Carol Channing in film and television
Carol Channing (January 31, 1921 – January 15, 2019) was an American actress, singer, dancer, comedian, and voice artist. She won the Golden Globe Award and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Muzzy Van Hossmere in Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967). Other film appearances include The First Traveling Saleslady (1956) and Skidoo (1968). On television she has made many appearances as an entertainer on variety shows, from The Ed Sullivan Show in the 1950s to Hollywood Squares. She is also known for her performance as The White Queen in a 1985 production of Alice in Wonderland.
On television, Channing appeared on numerous television shows beginning in the early 1950s. Her husband at the time produced the Burns and Allen comedy show, which starred George Burns and Gracie Allen.[1] When Allen was forced to discontinue performing due to medical problems, Lowe asked Channing to take over Allen's role. Since the late 1950s she worked on and off with Burns, who appeared with her in 1966 on the TV special, An Evening with Carol Channing.[2]
She had guest appearances on sitcoms and talk shows, including What's My Line?, where she appeared in 11 episodes from 1962 to 1966.[3] Channing did voice-over work in cartoons, most notably as Grandmama in an animated version of The Addams Family from 1992-95. On Sesame Street in 1986 she sang a parody of the song "Hello, Dolly!" called "Hello, Sammy!", as a love song to Sammy the Snake.[4] In 1993, she poked a little fun at herself in an episode of The Nanny.
Filmography[edit]
Film[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Paid in Full | Mrs. Peters | Uncredited, Paramount |
| 1956 | The First Traveling Saleslady | Molly Wade | |
| 1967 | All About People | The Narrator | Short film |
| 1967 | Thoroughly Modern Millie | Muzzy Van Hossmere | Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated – Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 1968 | Skidoo | Flo Banks | |
| 1970 | Shinbone Alley | Mehitabel | Voice role, Fine Art Studios |
| 1978 | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | Guest at Heartland | Cameo |
| 1989 | Happily Ever After | Muddy | Voice role, Filmation |
| 1994 | Thumbelina | Ms. Fieldmouse | Voice role, Don Bluth |
| 1998 | Homo Heights | Herself | |
| 1998 | The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars | Fanny | Voice role; Final Performance in a non-documentary, Disney |
| 2003 | Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There | Herself | |
| 2011 | Carol Channing: Larger Than Life | Herself | Documentary |
Television[edit]
| Year | Series | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | The Red Skelton Show, Starring Red Skelton | Daisy June | 2 episodes |
| 1962–1966 | What's My Line? | Herself | 11 episodes |
| 1958 | The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford | Herself | 2 episodes |
| 1968–1972 | The Carol Burnett Show | Herself | 3 episodes |
| 1969–1972 | Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In | Herself | 8 episodes |
| 1971 | The Flip Wilson Show | Herself | 1 episode[5][6] |
| 1980 | The Muppet Show | Herself | 1 episode |
| 1981–1987 | The Love Boat | Varying roles | 7 episodes |
| 1983 | Magnum, P.I. | Herself | 1 episode "Distant Relative" (cameo) |
| 1983 | Parade of Stars | Lorelei Lee | Television film |
| 1985 | Alice in Wonderland | White Queen | Two-part television film |
| 1986–1988 | Sesame Street | Herself | 2 episodes |
| 1990 | Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers | Canina LaFur | 2 episodes; voice role |
| 1991 | Where's Wally? | Varying roles | 13 episodes |
| 1992–1993 | The Addams Family | Grandmama Addams; voice role | 15 episodes |
| 1993 | The Nanny | Herself | 1 episode |
| 1994 | The Magic School Bus | Cornelia C. Contralto II | 1 episode; voice role |
| 1994 | Burke's Law | Daphne LeMay | 1 episode |
| 1995 | Space Ghost Coast to Coast | Herself | 1 episode |
| 1997 | The Drew Carey Show | Herself | Episode: "New York and Queens" |
| 1998 | Style & Substance | Herself | 1 episode |
| 2006 | Family Guy | Herself (voice) | Episode: "Patriot Games" |
| 2006 | Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List | Herself | 1 episode |
| 2016 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Herself | 1 episode |
Discography[edit]
Cast recordings and soundtracks[edit]
- Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Columbia Records, 1950[7]
- archy and mehitabel: a back-alley opera (with Eddie Bracken), Columbia, 1954[8]
- Show Girl, Roulette Records, 1961
- Hello, Dolly!, RCA Records, 1964
- Thoroughly Modern Millie, Decca Records, 1967
- Lorelei, Decca, 1974
- Hello, Dolly! revival, Varèse Sarabande, 1994
Studio albums and live recordings[edit]
- Carol Channing, Vanguard Records, 1961
- Carol Channing Entertains, Command Records, 1965
- C and W (with Webb Pierce), Plantation Records, 1976
- Kidding Around with Carol Channing and the Kids, Caedmon, 1976
- Carol Channing and Her Country Friends (with Jimmy C. Newman, Hank Locklin, and others), Plantation Records, 1977
- Carol Channing on Tour, 51 West Records, 1980
- Jazz Baby, DRG Records. 1994
- For Heaven's Sake, New Day Records, 2010
- True to the Red, White, and Blue, Homesick Entertainment, 2012
Spoken word and audiobooks[edit]
- Madeline and Other Bemelmans told by Carol Channing, Caedmon Records, 1959
- Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Lorelei's Diary), Caedmon, 1962
- Carol Channing reads and sings: Roland the Minstrel Pig ; Loudmouse ; Tom, Sue, and the Clock ; The "B" Book, Caedmon, 1969[9]
- The Year Without a Santa Claus read by Carol Channing, Caedmon, 1969
- Carol Channing reads Madeline and the Gypsies, Caedmon, 1970
- Winnie-The-Pooh told and sung by Carol Channing, Caedmon, 1972
- Peter and the Wolf and Tubby the Tuba, Caedmon, 1979
- Carol Channing reads The Purple Cow, Caedmon, 1981
- The House at Pooh Corner told and sung by Carol Channing, Caedmon, 1981
- Carol Channing Sings the Pooh Song Book, Caedmon, 1983
- Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin told and sung by Carol Channing, Caedmon, 1984
- Just Lucky, I Guess: A Memoir of Sorts, 2017[10]
References[edit]
- ^ "Enchanting Channing: 'Oh, oh, oh, fellas; look at the old girl now, fellas'",The Orlando Sentinel Nov. 24, 1978
- ^ George Burns on "An Evening with Carol Channing," 1966
- ^ Carol Channing on What's My Line
- ^ Carol Channing sings to Sammy the Snake on YouTube
- ^ "Episode Detail: Carol Channing, David Steinberg - The Flip Wilson Show". The Flip Wilson Show Episodes on NBC. TV Guide. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- ^ "Episode Detail: Carol Channing, Ed Asner, Donny Hathaway - The Flip Wilson Show". The Flip Wilson Show Episodes on NBC. TV Guide. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- ^ Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Masterworks Broadway. First LP release: January 9, 1950.
- ^ archy and mehitabel: a back alley opera, Masterworks Broadway. Precursor to 1957 Broadway Shinbone Alley.
- ^ Carol Channing Reads and Sings Roland The Minstrel Pig and Others at Discogs
- ^ Just Lucky I Guess: A Memoir of Sorts audiobook
External links[edit]
- Carol Channing discography at Discogs
- Carol Channing at IMDb