december november american dancer actress comedian famous role girl falls original production oklahoma noted performances broadway shows billion dollar baby dance song films good news widely remembered today trend musical comedy dance oklahoma role instant sensation carefully choreographed new day dance number considered combining dance comedy branched dramatic roles broadway early television career ultimately cut short ending years death age suffered complications diabetes generous promoting careers dancers including strong influence second husband encouraging choreographer noted unconventional behavior real life person counterparts breakfast early life born philadelphia pennsylvania december daughter prominent sportswriter authority golf boxing age awarded scholarship work philadelphia gymnasium later studied dance dropped tenth grade study dance new_york choreographer opening career early career returned philadelphia join new ballet company ballet later known philadelphia ballet ballet company official debut november principal went european tour company tour american ballet company europe strain health recently diagnosed type diabetes known juvenile diabetes difficult treat medical technology time european tour harder stay compliance treatment kept diabetes secret life prevent damage career disease prone spells performances led medical complications later life new husband dancer moved new_york_city failed obtain employment danced ballet company danced ballet company massachusetts later year joined formed choreographer assistant leading male dancer oklahoma hollywood successfully auditioned roles dance ensemble new musical away staged aaron staging production went rehearsals early like husband cast anonymous dance role chorus early town began distinguish dancing noticed reviewers time broadway opening named developed comic performance role taking comic new day dance number known girl fell sources differ role distinctive fall devised said ideas recall choreographer member original cast attributed idea composer performance oklahoma led contract studio cast star warner contract players portrayed appeared specialty dance routine called ballet dance number received favorable critical attention initially enthusiastic working films discouraged experiences working hollywood husband brother serving military disliked film tone treated servicemen naive movie stars encounter dismayed witnessed lack guidance received choreographer broke contract went broadway appear musical set widely considered broadway musical feminism received rave reviews performance combined comedy acting dance highest billed star performance especially enhanced reputation comic performer broadway television subsequently starred billion dollar baby opened broadway december winning positive reviews performance starring role play failed career received lukewarm reviews billion dollar baby hired metro mayer appear college musical good news starring received good reviews playing song dance number pass peace pipe standout mgm renew contract movie career took reviewing good times nation critic novelist wrote makes think study mgm film historian compared noted contrast actresses noting unlike stardom mgm business faux fresh broadway veteran lacked close appeal delivered lines hard edged broadway style reaching little old lady balcony limited range singer prevented getting broadway parts described small powerful woman voice long actress began studying acting alumnus soon found fall lewis invitation studio charter members turning point acting career came december appeared daughter virginia new_york production play starring title role directed unlike previous roles straight dramatic role dancing play helped establish reputation legitimate actress studied acting appeared broadway production play big knife fierce indictment hollywood play directed starred film star studio boss killing child car accident years earlier time accident studio covered uses leverage character plays girl involved incident threatens talk acting role praised critics new_york_times calling inventive performance real quality role helpful career appeared musical comedy dance song turned flop choreographed won acclaim oklahoma years earlier play principal stars appeared scenes choreography ravaged critics play reviews performance mixed starred veteran broadway actor play angel tour broadway played young woman seeking escape marriage thief owned character puts old clothing living times engaged choreographed dancing play straight dramatic role play prepared broadway october appeared television premiere pulitzer prize playing time gave interview described television hurt career new medium reviews angel negative received mixed reviews performance went appear broadway revival adapted play starred title role touring company production succeeding play musical different subsequent version starring years later songs captain hook played performance praised critics favorite acting role appeared television situation comedies story marriage based film series title role played played opposite broadway actor appeared broadway musical juliet choreography worked play meant like backstage run hit broadway performed opposite performance received good reviews play little help career decline despite favorable reviews performances big knife health failure recent broadway plays took toll career health declined found dancing ability affected suffered severe heart attack followed possible second attack developed pneumonia required extended stay hospital hid severity health problems details public release hospital told doctors longer dance news devastating appeared television dramatic roles career late 1950s complications diabetes increasingly difficult work final stage appearance broadway production play machine appearing alongside personal life noted eccentric behavior times enjoy meeting mgm vocal coach removed bra comfortable met dancer company married separated service world war affair french composer adopted gay lifestyle romantically involved divorced remained partner death met dancer choreographer appearing dance song starring role specialty dancer married december worked actively advance career encouraged work choreographer intervention producer led major job choreographer game divorced health worsened marriage left gwen later life relationship actor spent final years beach house isolated section new_york died sleep heart attack brought diabetes november cremated request ashes given mother subsequently lost legacy known stage screen persona new_york_times described overnight success comic dancer oklahoma times described new talent flair comedy influence musical comedy performers considerable said sense face comedy years fashionable possessed people talent biography girl fell dance critic says little remembered today widely appreciated influence efforts encourage dance choreography career went sharp decline 1950s diabetes directly influenced career pioneer combining comedy dance real life counterparts popular breakfast playing october received telegram telling death brother month earlier particularly vicious combat pacific island reacted violently heard news tearing dressing room told incident book violent reaction brother death army service overseas shown singing songs oklahoma accompanying guitar owning edited uncle autobiographical film jazz character death angel played personality traits resemble appears dressed final stage appearance credits broadway oklahoma billion dollar baby big knife dance song angel juliet films good news dancing entertainment iii television actor studio night club pulitzer prize story marriage white night town episode
Joan McCracken