Lisa Kirk
Lisa Kirk | |
---|---|
Born | Elsie Kirk February 25, 1925 |
Died | November 11, 1990 New York City, U.S. | (aged 65)
Resting place | Locust Valley Cemetery, Locust Valley, New York, U.S. |
Occupation(s) | Actress, singer |
Spouse |
Lisa Kirk (born Elsie Kirk; February 25, 1925 – November 11, 1990) was an American actress and singer noted for her comic talents and rich contralto (her voice was called a husky alto).[1]
Career
Born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania as Elsie Kirk, she was raised in Roscoe, Pennsylvania. Her Roscoe home later became the Hotel Roscoe. Kirk enrolled as a law student at the University of Pittsburgh but abandoned her studies when she was offered a spot in the chorus line at the Versailles nightclub in Manhattan.[2]
Kirk studied theatre at
In 1950, Kirk's mother, Elsie Kirk, filed suit against her daughter for failing to abide to what she said was an agreement that the two of them share her earnings. Lisa Kirk insisted no such agreement existed.[8]
In Mack and Mabel (1974), she played an older actress who becomes a star tap dancer, and was noted by Clive Barnes to be "particularly fine".[9] Additional Broadway credits include Here's Love (1963),[10] Me Jack, You Jill (closed during previews in 1976),[11] and a 1984 revival of Noël Coward's Design for Living.[12]
Kirk's only feature film work was done behind-the-scenes, dubbing all of Rosalind Russell's singing in Gypsy (except for ""Mr. Goldstone" and the first half of "Rose's Turn").[13][14][15] It was rumored that she had also dubbed Lucille Ball's singing voice in Mame,[16] but Ball denied this on The Merv Griffin Show, saying, "She's not dubbing my voice because no one can."[17][18]
Kirk was active in the early days of television, appearing in such anthology series as Studio One, where she co-starred in The Taming of the Shrew on June 5, 1950.[19] She appeared on Kraft Television Theatre, The Colgate Comedy Hour, and General Electric Theater. In later years she guested on episodes of sitcoms like Bewitched and The Courtship of Eddie's Father, as well as variety series like The Ed Sullivan Show, The Hollywood Palace, and The Dean Martin Show.[citation needed]
Kirk frequently appeared at the Persian Room in the Plaza Hotel.[2] She also appeared at New York City's Rainbow and Stars nightclub. In a review of her act at Rainbow and Stars in April 1989, New York Times critic John S. Wilson wrote that Kirk's "long career has given her polish, presence and a solid foundation of songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter and Jerry Herman with which she is associated. She has maintained such a trim structure that she can do justice to a song called 'Is That Really Her Figure?' And although her voice may not be as full-bodied as it once was, she has a warm, easy projection that gives sensitivity and color to her songs."[20]
In addition to Kirk's appearances on original
Kirk may be best known for her roles in the original Broadway productions of
Marriage
Kirk was married to sketch artist and famed songwriter
Death
A non-smoker, Kirk died of lung cancer at Memorial-Sloan Cancer Center in Manhattan.[2][4]
Radio appearances
Year | Program | Episode/source |
---|---|---|
1952 | Musical Comedy Theater | Yolanda and the Thief[27] |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1967 | The Monkees | Gloria | S1:E21, "The Prince and the Paupers" |
References
- ISBN 1-57912-390-2, p. 173
- ^ a b c d Lisa Kirk biography, Bigbandsandbignames.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
- ^ "HB Studio - Notable Alumni | One of the Original Acting Studios in NYC". Hbstudio.org.
- ^ a b c d Blau, Eleanor.Obituary, The New York Times, November 13, 1990
- ^ Kiss Me, Kate Playbill (vault), retrieved November 24, 2017
- ^ OCLC 31611854. Tape 4, side B.
- ^ "Review. 'Kiss Me, Kate'", castalbumreviews.com. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
- ^ "Mother Sues Lisa Kirk for Share of Earnings", New York World-Telegram, January 4, 1950.
- ^ Barnes, Clive. "Mack & Mabel and Silent Film Era", The New York Times, October 7, 1974, p. 54
- ^ Here's Love Playbill (vault). Retrieved November 25, 2017.
- ^ Me Jack, You Jill, ibdb.com. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
- ^ Broadway ibdb.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
- ^ Gypsy cduniverse.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
- ^ Gypsy sondheimguide.com, retrieved March 18, 2010.
- ISBN 0-520-20970-2, p. 444
- ISBN 0-595-29761-7, p. 295
- ^ "Lucille Ball on MAME: "I Can't Sing"". YouTube. 2008-01-26. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
- ^ " Mame Article", tcm.com. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ Wilson, John S.Review/Cabaret; Lisa Kirk Sings and JokesThe New York Times, April 21, 1989
- ^ Lisa Kirk I Feel A Song Comin' On CD cduniverse.com, retrieved March 18, 2010
- ^ Lisa Kirk Sings At The Plaza barnesandnoble.com, retrieved March 18, 2010
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Liza Kirk Sings at the Plaza" allmusic.com, retrieved November 25, 2017
- ^ Bloom and Vlastnik, p. 173
- ISBN 0-405-06649-X, p. 116
- ^ Vosburgh, Dick.Obituary: Robert WellsThe Independent, October 27, 1998
External links
- Lisa Kirk at the Internet Broadway Database
- Lisa Kirk at IMDb
- Remembering Lisa Kirk