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Gretchen Wyler, a radiant blonde musical actress and dancer, was born Gretchen Patricia Weinecke on February 16, 1932, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of Louis Gustave Weinecke, a gasoline engineer, and Peggy (née Highley) Weinecke. After graduating from her hometown high school, she studied dance under June Runyon in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Wyler began her career in 1950 with the St. Louis Municipal Opera as part of the ballet ensemble. She then moved to New York, where she secured a year-long role as a chorus dancer on Broadway in "Where's Charley?" in 1951, followed by a chorus role in "Guys and Dolls" the next season. Her breakthrough came in 1955 when she won the role of Janice Dayton in "Silk Stockings" on Broadway, earning the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress for her captivating performance. She continued to shine in musicals such as Lola in "Damn Yankees" and Rosie in "Bye Bye Birdie." In 1968, she debuted in London in the title role of "Sweet Charity," a part she performed for over a year. Wyler's extensive musical theatre credits include roles in "Sly Fox" (earning a Drama Desk nomination), "The Gingerbread Lady," "The Man Who Came to Dinner," "Redhead," "Annie Get Your Gun," "Kismet," "Applause," "Born Yesterday," "Call Me Madam," "A Hatful of Rain," "Bus Stop," "Annie," "Can-Can," "Mame," "42nd Street," and the musical adaptation of "Destry Rides Again."
She made her television debut in 1956 on "The Colgate Comedy Hour" and appeared sporadically on lighthearted shows such as "Sergeant Bilko" and musical variety programs, notably with Bob Crosby. Wyler's film debut came later in life with "The Devil's Brigade" (1968) starring William Holden. She later portrayed Goldie Hawn's aunt in "Private Benjamin" (1980). Additionally, she toured extensively with her nightclub act, concerts, and her one-woman show, "Broadway Greats and the Songs That Made Them Famous."
In her later years, Wyler made frequent television guest appearances on shows including "Who's the Boss?," "Designing Women," "Love & War," "The 5 Mrs. Buchanans," "Judging Amy," and the iconic sitcom "Friends," where she humorously played a stingy singing widow/hostess attempting to stiff Monica and Phoebe for catering services at her husband's funeral reception. Beyond prime-time appearances on "Judging Amy" and "Providence," she also appeared in daytime soap operas such as "Search for Tomorrow" and "Somerset." In 1997, she concluded her stage career where it began, at the St. Louis Municipal Opera, playing the indomitable Dolly Levi. Her final TV appearance was as a guest on the series "State of Grace" in 2002.
Offstage, Wyler produced the off-Broadway play "The Ballad of Johnny Pot" in 1971 but was primarily devoted to animal activism. In 1968, she established an animal shelter in upstate New York and served on the boards of several humane and wildlife organizations while advocating for animal welfare legislation. She founded the Genesis Awards to honor animal protection efforts. In 2005, Wyler was inducted into the U.S. Animal Rights Hall of Fame for her unwavering commitment to animal causes.
Divorced and childless since 1968, Wyler shared her home with numerous animals, including dogs, cats, and horses. She passed away at 75 on May 27, 2007, due to complications from breast cancer. In her honor, the inaugural Gretchen Wyler Award was presented to former Beatle Paul McCartney that same year.
