Carol Channing

Carol Channing was born January 31, 1921, at Seattle, Washington, the daughter of a prominent newspaper editor, who was very active in the Christian Science movement. She attended high school in San Francisco and later worked as a model in Los Angeles. She attended prestigious Bennington College in Vermont and majored in drama and dance and supplemented her work by taking parts in nearby Pocono Resort area. Carol initially made her mark on Broadway in "Gentleman Prefer Blondes" playing Lorelei Lee. In "Hello Dolly" she played Dolly Gallagher Levi, the witty, manipulative widow intent upon finding a wealthy husband.

Attended and graduated from the prestigious Lowell High School in San Francisco, California (1938). Her high school's theater is currently named after her.

Gave birth to her only child at age 32, a son Channing George Carson on March 25, 1953. Child's father is her second husband, Alexander Carson. When she married for a third time (her longest marriage at 43 years), in 1956, to Charles Lowe, her son, Channing George Carson took his stepfather's last name, becoming Channing (Chan) Lowe.

She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6233 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960.

The musical won ten Tony awards in 1964, including Channing's for best actress in a comedy. Jacqueline Kennedy and her two children made their first public appearance after President John F. Kennedy's death by seeing her perform in "Hello Dolly" and later visited her backstage.

In 1967, Pearl Bailey replaced her on Broadway when "Hello, Dolly!" was recast as an all-black production.

Inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame (1981).

In 1986-1987, toured in the play "Legends" with Mary Martin, the subject of an excellent, highly amusing book by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright James Kirkwood Jr.., "Diary of a Mad Playwright: Perilous Adventures on the Road with Mary Martin and Carol Channing". Despite the pressures, Kirkwood describes Channing as a true professional and a joy to work with.

She was awarded a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in Palm Springs, California on October 2, 2010.

Cherry Grove, Fire Island, New York: At age 92, she appeared before over 500 admirers for an interview event, during which she also burst into song while answering questions about her career. [August 2013]

Son Chan Lowe was the long time, multiple award winning, editorial cartoonist for the Fort Lauderdale/South Florida Sun-Sentinel newspaper in Fort Lauderdale for many years before being laid off due to budget cutbacks in January 2015.

Carol Channing passed away on January 15, 2019, more than two weeks away from what would have been her 98th birthday on January 31.