Acting · Seattle, Washington, USA · Born January 31, 1921
Carol Elaine Channing (born January 31, 1921) was an American actress, singer, dancer and comedian. Known for starring in Broadway and film musicals, her characters typically radiated a fervent expressiveness and an easily identifiable voice, whether singing or for comedic effect. Channing also studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City. She began as a Broadway musical actress, starring in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1949 and Hello, Dolly! in 1964, winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for the latter. She revived both roles several times throughout her career, most recently playing Dolly in 1995. Channing was nominated for her first Tony Award in 1956 for The Vamp followed by a nomination in 1961 for Show Girl. She received her fourth Tony Award nomination for the musical Lorelei in 1974. As a film actress, she won the Golden Globe Award and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Muzzy in Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967). Her other film appearances include The First Traveling Saleslady (1956) and Skidoo (1968). On television, she appeared as an entertainer on variety shows, from The Ed Sullivan Show in the 1950s to Hollywood Squares. She had a standout performance as The White Queen in the TV production of Alice in Wonderland (1985), and had the first of many TV specials in 1966, An Evening with Carol Channing. Channing was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 1981 and received a Lifetime Achievement Tony Award in 1995. She continued to perform and make appearances well into her 90s, singing songs from her repertoire and sharing stories with fans, cabaret style. She released an autobiography, Just Lucky I Guess, in 2002, and Larger Than Life, a documentary film about her career, was released in 2012.
MovieCommitment to Life
2023
as Self (archive)
MovieKaye Ballard - The Show Goes On!
2019
as Self
MovieThe Outrageous Sophie Tucker
2014
as Self
MovieCarol Channing: Larger Than Life
2012
as Self
MovieRuth Lyons: First Lady of Television
2011
as Self
TVRuPaul's Drag Race
2009
as Self - Video Message
MovieHollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1920s: The Dawn of the Hollywood Musical
2008
as Self
MovieShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway
2007
as Self
MovieWords and Music by Jerry Herman
2007
as Self
MovieBroadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards
2005
as Self - Host
TVBroadway: The American Musical
2004
as Self
MovieBroadway's Lost Treasures
2003
as Dolly Levi (segment "Hello, Dolly!")
MovieGreat Broadway Musical Moments from the Ed Sullivan Show
2003
as Lorelei Lee (archive footage)
MovieBroadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
2003
as Self
TVFamily Guy
1999
as Carol Channing (voice)
TVHollywood Squares
1998
as Self - Panelist
MovieThe Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars
1998
as Fanny (voice)
TVStyle & Substance
1998
TVThe View
1997
as Self
MovieThe Line King: The Al Hirschfeld Story
1996
as Self
TVThe Rosie O'Donnell Show
1996
as Self - Guest
MovieLive from Broadway: Hello, Dolly!
1995
TVThe Drew Carey Show
1995
as Carol Channing
MovieThe First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
1995
as Self
TVTouched by an Angel
1994
as Carol Channing
TVThe Magic School Bus
1994
as Cornelia C. Contralto II (voice)
TVSpace Ghost Coast to Coast
1994
as Self
MovieThumbelina
1994
as Ms. Fieldmouse (voice)
MovieJerry Herman's Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl
1994
as Self
TVBurke's Law
1994
as Daphne LeMay
TVThe Nanny
1993
as Carol Channing
TVLate Show with David Letterman
1993
as Self
TVThe Addams Family
1992
as Grandmama (voice)
TVWhere's Wally?
1991
as (voice)
MovieNight of 100 Stars III
1990
as Self
MovieHappily Ever After
1989
as Muddy (voice)
MovieGeorge Burns: His Wit and Wisdom
1989
as Self - Burns Dinner Friend (uncredited)
TVChip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers
1989
as Canina LaFur (voice)
TVLIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988
as Self
TVAlice in Wonderland
1985
as White Queen
MovieNight of 100 Stars II
1985
as Self
MovieGeorge Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business
1983
as Self
MovieNight of 100 Stars
1982
as Self
TVMagnum, P.I.
1980
as Carol Channing
MovieSgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
1978
as Our Guests at Heartland
TVThe Love Boat
1977
as Sylvia Duvall
MovieThe People's Command Performance: '77
1977
as Self
TVThe Muppet Show
1976
as Self - Special Guest Star
The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards
1974
as Self - Presenter
MovieFree to Be… You and Me
1974
as Self (voice) (uncredited)
One More Time
1974
as Self
Festival at Ford's
1971
as Self
TVGreat Performances
1971
as Self
TVThe Flip Wilson Show
1970
as Self
MovieShinbone Alley
1970
as Mehitabel (voice)
MovieCarol Channing and Pearl Bailey: On Broadway
1969
as Self
MovieSkidoo
1968
as Flo Banks
MovieCarol Channing and 101 Men
1968
as Self
TVRowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968
as Self
TVThe Carol Burnett Show
1967
as Self
MovieThoroughly Modern Millie
1967
as Muzzy Van Hossmere
The Carol Channing Show
1966
as Carol Honeycutt
TVThe Dean Martin Show
1965
MovieThe Day of the Oath
1965
as Self
TVThe Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
TVThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
TVPassword
1961
MovieShow Girl
1961
as Lynn / Naomi / Performer
The Big Party
1959
as Self
The Christmas Tree
1958
as Promenade Member
The George Burns Show
1958
as Carol Channing
TVDuPont Show of the Month
1957
as Self
The Lux Show
1957
as Self
MovieThree Men on a Horse
1957
as Mabel
TVThe Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956
as Self
MovieThe First Traveling Saleslady
1956
as Molly Wade
The Rosemary Clooney Show
1956
as Self
TVTony Awards
1956
as Self - Presenter
TVThe Oscars
1953
as Self
TVOmnibus
1952
TVHallmark Hall of Fame
1951
TVThe Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
as Self
MoviePaid in Full
1950
as Mrs. Peters (uncredited)
TVWhat's My Line?
1950
as Self - Mystery Guest
TVThe Ed Sullivan Show
1948
as Self
TVGolden Globe Awards
1944
as Self - Presenter
