Ethel Merman (born Ethel Agnes Zimmermann) performed in clubs at the start of her career. Her debut film was musical-comedy ‘Follow the Leader’ (1930). Around same time, her musical theater performance and singing gained her popularity, and later, she came to be known as ‘The undisputed First Lady of musical comedy stage.’Â
Merman initially starred in such shorts as ‘Devil Sea’ (1931), ‘Roaming’ (1931), ‘Ireno’ (1932) and others. She featured in 1934’s screwball musical-comedy film ‘We’re Not Dressing,’ and musical-film ‘Kid Millions.’ After appearing as herself in comedy-film ‘The Big Broadcast of 1936’ (1935), she starred in 1936’s musical-comedy film ‘Anything Goes,’ reprising her role from original musical.
Merman’s next comedy-film ‘Happy Landing’ (1938) was a major success, followed by another hit musical-film ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band’ (1938); however, 1938’s third release, musical-film ‘Straight, Place and Show’ received unfavorable response. Further, she appeared in WWII-film ‘Stage Door Canteen’ (1943).
Merman made her TV debut in ‘The Milton Berle Show’ (1949), and also appeared as herself on various TV-shows. After starring in very successful stage productions ‘Annie Get Your Gun,’ and winning ‘Tony’ for musical ‘Call Me Madam,’ she earned ‘Golden Globe Award for Best Actress-Motion Picture Musical or Comedy’ for reprising the stage-role in film-version of ‘Call Me Madam’ (1953). Next, she led the cast of musical-comedy-drama film ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business’ (1954).
Merman played her stage-role as ‘Hattie Maloney’ in TV-film version of musical ‘Panama Hattie’ (1954). She appeared TV-shows including ‘The Ed Sullivan Show,’ ‘General Electric Theater,’ ‘The Frank Sinatra Show,’ ‘The Judy Garland Show,’ ‘The Lucy Show’ and many more. She featured in TV-films ‘Maggie Brown’ (1963), TV adaption of ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ (1967); TV-specials such as ‘An Evening with Ethel Merman’ (1965), ‘Broadway: A Special Salute’ (1982); and TV-series including ‘The Red Skeleton Hour,’ ‘Tarzan,’ ‘Batman,’ as a star-guest on ‘The Muppet Show,’ ‘The Love Boat,’ and more.
Merman’s 1963 comedy-film ‘It’s Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World’ proved a big commercial success, but comedy-film ‘The Art of Love’ (1965) was a box-office disappointment. She appeared in comedy-film ‘Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved the Hollywood’ (1976), and her last film appearance was in parody-film ‘Airplane!’ (1980).