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Carol Elaine Channing (born January 31, 1921) was an American actress, singer, dancer and comedian. Known for starring in Broadway and film musicals, her characters typically radiated a fervent expressiveness and an easily identifiable voice, whether singing or for comedic effect. Channing also studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City. She began as a Broadway musical actress, starring in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1949 and Hello, Dolly! in 1964, winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for the latter. She revived both roles several times throughout her career, most recently playing Dolly in 1995. Channing was nominated for her first Tony Award in 1956 for The Vamp followed by a nomination in 1961 for Show Girl. She received her fourth Tony Award nomination for the musical Lorelei in 1974. As a film actress, she won the Golden Globe Award and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Muzzy in Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967). Her other film appearances include The First Traveling Saleslady (1956) and Skidoo (1968). On television, she appeared as an entertainer on variety shows, from The Ed Sullivan Show in the 1950s to Hollywood Squares. She had a standout performance as The White Queen in the TV production of Alice in Wonderland (1985), and had the first of many TV specials in 1966, An Evening with Carol Channing. Channing was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 1981 and received a Lifetime Achievement Tony Award in 1995. She continued to perform and make appearances well into her 90s, singing songs from her repertoire and sharing stories with fans, cabaret style. She released an autobiography, Just Lucky I Guess, in 2002, and Larger Than Life, a documentary film about her career, was released in 2012.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2023
Commitment to Life
Movie Self (archive)
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2019
Kaye Ballard - The Show Goes On!
Movie Self
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2014
The Outrageous Sophie Tucker
Movie Self
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2012
Carol Channing: Larger Than Life
Movie Self
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2011
Ruth Lyons: First Lady of Television
Movie Self
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2009
RuPaul's Drag Race
TV show Self - Video Message
- 2008
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2007
ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway
Movie Self
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2007
Words and Music by Jerry Herman
Movie Self
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2005
Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards
Movie Self - Host
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2004
Broadway: The American Musical
TV show Self
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2003
Broadway's Lost Treasures
Movie Dolly Levi (segment "Hello, Dolly!")
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2003
Great Broadway Musical Moments from the Ed Sullivan Show
Movie Lorelei Lee (archive footage)
- 2003
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1999
Family Guy
TV show Carol Channing (voice)
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1998
Hollywood Squares
TV show Self - Panelist
More credits
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1998
The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars
Movie Fanny (voice)
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1998
Style & Substance
TV show
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1997
The View
TV show Self
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1996
The Line King: The Al Hirschfeld Story
Movie Self
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1996
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
TV show Self - Guest
- 1995
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1995
The Drew Carey Show
TV show Carol Channing
- 1995
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1994
Touched by an Angel
TV show Carol Channing
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1994
The Magic School Bus
TV show Cornelia C. Contralto II (voice)
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1994
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
TV show Self
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1994
Thumbelina
Movie Ms. Fieldmouse (voice)
- 1994
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1994
Burke's Law
TV show Daphne LeMay
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1993
The Nanny
TV show Carol Channing
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1993
Late Show with David Letterman
TV show Self
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1992
The Addams Family
TV show Grandmama (voice)
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1991
Where's Wally?
TV show (voice)
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1990
Night of 100 Stars III
Movie Self
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1989
Happily Ever After
Movie Muddy (voice)
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1989
George Burns: His Wit and Wisdom
Movie Self - Burns Dinner Friend (uncredited)
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1989
Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers
TV show Canina LaFur (voice)
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1988
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
TV show Self
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1985
Alice in Wonderland
TV show White Queen