Many happy returns to the multi-talented Miss Kaye Ballard, comedienne, actress and singer, who is 86 years old today.
Even though her face is probably more immediately recognisable than her name, Miss Ballard's contribution to many of our favourite entertainments - not least her cracking star turn as the "wronged wife" in the brilliant movie The Ritz - mean we have always had a soft spot for her here at Dolores Delargo Towers.
Any excuse, really, to feature some clips from one of my all-time favourite films!
Here is Miss Ballard singing a remarkably good version of the Fanny Brice/Barbra Streisand torch song My Man:
And here she is just two years ago, promoting her audio autobiography:
Facts about Kaye Ballard:
- In the 1940s, Miss Ballard sang and played tuba (!) with Spike Jones and his Orchestra.
- She played one of the Ugly Sisters in the big-budget 1950s TV version of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella, starring Julie Andrews.
- Hers (on Broadway in the 1954 musical The Golden Apple) was the first version of the classic song Lazy Afternoon, later to become one of Eartha Kitt's standards.
- She has never married, and has lived for more than thirty years with her "companion" the actress Myvanwy Jenn.
Kaye Ballard and Carol Channing, September 2011
Happy birthday to one of the greats!
Kaye Ballard official website
I have always loved Miss Ballard, and always will!
ReplyDeleteLOOOOOOOOVE HER!
ReplyDeleteLove Ms. Ballard! Saw her perform a cabaret show back in the 1990s, and she was wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see her on stage! Jx
ReplyDelete