Carol Channing, Broadway star best known for 'Hello Dolly!' performance, dies at 97
Carol Channing, the Broadway star best known for her enduring portrayal of the meddlesome matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi in the musical "Hello Dolly!," has died. She was 97.
Channing, who won three Tony Awards including one for lifetime achievement, died of natural causes early Tuesday in Rancho Mirage, Calif., the Associated Press reported.
Her first Tony was for "Hello Dolly!," which opened in 1964. She went on to appear in the play at least 5,000 times and once said it had become more real to her than the world beyond the stage.
Throughout her career, critics described her as a singular talent, starting with her physical appearance. Her saucer eyes and fringe of false lashes, froggy voice, blond bubble wigs and painted red lips left them straining for new ways to say she looked like a Kewpie doll.
As Dolly, Channing gave full sway to her broad comic acting style with her oversized gestures, cavernous smiles and well-timed pauses.
"Carol's talent was unique," said Jerry Herman, who wrote the music and lyrics for "Hello
