Nealy, Frances (1918–1997)

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Nealy, Frances (1918–1997)

African-American tap dancer. Name variations: Frances E. Nealy. Born Oct 14, 1918, in San Diego, CA; died May 23, 1997, in Hollywood, CA.

Danced in the chorus of numerous shows in Los Angeles (late 1930s–40s); worked for Leonard Reed at Shep's Playhouse, the leading L.A. club for black shows (1940s); performed with Bill Robinson in his show Born Happy in San Francisco (1940s) and later again in Philadelphia at the Shangri-la club; worked with Count Basie at Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles where she performed a 15-minute act with Ike Parrish as Parrish and Nealy; had small roles in films, including The Manchurian Candidate (1962), My Brother's Wedding (1983) and Ghostbusters (1984).

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