JOAN MCCRACKEN

'Joan McCracken' (December 31 1917 – November 1 1961) was an American dancer, actress, and comedian who became famous for her role as Silvie ("The Girl Who Falls Down") in the original 1943 production of ''Oklahoma!''. By age 11, she was studying dance with Catherine Littlefield. She dropped out of high school to join Littlefield's ballet company. She was a student of George Balanchine in the first year of the School of American Ballet (SAB).
McCracken toured Europe and danced at Radio City Music Hall before creating the role of Sylvie. She was married to Jack Dunphy and then to dancer and choreographer Bob Fosse from 1951 to 1959. She died from complications of diabetes in 1961 on Fire Island, aged 43. She is said, by her biographer, to have been the inspiration for the protagonist Holly Golightly in Truman Capote's novel, ''Breakfast at Tiffany's'', although this can be disputed .

Contents

Credits

Broadway

Television

References

External links

Credits

Broadway

★ ''Oklahoma!'', 1943-48

★ ''Bloomer Girl'', 1944-46

★ ''Billion Dollar Baby'', 1945-46

★ ''The Big Knife'', 1949

★ ''Dance Me a Song'', 1950

★ ''Angel in the Pawnshop'', 1951

★ ''Me and Juliet'', 1953-54

Television

★ ''The Revlon Mirror Theater'' ("White Night"; 1953)

★ '' (1952)

★ ''Actor's Studio'' ("Night Club", 1948)

★ ''Great Catherine'' (1948)

★ ''Toast of the Town'', Episode #6.46 (1953)

References

★ The Girl Who Fell Down, , Lisa Jo, Sagolla, Northeastern University, 2003, ISBN 1-55553-573-9

★ Joan McCracken

★ Joan McCracken

External links

★ PortHalcyon.com, "Dancing at the Canteen", Chris Bamberger