Carol Channing in film and television

Carol Channing (January 31, 1921 – January 15, 2019) was an American actress, singer, dancer, comedian, and voice artist. She won the Golden Globe Award and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Muzzy Van Hossmere in Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967). Other film appearances include The First Traveling Saleslady (1956) and Skidoo (1968). On television she has made many appearances as an entertainer on variety shows, from The Ed Sullivan Show in the 1950s to Hollywood Squares. She is also known for her performance as The White Queen in a 1985 production of Alice in Wonderland.

On television, Channing appeared on numerous television shows beginning in the early 1950s. Her husband at the time produced the Burns and Allen comedy show, which starred George Burns and Gracie Allen.^[1] When Allen was forced to discontinue performing due to medical problems, Lowe asked Channing to take over Allen's role. Since the late 1950s she worked on and off with Burns, who appeared with her in 1966 on the TV special, An Evening with Carol Channing.^[2]

She had guest appearances on sitcoms and talk shows, including What's My Line?, where she appeared in 11 episodes from 1962 to 1966.^[3] Channing did voice-over work in cartoons, most notably as Grandmama in an animated version of The Addams Family from 1992 to 1995. On Sesame Street in 1986 she sang a parody of the song "Hello, Dolly!" called "Hello, Sammy!", as a love song to Sammy the Snake.^[4] In 1993, she poked a little fun at herself in an episode of The Nanny.