Dolores Gray facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dolores Gray
Born	Sylvia Dolores Finkelstein (1924-06-07)June 7, 1924 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died	June 26, 2002(2002-06-26) (aged 78) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, singer
Years active	1941–1989
Spouse(s)	Andrew J. Crevolin ​ ​ (m. 1966; died 1992)​
Awards	Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Carnival in Flanders (1954)

Dolores Gray (born Sylvia Dolores Finkelstein; June 7, 1924 – June 26, 2002) was a talented American actress and singer. She was known for her powerful voice and exciting stage presence. Dolores was nominated for the Tony Award (a big award for theatre) twice, and she won it once.

Early Life of Dolores Gray

Dolores Gray was born Sylvia Dolores Finkelstein in Los Angeles, California. Her parents, Barbara Marguerite Gray and Harry Vernon Finkelstein, were both vaudeville actors. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment with different acts like singing, dancing, and comedy.

Her parents divorced when she was young. Dolores had an older brother, Richard Gray, who also worked in Hollywood. While she was in high school, she joined the Girls' Glee Club. A famous musician named Rudy Vallee discovered her. He gave her a chance to sing on his national radio show.

Dolores Gray's Career

Dolores started her career singing in restaurants and clubs. In 1945, she even had her own radio show. She became very famous for her stage performances.

Theatre Work

Dolores Gray was especially known for her amazing work in musicals and plays. She starred in the first London production of Annie Get Your Gun in 1947. While performing in London, she also studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

She won a Tony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical for her role in Carnival in Flanders in 1954. This musical only ran for six shows, which means Dolores holds a special record for winning a Tony for such a short run!

Later, in 1973, she took over the lead role from Angela Lansbury in the London show Gypsy. In 1987, she starred in another famous musical called Follies. A theatre critic once said her voice sounded like "a freight-train slathered in honey." This means her voice was very strong and beautiful at the same time.

Film and Music

Dolores also appeared in several films. She was briefly signed with MGM, a major movie studio. Some of her films include Kismet (1955) and Designing Woman (1957). In Designing Woman, she played a singing and dancing actress.

She also sang Marilyn Monroe's part on the soundtrack album for the movie There's No Business Like Show Business. Besides soundtracks, she recorded one album of her own songs called Warm Brandy in 1957.

Television Appearances

Dolores Gray also appeared on television. In 1978, she was on a British TV show called The Good Old Days. In 1988, she even appeared in the popular science fiction show Doctor Who in an episode called “Silver Nemesis.” She played an American tourist in the story.

Marriage

On September 24, 1966, Dolores Gray married Andrew J. Crevolin. He was a businessman from California who owned Thoroughbred racehorses. He even won the famous 1954 Kentucky Derby horse race. They stayed married until his death in 1992. They did not have any children.

Death

Dolores Gray passed away from a heart attack in New York City when she was 78 years old. Her ashes were buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in California.

Filmography

Stage Work

• Seven Lively Arts (1944)
• Are You With It? (1945)
• Sweet Bye and Bye (1946) (closed on the road)
• Annie Get Your Gun (1947; 1962)
• Two on the Aisle (1951)
• Pygmalion (1952) (summer theatre)
• Carnival in Flanders (1953)
• Can-Can (1957) (summer theatre)
• Silk Stockings (1958–59) (summer theatre)
• Destry Rides Again (1959)
• Lady in the Dark (1959) (summer theatre)
• Sherry! (1967)
• Gypsy (1973, 1976, 1982)
• All Dressed Up (1982)
• Going Hollywood (1983) (workshop)
• 42nd Street (1986)
• Star Dust (1987) (concert reading)
• Follies (1987)
• Broadway at the Bowl (1988)

See also

In Spanish: Dolores Gray para niños