Marilyn Cooper

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Marilyn Cooper (born December 14, 1936) is a Tony Award-winning American actress known primarily for her work on the Broadway stage.

Born in New York City, Cooper made her Broadway debut in 1956 in the chorus of Mr. Wonderful. Next she appeared in the chorus of a revival of Brigadoon. In 1957, she created the ensemble role of Rosalia, the Sharks girl who wants to go back to Puerto Rico ("Puerto Rico, you lovely island"), in the original Broadway production of West Side Story. In 1959, she went on to create the ensemble role of Agnes, the leader of the Hollywood Blondes, in the original Broadway production Gypsy, starring Ethel Merman. In 1962, she graduated to a leading role, playing the ingenue in I Can Get It for You Wholesale opposite Elliot Gould, with nineteen-year-old Barbra Streisand making her Broadway debut in a featured role. Cooper's expert blend of quirky comic style and astonishing Broadway belt made her a natural for the stage. She enjoyed a long and nearly unrivaled career in New York, appearing on Broadway in Hallelujah, Baby!; The Golden Rainbow, understudying and going on for Eydie Gorme; Mame, succeeding Jane Connell as Agnes Gooch toward the end of the original Broadway run; Two by Two, starring Danny Kaye, with Madeline Kahn; 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, Sam Craig's ex-wife, in the Lauren Bacall vehicle Woman of the Year. Although she sang only one song, "The Grass Is Always Greener", a duet with star Bacall, Cooper stole the show and stopped it cold. Her dead-pan, drop-dead hilarious interpretation of the Kander & Ebb number finally garnered Cooper her due acclaim. She became a critics' darling, and won a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for performance by a featured actress in a musical. Cooper toured the United States with Bacall in the national tour Woman of the Year that followed its successful Broadway run. In 1985, Cooper appeared in Neil Simon's female version of The Odd Couple. The following season she had a memorable vocal cameo as a nagging telephone voice in Simon's Broadway Bound. As of this writing Marilyn Cooper has appeared in a nearly insurpassable nineteen Broadway productions.

Cooper's fine voice can be heard on the original Broadway cast recordings of West Side Story, I Can Get It for You Wholesale, Two by Two, and Woman of the Year. Additionally she appeared in "Fiorello", "One Touch of Venus" and "Do, Re, Mi" for City Center's Encores! series.

Cooper's television appearances include "Alice", where she is reunited with pal Linda Lavin singing "It's All in the Game", Kate and Allie, Cheers, Law & Order, The Nanny, and Caroline in the City.

[edit] Complete Broadway credits

Awards
Preceded by
Priscilla Lopez
for A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine		 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical
1981
for Woman of the Year (musical)		 Succeeded by
Liliane Montevecchi
for Nine
Preceded by
Debbie Allen
for West Side Story		 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
1980-1981
for Woman of the Year (musical)		 Succeeded by
Liliane Montevecchi
for Nine

[edit] External links