브로드웨이 빅스타. 여배우, 댄서로 활동하였으며, 토니어워즈에서 네 번이나 상을 수상하였다.

캘리포니아주 컬버시티 출생. 그녀의 어머니는 댄스 선생이어서 어렸을 때부터 그녀는 춤을 배웠다. 발레와 탭, 재즈, 볼륨, 플라멘코 등을 배웠고, 11살 때에는 영화 <The King Steps Out, 1936>에 발레리나로 출연하였다. 해밀튼 고등학교와 어니스트 벌처 선생에게 발레를 배웠다. 그녀는 고등학교 때 리바이벌 뮤지컬 <Show Boat>에 출연하였다.
17살 때에는 댄서 무비 뮤지컬 <The Blonde From Brooklyn>에 출연하였다. 그녀는 콜포터의 뮤지컬 <Can-Can, 1953>에 출연하였다. <Damn Yankees, 1955>, <New Girl in Town>에 출연하였고, <Redhead>에서는 안무를 맡기도 하였다.

1966년 무대로 다시 돌아온 그녀는 <Sweet Charity>에 출연하였다. 1975년에는 포시의 작품 <Chicago>에 록시 하트로 출연하였고, <Dancin’, 1978>, 영화 <All That Jazz, 1979> 에 출연하였다.

영화로는 <The Cotton Club, 1984>, <Cocoon, 1985>, <Cocoon: The Return, 1988> 등에 출연하였고, 댄스 선생으로 안무자로 활동하였다. 후에 댄스 뮤지컬 <Fosse>의 안무를 맡았다. <Walking Across Egypt, 1999>에 출연하였고, 2000년에 심장마비로 숨을 거두었다.

Film <Bruno, 2000> Actress(Barbara Weetman)
<Walking Across Egypt, 1999> Actress(Alora)
<Walker, Texas Ranger, 1997-1999> Actress(Maisie Whitman)
<Promised Land, 1998> Actress(Karen Hatcher)
<Best Friends for Life, 1998> Actress(Edith Cooper)
<Touched by an Angel, 1997> Actress(Lorraine McCully)
<Marvin's Room, 1996> Actress(Ruth)
<In Cold Blood, 1996> Actress(Sadie Truitt)
<The Cosby Mysteries, 1994> Actress(Yolanda)
<Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All, 1994> Actress(Etta Pell, Old Folks Home Resident)
<Key West, 1993> Actress(Sister Grace)
<Homicide: Life on the Street, 1993> Actress(Jessie Doohen)
<Dream On, 1992> Actress(Kitty Brewer)
<Alice, 1990> Actress(Alice's Mother)
<Great Performances: Dance in America, 1990>
<Dear John, 1989> Actress(Yvonne)
<Cocoon: The Return, 1988> Actress(Bess McCarthy Selwyn)
<Webster, 1986-1988> Actress(Aunt Charlotte)
<Magnum, P.I., 1985-1988> Actress(Katherine Magnum Peterson)
<Nadine, 1987> Actress(Vera)
<Hotel, 1987> Actress(Iris Lloyd)
<All Is Forgiven, 1986> Actress(Bonita Harrell)
<The Equalizer, 1986> Actress(Kelly Sterling)
<Cocoon, 1985> Actress(Bess McCarthy)
<Trapper John, M.D., 1985> Actress(Ms. Taylor)
<The Cotton Club, 1984> Actress(Tish Dwyer)
<Gimme a Break!, 1984> Actress(Lily)
<The Jerk, Too, 1984> Actress(Bag Lady)
<Parade of Stars, 1983> Actress(Charity)
<Legs, 1983> Actress(Maureen Comly)
<All My Children, 1970, 1982> Actress(Judith Kingsley Sawyer)
<Fame, 1982> Actress(Melinda MacNeil)
<M*A*S*H, 1981> Actress(Brandy Doyle)
<Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1978> Actress(Our Guests at Heartland)
<Deadly Visitor, 1973>
<Love, American Style, 1972> Actress(Estelle Mayberry)
<NET Playhouse ...., 1971>
<Damn Yankees!, 1958> Actress(Lola)
<Gentlemen Marry Brunettes, 1955> Actress(Specialty Dancer)
<Once Upon an Eastertime, 1954> Actress(Cathy)
<Goodyear Television Playhouse, 1954>
<The Farmer Takes a Wife, 1953> Actress(Abigail)
<The I Don't Care Girl, 1953> Actress(Specialty Dancer - 'Beale Street Blues')
<The Mississippi Gambler, 1953> Actress(Voodoo Dancer)
<The Merry Widow, 1952> Actress(Specialty Can-Can Dancer)
<Dreamboat, 1952> Actress(Girl)
<Meet Me After the Show, 1951> Actress(Gwen Verdon, Sappho, Dancer in No Talent Joe)
<David and Bathsheba, 1951> Actress(Specialty dancer)
<On the Riviera, 1951> Actress(Speciality Dancer)
<The Blonde from Brooklyn, 1945> Actress(Girl in Nightclub)
<Hoosier Holiday, 1943> Actress(Cheerleader)
<The King Steps Out, 1936> Actress(Solo Ballerina)

Soundtrack <Great Performances, 2003>
<American Masters, 1999>
<Parade of Stars, 1983>
<M*A*S*H), 1981>
<The Mike Douglas Show, 1976>
<That's Entertainment, Part II, 1976>
<Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell, 1975>
<The Garry Moore Show, 1962>
<The Dinah Shore Chevy Show, 1959>
<Damn Yankees!, 1958>
<The Colgate Comedy Hour, 1955>
<The Farmer Takes a Wife, 1953>
<The Mississippi Gambler, 1953>
<The Merry Widow, 1952>
<Meet Me After the Show, 1951>