Marilyn Cooper (December 14, 1934 – April 22, 2009) was an American actress known primarily for her work on the Broadway stage.

Life and career

Cooper was born to Ashkenazi Jewish parents, Benjamin Cooper and Edna Becker in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

. Cooper's great aunt was the Vaudeville star Belle Baker. Cooper stated that she was inspired by her aunt's career. Cooper made her Broadway debut in 1956 in the chorus of '' Mr. Wonderful''. Next she was in the chorus of a revival of '' Brigadoon''. In 1957, she played Rosalia, a Sharks girl who wants to go back to

Puerto Rico ; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...

("Puerto Rico, you lovely island"), in the original Broadway production of ''

West Side Story ''West Side Story'' is a Musical theatre, musical conceived by Jerome Robbins with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a Book (musical theatre), book by Arthur Laurents. Inspired by William Shakespeare's play ''Romeo an ...

''. In 1959, she went on to create the ensemble role of Agnes, the leader of the Hollywood Blondes, in the original Broadway production ''

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''. Before leaving the show, she briefly understudied the title role of Louise and played the part for one performance without having had an opportunity to rehearse Act 2. In 1962, she graduated to a leading role, playing the ingenue in '' I Can Get It for You Wholesale'', opposite

Elliott Gould Elliott Gould (; né Goldstein; born August 29, 1938) is an American actor. Gould's breakthrough role was in the film ''Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice'' (1969), for which he received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The ...

and Sheree North (the show marked

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's Broadway debut at age 19). Cooper enjoyed a long career in New York, appearing on Broadway in '' Hallelujah, Baby!''; '' Golden Rainbow'' (understudying and going on for Eydie Gorme); ''

Mame MAME (formerly an acronym of Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) is a free and open-source emulator designed to emulate the hardware of arcade games, video game consoles, old computers and other systems in software on modern personal computers and ...

'' (succeeding

Helen Gallagher Helen Gallagher (July 19, 1926 – November 24, 2024) was an American actress, dancer, and singer. She received three Daytime Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, a Donaldson Award, and a Drama Desk Award. Gallagher's work on the New York stages spa ...

as Agnes Gooch towards the end of the original Broadway run); '' Two by Two'', starring

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and

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; the 1971 revival of '' On the Town'' as Lucy Schmeeler, the blind date; and in Michael Bennett's '' Ballroom'', starring Dorothy Loudon. In 1981, Cooper created the supporting role of Jan Donovan, the wife of Tess Harding's ex-husband Larry, in the

Lauren Bacall Betty Joan Perske (September 16, 1924 – August 12, 2014), professionally known as Lauren Bacall ( ), was an American actress. She was named the AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars, 20th-greatest female star of classic Hollywood cinema by the America ...

vehicle '' Woman of the Year''. Although she sang only one song, "The Grass Is Always Greener" (a duet with Lauren Bacall's character Tess), she effectively stole the show and won critical and popular acclaim, along with the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical and the

Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical was an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in theatre across collective Broadway, off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions in New York City. The a ...

for her performance. Cooper toured the United States with Bacall in the national tour of ''Woman of the Year'' that followed its successful Broadway run. She also reprised her role of Jan Donovan in the national touring production of '' Woman of the Year'', starring

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, from April 3, 1984, until September 16, 1984. In 1985, Cooper appeared in

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's female version of '' The Odd Couple''. The following season she had a memorable vocal cameo as a radio actress in Simon's '' Broadway Bound''. Cooper can be heard on the original Broadway cast recordings of ''

'', '' I Can Get It for You Wholesale'', '' Two by Two'', and '' Woman of the Year''. Additionally she appeared in '' Fiorello!'', ''

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'', and '' Do Re Mi'' at

New York City Center New York City Center (previously known as the Mecca Temple, City Center of Music and Drama, and the New York City Center 55th Street Theater) is a performing arts center at 131 West 55th Street (Manhattan), 55th Street between Sixth Avenue, Six ...

's "Encores!" series. Cooper's television appearances include ''

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'', where she was reunited with Linda Lavin (singing "It's All in the Game"), '' Kate and Allie'', ''

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'' (as

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's mother Betty), ''

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'', ''

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'' and ''

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''. She also had a featured role with Tony Roberts and Kelly Bishop in the short-lived television series, '' The Thorns''.

Death

Cooper died on April 22, 2009, at the Actors Fund Home in

Englewood, New Jersey Englewood is a city in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Englewood was incorporated as a city by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1899, from portions of Ridgefield Township and the remaining portions of Engle ...

, following a long illness.

Simonson, Robert Robert Simonson (born September 11, 1964) is an American journalist and author. Personal life Robert Simonson was born in Wisconsin; he has lived in Brooklyn since 1988. Career Robert Simonson began writing about cocktails, spirits and bars for ...

br>"Marilyn Cooper, Tony-Winning Actress for Woman of the Year, Dies"
, www.playbill.com, April 23, 2009

Broadway credits

* '' Mr. Wonderful'' (1956) * '' Brigadoon'' (1957, revival) * ''

'' (1957) * ''

'' (1959) * '' I Can Get It for You Wholesale'' (1961) * ''

'' (1964 revival) * '' Hallelujah, Baby!'' (1967) * '' Golden Rainbow'' (1968) * ''

'' (joined cast in December 1969) * '' Two by Two'' (1970) * '' On the Town'' (1971, revival) * '' Working'' (1978) * '' Ballroom'' (1978) * '' Woman of the Year (musical)'' (1981) * '' The Odd Couple'' (1985, revival, female version) * '' Broadway Bound'' (1986) * '' Cafe Crown'' (1989, revival) * '' Grease'' (1994, revival)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cooper, Marilyn 1934 births 2009 deaths Actresses from New York City American musical theatre actresses American television actresses Drama Desk Award winners Tony Award winners 20th-century American women singers 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American women Jewish American actresses Jewish American singers