Vivian Blaine (born Vivian Stapleton; November 21, 1921 – December 9, 1995) was an American actress and singer, best known for originating the role of Miss Adelaide in the musical theater production of Guys and Dolls, as well as appearing in the subsequent film version, in which she co-starred with Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons and Frank Sinatra.

Early life Blaine was born in Newark, New Jersey to Leo Stapleton, an insurance agent,1930 United States Federal Census and Wilhelmina Tepley.U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 The cherry-blonde-haired Blaine appeared on local stages as early as 1934 and she started touring after graduating from South Side High School.Grimes, William (December 14, 1995). "Vivian Blaine, the First Adelaide In 'Guys and Dolls,' Is Dead at 74". The New York Times. Accessed December 19, 2019. "Ms. Blaine was born in Newark. Originally her last name was Stapleton. While she was still in elementary school, her father, a theatrical agent, booked $1-a-night singing dates for her at nightclubs, company parties and police benefits. At 14 she began singing with the Halsey Miller Orchestra, and after graduating from Southside High School went on the road with little-known bands."

Personal appearances Blaine was a touring singer with dance bands starting in 1937.

At one point in the 1940s, she was the top-billed act at New York's Copacabana nightclub. In his book, Dean and Me: (A Love Story), Jerry Lewis wrote about appearing at the club when Blaine was on the same bill: "We [Lewis and Dean Martin, as the double act Martin and Lewis] weren't even the top-billed act. That honor went to a Broadway singing star named Vivian Blaine, who'd conquered Manhattan, gone out to Hollywood to make movies for 20th Century Fox, then returned to the Big Apple in triumph. Vivian was a lovely and very talented actress and singer ..."

Film

In 1942, Blaine's agent and soon-to-be husband Manny Franks signed her to a contract with Twentieth Century-Fox, and she moved to Hollywood, sharing top billing with Laurel and Hardy in Jitterbugs (1943) and starring in Greenwich Village (1944), Something for the Boys (1944), Nob Hill (1945), and State Fair (1945).

Stage Blaine appeared on Broadway in Guys and Dolls; A Hatful of Rain; Say, Darling; Enter Laughing; Company; and Zorba, as well as participating in the touring companies of plays such as Light Up the Sky; and musicals such as Gypsy.

Television Blaine was a special guest during the This is Your Life tribute episode to Laurel and Hardy, seen over NBC-TV on December 1, 1954. Blaine had worked with the duo in the film Jitterbugs and had fond memories of the experience.

On the 25th annual Tony Awards in 1971, she appeared as a guest performer and sang "Adelaide's Lament" from Guys and Dolls.

Later in her career, her television career took off, with guest appearances on shows like Fantasy Island, The Love Boat (S2 E9 1978), and a recurring role in the cult hit Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.

Her final onscreen appearance was in "Broadway Malady", a Season 1 episode of Murder, She Wrote.

Personal life In 1983, Blaine became the first celebrity to make public service announcements for AIDS-related causes. She made numerous appearances in support of the then-fledgling AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) and in 1983 recorded her cabaret act for AEI Records, which donated its royalties to the new group; this included the last recordings of her songs from Guys and Dolls. Her prior albums for Mercury Records have all subsequently been reissued on CD.

Death Blaine died of congestive heart failure in Beth Israel Hospital North in New York City on December 9, 1995, aged 74.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1942 It Happened in Flatbush Minor Role Thru Different Eyes Sue Boardman Girl Trouble Barbara Alternate titles: Between You and Me / Man from Brazil 1943 He Hired the Boss Sally Conway Jitterbugs Susan Cowan 1944 Greenwich Village Bonnie Watson Something for the Boys Blossom Hart 1945 Nob Hill Sally Templeton State Fair Emily Edwards Doll Face Mary Elizabeth 'Doll Face' Carroll Alternate title: Come Back to Me 1946 If I'm Lucky Linda Farrell Three Little Girls in Blue Liz Charters 1952 Skirts Ahoy! Una Yancy 1953 Main Street to Broadway Vivian Blaine Uncredited 1955 Guys and Dolls Miss Adelaide 1957 Public Pigeon No. 1 Rita DeLacey 1972 Richard Washington Doctor 1979 The Dark Courtney Floyd 1982 Parasite Miss Elizabeth Daley 1983 I'm Going to Be Famous Laura Lowell (final film role)

Television Year Title Role Notes 1953 The Philco Television Playhouse Episode - "Double Jeopardy" 1954 Center Stage Episode - "Heart of a Clown" 1954 The Colgate Comedy Hour Winnie Potter Episode - "Let's Face It" 1955 Damon Runyon Theater Cutie Singleton Episode - "Pick the Winner" 1955 Hallmark Hall of Fame Georgina Allerton Episode - "Dream Girl" 1955 What's My Line? Mystery Guest 1956 The Bob Hope Show Toots Biswanger Episode - "The Awful Truth" 1956 G.E. Summer Originals Sunny Episode - "It's Sunny Again" 1957 Lux Video Theatre Coral Episode - "The Undesirable" 1963 Route 66 Dixie Martin Episode - "A Bunch of Lonely Pagliaccis" 1976 Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman Betty McCullough 21 episodes 1978 Fantasy Island Mrs. Deverse Episode - "The Big Dipper/The Pirate" 1978 Katie: Portrait of a Centerfold Marietta Cutler TV movie 1978 The Love Boat Barbara Sharp Episode - "The Minister and the Stripper" 1979 Vega$ Lenora Episode - "Everything I Touch" 1979 The Cracker Factory Helen TV movie 1979 Fast Friends Sylvia TV movie 1979 Sooner or Later Make-up Artist TV movie 1979 CHiPs Herself Episode - "Roller Disco: Part 2" 1983 Amanda's Aunt Sonia Episode - "Aunt Sonia" 1985 Murder, She Wrote Rita Bristol Episode - "Broadway Malady" (final television role)

Stage work

One Touch of Venus (1948) Bloomer Girl (1949) Light Up the Sky (1949) Guys and Dolls (1950–53) Panama Hattie (1955) A Hatful of Rain (1956–58) Rain (1957) Say, Darling (1958) Gypsy (1960) A Streetcar Named Desire (1961) Born Yesterday (1961) Gypsy (1962) Enter Laughing (1963) Mr. President (1964) Guys and Dolls (1964-1966) Never Too Late (1965) Cactus Flower (1966–67) Damn Yankees (1967) Any Wednesday (1968) Don't Drink the Water (1968–69) Take Me Along (1968) The Marriage-Go-Round (1970) Zorba (1970–71) Company (1971–73) Light Up the Sky (1971) The Glass Menagerie (1972) Follies (1973) I Do! I Do! (1973) Twigs (1973–74) Hello, Dolly! (1974) The Best of Everybody (1975) Brothers and Sisters (1975) Light Up the Sky (1975) Almost on a Runway (1976) How the Other Half Loves (1977) Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1977–79) The Boy Friend (1979) The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1979) Zorba (1984) (replacement for Lila Kedrova) Hello, Dolly! (1985)

References

Further reading Oderman, Stuart, Talking to the Piano Player 2. BearManor Media, 2009.

External links

Vivian Blaine Papers at the New York Public Library

Vivian Blaine papers, 1916-1995, held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts