Julie Wilson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Julie Wilson
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Wilson in 1956
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Julie May Wilson
October 21, 1924 Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
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| Died | April 5, 2015 (aged 90) New York, New York, U.S.
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| Occupation | Singer, actress |
| Years active | 1942–1990 |
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Notable work
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Legs Diamond Kiss Me, Kate |
| Children | 2, including Holt McCallany |
Julie May Wilson (born October 21, 1924 – died April 5, 2015) was a famous American singer and actress. Many people called her "the queen of cabaret." Cabaret is a type of entertainment where a singer performs in a restaurant or nightclub, often telling stories through songs. Julie Wilson was even nominated for a Tony Award in 1989 for her role in the musical Legs Diamond. A Tony Award is one of the highest honors for live theater in the United States.
Early Life and First Steps
Julie Wilson was born in Omaha, Nebraska, in the United States. Her mother, Emily, was a hairdresser, and her father, Russell, sold coal. When she was a teenager, Julie loved to sing with a local music group called "Hank's Hepcats." She also briefly attended Omaha University.
Julie even won the title of Miss Nebraska! She was going to compete in the Miss America pageant, which is a big beauty and talent competition. However, it was discovered she was just under the required age of 18, so she couldn't compete. During World War II, she moved to New York City and found work singing in two famous nightclubs, the Latin Quarter and the Copacabana.
Career Highlights
Julie Wilson first performed on Broadway, which is New York City's famous theater district, in 1946. She was in a show called Three to Make Ready. In 1951, she moved to London, England, to star in the West End production of Kiss Me, Kate. The West End is London's version of Broadway. She stayed in London for four years, performing in other popular shows like South Pacific and Bells Are Ringing. While there, she also studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.
After returning to New York, Julie continued to perform on Broadway. Some of her other Broadway shows included The Pajama Game (1954) and Legs Diamond (1988). For her role in Legs Diamond, she received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She also traveled around the country performing in many well-known musicals like Show Boat and Follies.
Julie also appeared in movies and on television. In 1957, she sang songs for the movie This Could Be The Night and also had an acting role in it. She was also in the movie The Strange One. On television, she had regular roles on the American daytime show The Secret Storm, which was a type of drama called a soap opera. She also appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show many times, which was a very popular variety show.
Family Life
Julie Wilson was married three times. With her third husband, actor and producer Michael McAloney, she had two sons, Holt and Michael Jr. While their parents worked in New York City, the boys attended school in Ireland. When her marriage ended, Julie decided to retire from performing for a while and moved to Omaha to be with her sons and her parents.
Her son, Holt McAloney, later became a well-known actor, using the name Holt McCallany. Sadly, her son Michael McAloney Jr. passed away in 1991.
In 1983, after her sons had grown up and her parents had passed away, Julie Wilson returned to performing. She became very famous as a cabaret singer, known for her powerful and emotional way of singing "torch songs" (which are often sad love songs) and other show tunes.
Julie Wilson passed away on April 5, 2015, in Manhattan, New York, after having a stroke. She was 90 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Julie Wilson para niños
