Karnilova, Maria (1920–2001)

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Karnilova, Maria (1920–2001)

American ballet dancer and actress. Born Maria Dovgolenko, Aug 3, 1920, in Hartford, CT; died April 20, 2001, in New York, NY; m. George S. Irving, 1948; children: 2.

Trained with Anton Dolin, Antony Tudor, Mikhail Fokine, Edward Caton, Rosina Galli, and more; performed in children's ballet of Metropolitan Opera in NYC; danced with Victor Dandré's Opera Co. in Caracas; performed in ballet troupes of Mikhail Mordkin and Fokine with American Ballet (1936); was founding member of Ballet Theater and danced there intermittently (1939–59), in works by Tudor, Eugene Loring, Agnes de Mille, and others; performed with Metropolitan Opera (1952–53) and with Jerome Robbins' Ballet USA (1958–61); on Broadway, appeared in Call Me Mister (1946), High Button Shoes (1948), Two's Company (1952), Gypsy (1959) and Bravo Giovanni (1962). Won Tony Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for creating role of Golde in Fiddler on the Roof (1964); nominated for Best Actress Tony for Zorba (1968).