Channing, Carol (1921-2019), was a musical comedy performer whose trademarks were her raspy voice and wide-eyed look. Channing became best known as Dolly Levi in the hit Broadway musical Hello, Dolly! (1964). She played the role thousands of times on Broadway and on tour.
Carol Elaine Channing was born in Seattle, Washington, on Jan. 31, 1921. She dropped out of college in 1941 to become a performer. She made her Broadway debut in 1948 in the revue Lend an Ear. Channing became a star in the role of the fortune-hunting Lorelei Lee in the musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1949). In the show, Channing sang the hit song “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” which became her unofficial theme song. Her only other major stage hit was Hello, Dolly! In 1974, Channing toured in a version of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes called Lorelei, but the production was not a success. Channing appeared in nightclubs, on television, and in a few motion pictures, most notably in the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967). She continued to perform into her 90’s. Channing died on Jan. 15, 2019.
