bye.'" Borgnine went on to marry a third time, but Merman remained single after her divorce. In her 1978 biography, she devoted a chapter of her autobiography to the marriage: It consisted of one blank page. ... She won a Tony for "Call Me Madam" Her daughter, Ethel Jr. died of an overdose of drugs and alcohol in 1967. Was at one time passionately involved with Jacqueline Susann. After their relationship ended in anger, Susann based the character of the lonely, pathetic, faded Broadway star Helen Lawson on Merman. One son, Bobby. Of German-Scottish ancestry. Bertolt Brecht actually desired to have the raucous Ethel play the title role of his masterpiece "Mother Courage...and Her Children." She, of course, never did. She loved Christmas so much, that she kept her Christmas tree up year-round In 1979 she released her most controversial album-to-date. A disco LP simply titled "The Ethel Merman Disco Album." Despite it not even charting on the Billboard charts, and many people's skeptically on the the then 71-year-old veteran, it was a smash hit, being played in Studio54 regularly, with live appearances by Merman, herself. It also became a staple period album for the majority of the gay community. Devised her screen and stage name by removing the first three letters (Zim) and the last letter (n) from her birth name - Zimmermann Former mother-in-law of murdered Barbara Colby whose untimely funeral she attended Won a Tony for her role in the musical "Call Me Madam" (1951); Tony-nominated for musical "Happy Hunting" (1957); Tony-nominated for musical "Gypsy" (1960); Recipient of Tony Special Award (1972) Her final film role was in the Jerry Zucker / Jim Abrahams / David Zucker film, Airplane! (1980). Coincidentally, John Houseman died soon after filming The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988), also a ZAZ film, but before its theatrical release. Her third husband, Robert F. Six, was CEO of Continental Airlines. Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 560-562. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998. Nominated for 1960 Tony for Leading Actress in a Musical for "Gypsy". Nominated for 1957 Tony for Leading Actress in a Musical for "Happy Hunting". Winner of 1951 Tony for Leading Actress in a Musical for "Call Me Madam". Recreated both her Broadway starring roles of Mrs. Sally Adams from Call Me Madame and Reno Sweeney from Anything Goes! in the movie versions. Son Robert Levitt Jr. was born August 11, 1945. Daughter Ethel Levitt was born July 20, 1942. She was either seen or heard (or both) in several of the opening credits of film of TV adaptations of shows in which she recreated her original roles. In the 1936 film of "Anything Goes" she appears singing a phrase of the title song before the opening credits even appear; in the 1953 film of "Call M Her daughter Ethel was married to William Geary in 1960. She gave birth to Merman's first grandchild, Barbara Jean, on February 20, 1961. She later gave birth to a son, Michael Geary. She suffered a miscarriage during her marriage to Robert Levitt. When she died, she left $800,000 to be divided between her son and her two grandchildren. Won a 1972 Special Tony Award (New York City). Ethel Merman movies (actor)User Comments |
