Vivian Blaine

Vivian Blaine Headshot

Actress • Singer

Birth Date: November 21, 1921

Death Date: December 9, 1995

Birth Place: Newark, New Jersey

This strawberry blonde musical performer put in years in variety acts and onscreen before proving her talent on Broadway. Born in Newark, New Jersey, Blaine was trouping in vaudeville and nightclubs while still in grade school. From 1935 through 1941 Blaine worked as a band singer; spotted by a 20th Century-Fox agent, she was signed by the studio in 1942.

Blaine made 11 films for Fox over the next four years, beginning with small roles in the drama "Through Different Eyes" and the comedy "Girl Trouble" (both 1942) With these exceptions her roles were in fluffy musicals and romantic comedies. Having threatened to quit unless her parts improved, Blaine played her first major role with the 1944 Carmen Miranda musical "Greenwich Village."

Blaine teamed with Miranda again in "Something for the Boys" (1944) and "Doll Face" (1945), then went on to "Nob Hill" and "State Fair" (both 1945), "If I'm Lucky" and "Three Little Girls in Blue" (both 1946). Cast as moll Miss Adelaide in the 1950 Damon Runyon-based musical "Guys and Dolls," Blaine took the role and ran with it. It was re-written and enlarged for her, and her adenoidal doxy stole the show (the most famous of her songs was "Adelaide's Lament").

The toast of Broadway, Blaine re-created the role in the 1955 film version. After two more films ("Skirts Ahoy!," 1952, and "Public Pigeon No. 1," 1957), she returned to nightclubs and touring companies, returning to Broadway in "Say, Darling" in 1958 and "Enter Laughing" in 1963. Blaine also made a number of television appearances, including the series "Those Two" (NBC, 1951-53) the special "Dream Girl" (NBC, 1955), and numerous guest spots on variety specials.

In later years, she returned to films, but only supporting roles in low-budget efforts such as "Richard" (1972), "The Dark" (1979), "Parasite" (with a young Demi Moore, 1982) and "I'm Going to be Famous" (1982). Her roles in TV were somewhat larger: in the NBC pilot "Hereafter" (1975), as a neighbor on "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" (syndicated, 1975-77), and three 1979 TV movies, "Sooner or Later" (NBC), "Fast Friends" (NBC, co-starring with Carrie Snodgress), and "The Cracker Factory" (ABC, with Natalie Wood).

Credits

Murder, She WroteStream

Guest Star
Rita Bristol
Series
1984

I'm Going to Be Famous

Actor
Laura Lowell
Movie
1981

Fast Friends

Actor
Sylvia
Movie
1979

The Dark

Actor
Courtney Floyd
Movie
1979

Fantasy IslandStream

Guest Star
Series
1978

Katie: Portrait of a Centerfold

Actor
Marietta Cutler
Movie
1978

Route 66Stream

Guest Star
Dixie Martin
Series
1960

Public Pigeon No. One

Actor
Rita DeLacey
Movie
1957

G.E. Summer Originals

Actor
Show
1956

Guys and DollsStream

Actor
Miss Adelaide
Movie
1955
91%

Dream Girl

Actor
Georgina Allerton
Movie
1955

This Is Your LifeStream

Self
Game Show
1952

I've Got a SecretStream

Guest
Game Show
1952

Skirts Ahoy!

Actor
Una Yancy
Movie
1952

Those Two

Self
Singer
Show
1951

What's My Line?Stream

Guest
Game Show
1950

If I'm Lucky

Actor
Linda Farrell
Movie
1946

Three Little Girls in Blue

Actor
Liz Charters
Movie
1946

Doll Face

Actor
Mary Elizabeth "Doll Face"Carroll
Movie
1945

Nob Hill

Actor
Sally Templeton
Movie
1945

State FairStream

Actor
Emily Edwards
Movie
1945
83%

Something for the BoysStream

Actor
Blossom Hart
Movie
1944

Greenwich Village

Actor
Bonnie Watson
Movie
1944

Jitterbugs

Actor
Susan Cowan
Movie
1943