Ethel Merman was one of the most celebrated stars of the Broadway musical stage, known for her powerful voice and her leading roles in shows such as Anything Goes, Annie Get Your Gun, and Gypsy. She was also a successful film and television actress, appearing in movies like There’s No Business Like Show Business and It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. She was dubbed “the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage” by many critics and fans. But how did Ethel Merman die? What was the cause of her death? Here is a brief overview of her life and death.
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Early Life and Career
Ethel Merman was born as Ethel Agnes Zimmermann on January 16, 1908, in Queens, New York City. She was an only child of Edward Zimmermann, an accountant, and Agnes Zimmermann, a schoolteacher. She attended P.S. 4 and William Cullen Bryant High School, where she pursued a commercial course that offered secretarial training. She was also active in various extracurricular activities, such as the school magazine, the speakers’ club, and the student council. She developed a passion for singing and music at an early age, and frequented the local music store to browse the new sheet music arrivals.
She worked as a secretary for several companies after graduating from high school, but she also sang in nightclubs and vaudeville theaters to pursue her dream of becoming a performer. She made her Broadway debut in 1930, when she starred in George and Ira Gershwin’s musical Girl Crazy. She sang the song “I Got Rhythm”, which became a hit and established her as a rising star. She soon caught the attention of other prominent composers and producers, such as Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, and Rodgers and Hart. She starred in many successful musicals throughout the 1930s and 1940s, such as Anything Goes, Red, Hot and Blue, Du Barry Was a Lady, Panama Hattie, Annie Get Your Gun, Call Me Madam, and Happy Hunting.
She also ventured into film and television, appearing in several adaptations of her Broadway shows, as well as original productions. Some of her notable films include Alexander’s Ragtime Band, The Big Broadcast of 1938, Stage Door Canteen, Call Me Madam, There’s No Business Like Show Business, The Art of Love, and It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. She had her own radio show in the late 1940s and early 1950s, called The Ethel Merman Show. She also appeared in many television specials and guest roles, such as The Ford 50th Anniversary Show (with Mary Martin), The Lucy Show (with Lucille Ball), The Muppet Show (with Kermit the Frog), and Sesame Street (with Big Bird).
Personal Life and Relationships
Ethel Merman was married four times in her life, but none of her marriages lasted more than four years. Her first husband was William Smith, a theatrical agent whom she married in 1940. They divorced in 1941. Her second husband was Robert Levitt Sr., an airline executive whom she married in 1941. They had two children together: Ethel Levitt (born in 1942) and Robert Levitt Jr. (born in 1945). They divorced in 1952. Her third husband was Robert Six, the president of Continental Airlines whom she married in 1953. They divorced in 1960. Her fourth husband was Ernest Borgnine, an Oscar-winning actor whom she married in 1964. They divorced after only 32 days of marriage.
Ethel Merman was also romantically linked to several other celebrities over the years, such as Howard Hughes (the billionaire aviator), Tyrone Power (the Hollywood star), Johnny Meyer (the songwriter), Jock Mahoney (the actor), Artie Shaw (the bandleader), David Wayne (the actor), Burt Reynolds (the actor), and Jacqueline Susann (the author).
Final Years and Death
Ethel Merman continued to perform on stage until the late 1970s. Her last Broadway show was Hello, Dolly!, which she joined in 1970 as the final replacement for the title role. She also toured with the show across the country until 1972. She made occasional appearances on television and film until the early 1980s. Her last major role was in Airplane!, a spoof comedy film released in 1980.
In April 1983, Ethel Merman underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. She recovered well from the operation and returned to her apartment on East End Avenue. However, she suffered from complications related to the surgery and gradually declined in health over the next several months. She died on February 15, 1984, at the age of 76. The cause of her death was reported as natural causes by the Medical Examiner’s office. According to Wikipedia, her remains were given to her son Robert Jr., who interred them in the Shrine of Remembrance Mausoleum in Colorado Springs, Colorado, next to her daughter Ethel, who had died of a drug overdose in 1967.
Legacy and Influence
Ethel Merman is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential performers in the history of American musical theater. She introduced many Broadway standards that are still popular today, such as “I Got Rhythm”, “You’re the Top”, “Anything Goes”, “There’s No Business Like Show Business”, “Everything’s Coming Up Roses”, and “Rose’s Turn”. She was praised for her distinctive, powerful voice, her impeccable timing and phrasing, her charismatic stage presence, and her comedic flair. She received many awards and honors for her work, such as the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical (for Call Me Madam), the Grammy Award for Best Original Cast Album (for Gypsy), the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (for Hello, Dolly!), and the Kennedy Center Honors (in 1986).
Ethel Merman has inspired and influenced many other performers who followed in her footsteps, such as Carol Channing, Barbra Streisand, Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone, Bette Midler, Kristin Chenoweth, and Idina Menzel. She has also been portrayed and parodied by many actors and comedians, such as Madeline Kahn, Carol Burnett, Tracey Ullman, Martin Short, and Maya Rudolph. She has been referenced and celebrated in many films, television shows, books, songs, and musicals, such as The Producers, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Glee, Smash, Hairspray, Mamma Mia!, and The Book of Mormon.
Ethel Merman was a legend of Broadway who left a lasting mark on American culture. Her voice and personality will always be remembered by generations of fans and admirers. She was truly a star who made show business what it is today.
