Billie Burke
- This article is about a deceased Burlesque performer
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| Billie Burke | ||
 Billie Burke in the film Topper Returns | ||
| Background information | ||
| Born | 8} 7, 1884 | |
| Birth place: | Washington, D.C., USA 
| |
| Born as | Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Burke | |
| Died | 5/14/1970 | |
| Los Angeles, CA USA
| ||
| Spouse(s) | Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. 1914-1932 | |
Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Burke (✦August 7, 1884 – †May 14, 1970), known professionally as Billie Burke, was an American actress who was famous on Broadway, on radio, early silent film, and subsequently in sound film. She is best known to modern audiences as "Glinda, the Good Witch of the North" in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie musical "The Wizard of Oz" (1939).
Burke was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1938 for her performance as Emily Kilbourne in "Merrily We Live" and is also remembered for her appearances in the Topper film series. Her high-pitched, wavering, aristocratic voice was her trademark, which made her a frequent choice to play dim-witted, spoiled society types.
She was married to Broadway producer and impresario Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. founder of dance troupe and theatrical revue (and adapted to a radio program from 1932 and 1936), the Ziegfeld Follies which operated from 1914 until his death in 1932.
Early life
Burke was born in Washington, D.C., the daughter of Blanche (née Beatty; 1844–1921) and William "Billy" Burke. She toured the United States and Europe with her father, who was a singer and clown and worked for the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Her family settled in London where she attended plays in the West End. She began acting on stage in 1903, making her debut in London in "The School Girl". Her other London shows included "The Duchess of Dantzic" (1903) and "The Blue Moon" (1904). She eventually returned to America to star in Broadway musical comedies.
- More information is available at [ Wikipedia:Billie_Burke ]
External links
- Billie Burke at the Internet Movie Database
- Billie Burke at the Internet Broadway Database
- AllMovie.com
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