Phyllis Newman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Phyllis Newman
Newman in 1966
Born	(1933-03-19)March 19, 1933 Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	September 15, 2019(2019-09-15) (aged 86) Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, singer
Years active	1952–2019
Spouse(s)	Adolph Green ​ ​ (m. 1960; died 2002)​
Children	Adam Green Amanda Green

Phyllis Newman (March 19, 1933 – September 15, 2019) was an American actress and singer. She was famous for her work on Broadway, in movies, and on TV. She won a Tony Award in 1962 for her role in the musical Subways Are for Sleeping. She also received a special Tony Award in 2009 for her work helping women in the entertainment industry.

Early Life and School

Phyllis Newman was born on March 19, 1933, in Jersey City, New Jersey. She was one of three daughters. Her parents were immigrants from Europe. Her mother, Rachel Gottlieb, was known as Marvelle the Fortune Teller. Her father, Sigmund Newman, was called Gabel the Graphologist. They both worked in boardwalk amusements.

Phyllis went to Lincoln High School. There, her classmates voted her "Future Hollywood Star."

Career Highlights

Broadway Shows

Newman started her Broadway career in 1952. Her first show was Wish You Were Here. She also appeared in many other musicals and plays. These include Bells Are Ringing and On the Town.

She won a Tony Award for her role in Subways Are for Sleeping. She even beat Barbra Streisand for the award that year! Later, she was nominated for another Tony for Broadway Bound.

In 1979, Newman created a one-woman show. It was called The Madwoman of Central Park West. The show featured songs by famous composers like Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim.

Television Appearances

Phyllis Newman became a well-known TV star in the 1960s and 1970s. She was often a panelist on popular game shows. These included What's My Line?, Match Game, and To Tell the Truth. She was also a frequent guest on The Tonight Show.

She played Renée Buchanan on the soap opera One Life to Live. She also appeared in other TV series. Some of these were The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Murder, She Wrote.

Movies

Newman also acted in several movies. Her film roles include Picnic (1955) and Mannequin (1987). She also appeared in Only You (1994) and The Beautician and the Beast (1997). Her last film was The Human Stain in 2003.

Music Recordings

Besides her roles in musicals, Newman recorded her own album. It was called Those Were the Days. She released it in 1968.

Helping Others: The Women's Health Initiative

In 1995, Phyllis Newman started something special. It was called The Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative. This program helps women in the entertainment industry. It provides support for their health needs.

She hosted an annual event called "Nothing Like a Dame." This event raised a lot of money. It helped many women in the entertainment business. In 2009, she received a special Tony Award for this work. It was called the Isabelle Stevenson Award. This award honors people in theater who do great humanitarian work.

Her Memoir

Phyllis Newman wrote a book about her life. It was called Just in Time — Notes from My Life. The book shares stories about her career. It also talks about her husband, Adolph Green, and her experience with cancer.

Personal Life and Passing

Phyllis Newman was married to Adolph Green. He was a lyricist and playwright. They were married from 1960 until he passed away in 2002. They had two children: a son named Adam Green and a daughter named Amanda Green.

Phyllis Newman passed away on September 15, 2019. She was 86 years old. She died from complications of a lung disorder.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Phyllis Newman para niños

• List of American television actresses
• List of breast cancer patients by occupation
• List of people from Jersey City, New Jersey
• List of people from New York City