Ethel Merman

Ethel Merman 1908-84, American musical comedy star, b. Astoria, N.Y., originally named Ethel Zimmerman. Merman's theater debut was in George and Ira Gershwin 's Girl Crazy (1930). Noted for her brassy, booming voice, she appeared on Broadway in Annie Get Your Gun, Call Me Madam (also the film version, 1953), and Gypsy. Among her films are Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938) and There's No Business like Show Business (1954).

Bibliography: See biographies by C. Flinn and B. Kellow (both: 2007).

Merman Ethel [ Ethel Zimmermann] , Ethel (1909–84), American actress and singer, who was seen in cabaret in 1928 and in vaudeville a year later. Her first role on Broadway was Kate Fothergill in George Gershwin's musical Girl Crazy (1930). Her performance as Reno Sweeney in the Cole Porter musical Anything Goes (1934) established her as a star, and she went on to play the leading roles in four more Porter musicals—Red, Hot and Blue! (1936), Du Barry was a Lady (1939), Panama Hattie (1940), and Something for the Boys (1943). Her biggest success was a Annie Oakley in Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun (1946), which ran for three years, and she had another long run as Sally Adams, American ambassador to a mythical European country, in Berlin's Call Me Madam (1950). Gypsy (1959), in which she scored a big hit as Gypsy Rose Lee's mother, was her last new musical, though she starred in Broadway revivals of Annie Get Your Gun (1966) and Hello, Dolly! (1970). She was seen in London in 1964 in cabaret. An extrovert personality, with a loud, brassy voice, she brought tremendous attack to every role she played.