Charlotte Greenwood was a popular vaudeville star and character actress
She was born Frances Charlotte Greenwood on June 25, 1890, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her father abandoned the family when she was very young. Charlotte was a sickly child but she grew into a healthy, six foot tall woman. She started her career dancing in vaudeville where she became known for her long legs and her high kicks. Her nickname was "Lady Longlegs". The talented dancer appeared in on Broadway in The Passing Show and The Man With Three Wives. In 1915 she made her film debut in Jane. That same year she married actor Cyril Ring. Charlotte was deeply in love with him and was devastated when he left her for another woman. She married songwriter Martin Broones in 1924. Although she dreamed of becoming a dramatic actress she had greater success in comedy. Charlotte starred in a series of stage shows playing a man crazy character named "Letty". The character became so popular that she starred in the 1929 movie version called So Long Letty. During the 1930s she appeared in numerous films including Palmy Day, Flying High, and Cheaters At Play.
She was born Frances Charlotte Greenwood on June 25, 1890, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her father abandoned the family when she was very young. Charlotte was a sickly child but she grew into a healthy, six foot tall woman. She started her career dancing in vaudeville where she became known for her long legs and her high kicks. Her nickname was "Lady Longlegs". The talented dancer appeared in on Broadway in The Passing Show and The Man With Three Wives. In 1915 she made her film debut in Jane. That same year she married actor Cyril Ring. Charlotte was deeply in love with him and was devastated when he left her for another woman. She married songwriter Martin Broones in 1924. Although she dreamed of becoming a dramatic actress she had greater success in comedy. Charlotte starred in a series of stage shows playing a man crazy character named "Letty". The character became so popular that she starred in the 1929 movie version called So Long Letty. During the 1930s she appeared in numerous films including Palmy Day, Flying High, and Cheaters At Play.
She was usually cast as the comedic sidekick and she became one the most recognizable character actresses in Hollywood. Charlotte was a devout Christian scientist and her faith made her turn down roles she felt were too risque. In 1940 she was signed by 20th Century Fox. She costarred with Betty Grable in the musicals Down Argentine Way and Moon Over Miami. When World 2 broke out she joined the Hollywood Victory Caravan and traveled across the country with other film stars raising money. Charlotte returned to Broadway in 1950 to star in Cole Porter's Out of This World. In 1955 she played Aunt Eller in the hit musical Oklahoma. The following year she decided to retire. Her final film was the 1956 comedy The Opposite Sex. Unfortunately as she got older she began suffering from painful arthritis. She and Martin enjoyed a long and happy marriage that lasted until his death in 1971. On December 28, 1977 she died from natural causes at the age of eighty-seven. Charlotte was cremated and her ashes were scattered at sea. Since she had no children she left her personal papers to playwright William Luce.
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