Biography
Frances Charlotte Greenwood (June 25, 1890 – December 28, 1977) was an American actress and dancer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Beginning her career in vaudeville, she later gained fame on Broadway, in films, and on radio. Known for her height of about six feet and her long legs with high kicks, she famously claimed to be the "only woman in the world who could kick a giraffe in the eye."
In 1913, Oliver Morosco cast her as Queen Ann Soforth of Oogaboo near the end of the run of L. Frank Baum and Louis F. Gottschalk's The Tik-Tok Man of Oz (also known as Tik-Tok of Oz). Morosco then created the successful star vehicle So Long Letty, which propelled her to stardom.
Greenwood performed alongside notable figures such as Charles Ruggles, Betty Grable, Jimmy Durante, Eddie Cantor, Buster Keaton, and Carmen Miranda. Her finest work was primarily on stage, earning praise from critics like James Agate, Alexander Woollcott, and Claudia Cassidy. One of her standout roles was Juno in Cole Porter's Out of This World, where she introduced the classic song "I Sleep Easier Now."
Although the role of "Aunt Eller" in the Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway hit Oklahoma! (1943) was written for her, film obligations prevented her from taking the part. She eventually portrayed Aunt Eller in the 1955 film adaptation before retiring in 1956.
Charlotte Greenwood passed away in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 87 from undisclosed causes.
She was married twice: first, unsuccessfully, to actor Cyril Ring, brother of actress Blanche Ring; and later, happily, to composer Martin Broones.
This description is adapted from the Wikipedia article "Charlotte Greenwood," licensed under CC-BY-SA. For a full list of contributors, see Wikipedia.
