Lisa Kirk

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Lisa Kirk

Born	Elsie Marie Kirk February 25, 1925(1925-02-25) Charleroi, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	November 11, 1990 (aged 65) New York City, New York, U.S.
Spouse(s)	Robert Wells (1922–1998)

Lisa Kirk (February 25, 1925 – November 11, 1990) was an American actress and singer.

Born as Elsie Marie Kirk in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, she enrolled as a law student at the University of Pittsburgh but abandoned her studies when she was offered a spot in the chorus line at the Versailles nightclub in Manhattan. She made her Broadway debut in Allegro in 1947, and the following year gained critical acclaim for her performance as Lois Lane/Bianca in Kiss Me, Kate. Additional Broadway credits include Here's Love (1963), Mack and Mabel (1974), Me Jack, You Jill (a 1976 dud that closed during previews), and a 1984 revival of Noël Coward's Design for Living.

Sometimes confused with her mother, Elsie Kirk, who acted the "Old Lady" on the motorbike, in "The Producers" film, Kirk's only feature film work was done behind-the-scenes, dubbing Rosalind Russell's singing voice in Gypsy. It was rumored that she had also dubbed Lucille Ball's singing voice in Mame, but Ball denied this on The Merv Griffin Show, saying "She's not dubbing my voice because no one can".

Kirk was active in the early days of television, appearing in such anthology series as Studio One, Kraft Television Theatre, The Colgate Comedy Hour, and General Electric Theater. In later years she guested on Bewitched and The Courtship of Eddie's Father, as well as variety series like The Ed Sullivan Show, The Hollywood Palace, and The Dean Martin Show.

Kirk frequently appeared at the Persian Room in the Plaza Hotel [1]. In addition to her appearances on original cast albums and compilations of Broadway performances, she recorded a number of solo LPs, including I Feel A Song Comin' On and Lisa Kirk Sings At The Plaza.

She was married to sketch artist Robert Wells (1922 – 1998). A non-smoker,^{[citation needed]} Lisa Kirk died of lung cancer in New York City.