Mitzi Gaynor

Mitzi Gaynor, born September 4, 1931, in Chicago, Illinois, was an American actress and exotic dancer whose career spanned 65 years, from 1949 to 2014. Her most famous film roles were in "There's No Business Like Show Business" (1954) and "South Pacific" (1958), the latter a Rodgers and Hammerstein adaptation. She stood 5'6", weighed 112 lbs, with a slim build and natural 36C bust. Blonde hair and blue eyes completed her look.

After her film career, Gaynor thrived on stage and television. She performed at the Academy Awards, notably singing the theme from "Georgy Girl" at the 1967 telecast. During the 1960s and '70s, she starred in nine television specials that earned 16 Emmy nominations. A notable moment came when she appeared between two sets by The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. She recorded two albums for Verve, and her concert tours took her to Las Vegas and venues across the U.S. and Canada. In the 1990s, she wrote a column for The Hollywood Reporter.

Gaynor's personal life included a 52-year marriage to Jack Bean, who died in 2006. She continued performing into her later years, with a one-woman show touring from 2009 to 2014. She passed away on October 17, 2024, at age 93.