- Joan McCracken
Joan McCracken (
December 31 ,1917 –November 1 ,1961 ) was an American dancer, actress, and comedian who became famous for her role as Silvie ("The Girl Who Falls Down") in the original 1943 production of "Oklahoma! ". By age 11, she was studying dance with Catherine Littlefield. She dropped out of high school to join Littlefield's ballet company. She was a student of George Balanchine in the first year of the School of American Ballet (SAB).McCracken toured Europe and danced at
Radio City Music Hall before creating the role of Sylvie. She was married toJack Dunphy and then to dancer and choreographerBob Fosse from 1951 to 1959.She made a strong impression on the 1947 version of the movie
Good News in the role of vivacious Babe Doolittle. Her number “Pass The Peace Pipe” was a standout. Unfortunately, her movie career never took off.She died from complications of
diabetes in 1961 onFire Island, New York , aged 43. She is said, by her biographer, to have been the inspiration for the protagonistHolly Golightly inTruman Capote 's novel, "Breakfast at Tiffany's ", although this can be disputed Fact|date=April 2007.Credits
Broadway
* "
Oklahoma! ", 1943-48
* "Bloomer Girl ", 1944-46
* "Billion Dollar Baby ", 1945-46
* "The Big Knife ", 1949
* "Dance Me a Song ", 1950
* "Angel in the Pawnshop ", 1951
* "Me and Juliet ", 1953-54Television
* "The Revlon Mirror Theater" ("White Night"; 1953)
* "" (1952)
* "Actor's Studio" ("Night Club", 1948)
* "Great Catherine" (1948)
* "Toast of the Town ", Episode #6.46 (1953)References
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*External links
* [http://www.porthalcyon.com/features/200505/canteen02.shtml PortHalcyon.com, "Dancing at the Canteen", Chris Bamberger]
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