Carol Haney (born Carolyn Haney; December 24, 1924 – May 10, 1964) was an American dancer and actress. After assisting

Gene Kelly Eugene Curran Kelly (August 23, 1912 – February 2, 1996) was an American dancer, actor, singer, director and choreographer. He was known for his energetic and athletic dancing style and sought to create a new form of American dance accessibl ...

in choreographing films, Haney won a

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...

for her role in Broadway's ''

The Pajama Game ''The Pajama Game'' is a musical based on the 1953 novel '' 7½ Cents'' by Richard Bissell. The book is by George Abbott and Richard Bissell; the music and lyrics are by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. Dances were staged by Bob Fosse in his chor ...

'', while later work as a stage

choreographer Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements of physical bodies (or their depictions) in which Motion (physics), motion or Visual appearance, form or both are specified. ''Choreography'' may also refer to the design itself. A chor ...

earned her three Tony nominations.

Life and career

Haney was born in

New Bedford, Massachusetts New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is located on the Acushnet River in what is known as the South Coast region. At the 2020 census, New Bedford had a population of 101,079, making it the state's ninth-l ...

, to Norman Vincent Haney (1899-1990), a bank teller, and his Danish-born wife, Ellen ( Christensen) Haney (1900-1952).1930 United States Federal Census She had an older sister, Miriam Woodcock (1922-1961). She began to dance at age five and opened a dancing school in her teens. After high school, Haney left her home town for

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...

and landed bit parts in movies until she was spotted by dancer/choreographer Jack Cole, becoming his dance partner and assistant from 1946 to 1948. In 1949, Haney was hired by

to be his assistant choreographer on several M-G-M

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serv ...

s, and she aided Kelly in some of his best work, including '' On the Town'' (1949), ''

Summer Stock In American theater, summer stock theater is a theater that presents stage productions only in the summer. The name combines the season with the tradition of staging shows by a resident company, reusing stock scenery and costumes. Summer stock ...

'' (1950), ''

An American in Paris ''An American in Paris'' is a jazz-influenced symphonic poem (or tone poem) for orchestra by American composer George Gershwin first performed in 1928. It was inspired by the time that Gershwin had spent in Paris and evokes the sights and en ...

'' (1951), '' Singin' in the Rain'' (1952), as well as Kelly's dream project, '' Invitation to the Dance'' (1956). As Kelly's Dance Captain, Haney routinely worked with his partners and upon learning their strong points, choreographed numbers around them. Kelly attempted to elevate Haney's film presence, most notably by wanting her for the "Gotta Dance" sequence in ''Singin' in the Rain''. He was continually overruled by the studio, who felt Haney lacked sufficient physical appeal. Known as the most lithe dancer in films, Haney danced with

Bob Fosse Robert Louis Fosse (; June 23, 1927 – September 23, 1987) was an American choreographer, dancer, filmmaker, and stage director. Known for his work on stage and screen, he is arguably the most influential figure in the field of jazz dance in th ...

in the 1953 film version of '' Kiss Me, Kate.'' When Fosse landed his first Broadway choreographing assignment, ''

'' (1954), he recommended that Haney be cast in a small dancing part. She impressed director

George Abbott George Francis Abbott (June 25, 1887January 31, 1995) was an American theatre producer, director, playwright, screenwriter, film director and producer whose career spanned eight decades. He received numerous honors including six Tony Awards, the ...

so much that Abbott combined her role with a larger part, resulting in the character of Gladys Hotchkiss, showcasing her in two specialty dance numbers "Steam Heat" and "Hernando's Hideaway". The role shot Haney to Broadway fame and won her a

and two Donaldson awards. The role of Gladys was lucky for Haney's understudy,

Shirley MacLaine Shirley MacLaine (born Shirley MacLean Beaty; April 24, 1934) is an American actress and author. With a career spanning over 70 years, she has received List of awards and nominations received by Shirley MacLaine, numerous accolades, including a ...

. A month into the run of ''The Pajama Game'', in May 1954, Haney injured her ankle during a Wednesday matinee, and MacLaine played the role. MacLaine was spotted by Hollywood producer Hal Wallis, who had come to the show to see Haney, and MacLaine got a contract that launched her film career. After this, Haney appeared in a few shows, including the touring production ''Ziegfeld Follies of 1956'', but developed paralyzing stage fright. She was seen on television, and she recreated her performance as Gladys in the film version of ''

'' (1957). She then focused her career on choreography for Broadway shows: ''

Flower Drum Song ''Flower Drum Song'' was the eighth musical theatre, musical by the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein. It is based on the 1957 novel, ''The Flower Drum Song'', by Chinese-American author C. Y. Lee (author), C. Y. Lee. It premiered on Broadway the ...

'' (1958, directed by Gene Kelly), '' Bravo Giovanni'' (1962), '' She Loves Me'' (1963) and '' Funny Girl'' (1964). ''The American Dance Machine'' (1978) featured her choreography from television. Haney earned three Tony Award for Best Choreography nominations: for ''Flower Drum Song'', ''Bravo Giovanni'', and ''Funny Girl'' (posthumous). In May 1958, she appeared with

Dick Van Dyke Richard Wayne Van Dyke (born December 13, 1925) is an American actor, entertainer and comedian. Dick Van Dyke on screen and stage, His work spans screen and stage, and List of awards and nominations received by Dick Van Dyke, his awards includ ...

as a guest star on

Polly Bergen Polly Bergen (born Nellie Paulina Burgin; July 14, 1930 – September 20, 2014) was an American actress, singer, television host, writer, and entrepreneur. She won an Emmy Award in 1958 for her performance as Helen Morgan (singer), Helen ...

's short-lived NBC

variety show Variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is entertainment made up of a variety of acts including musical performances, sketch comedy, magic, acrobatics, juggling, and ventriloquism. It is normally introduced by a comp� ...

, ''The Polly Bergen Show'', as well as popular game shows such as ''

What's My Line? ''What's My Line?'' is a Panel show, panel game show that originally ran in the United States, between 1950 and 1967, on CBS, originally in black and white and later in color, with subsequent American revivals. The game uses celebrity panelists ...

'' She demonstrated her talent as a dramatic actress in occasional stage productions such as the role of "Lila" in William Inge's ''A Loss of Roses'', opposite newcomer

Warren Beatty Henry Warren Beatty (né Beaty; born March 30, 1937) is an American actor and filmmaker. His career has spanned over six decades, and he has received an Academy Award and three Golden Globe Awards. He also received the Irving G. Thalberg Memor ...

, who, ironically, was Shirley MacLaine's real-life brother. However, for the film version she was again passed over for a part she had originated on stage.

Family

Haney was married to Eugene Dorian Johnson from 1945 to 1953 and then Broadway actor and TV host Larry Blyden from 1955 to 1962, whom she choreographed in ''Flower Drum Song''. She and Blyden had two children, Joshua (1957–2000) and Ellen (b. 1960).

Death

Haney died in Saddle River, New Jersey in 1964, at age 39, six weeks after the opening of '' Funny Girl'', which she choreographed (and ten years to the month after she injured her ankle and was replaced by

in ''The Pajama Game''). The cause was

pneumonia Pneumonia is an Inflammation, inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as Pulmonary alveolus, alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of Cough#Classification, productive or dry cough, ches ...

, complicated by

diabetes Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a group of common endocrine diseases characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels. Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the cells of th ...

and

alcoholism Alcoholism is the continued drinking of alcohol despite it causing problems. Some definitions require evidence of dependence and withdrawal. Problematic use of alcohol has been mentioned in the earliest historical records. The World He ...

. Blyden and Haney resided in the historic Achenbach House in Saddle River, New Jersey, which they believed to be haunted by the spirit of its builder. The house was later sold to tour operator Mario Perillo and was destroyed by fire in 2004.Fisher, Janon
"Bergen County House on Historic Register Is Fire Victim"
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', March 20, 2004. Accessed February 4, 2012. "In the 1960s, the private house, known as the Achenbach House, was the home of the actor and producer Larry Blyden and his wife, the actress and dancer Carol Haney, who believed the house was haunted. Later it was owned by Mario Perillo of Perillo Tours, well known for his television commercials selling package tours to Italy; after his death, the house passed to Mr. Perillo's son Stephen, the current owner."

Filmography

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Haney, Carol 1924 births 1964 deaths American female dancers Dancers from Massachusetts American musical theatre actresses American choreographers Deaths from diabetes in New Jersey Deaths from pneumonia in New Jersey Donaldson Award winners People from New Bedford, Massachusetts Entertainers from Saddle River, New Jersey Tony Award winners 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Massachusetts Singers from Massachusetts 20th-century American singers 20th-century American women singers 20th-century American dancers Musical theatre choreographers