April 24

Born Today:
Shirley MacLaine

Actor/dancer Shirley MacLaine born (1934-) got her first real break on Broadway, just like in the movies - stage star Carol Haney (1924-1964) sprained her ankle and MacLaine, her understudy, was her replacement in The Pajama Game (1954). MacLaine, as they say, killed, and this lucky break led to movie roles including The Trouble with Harry (1955), directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and musicals including Sweet Charity (1969), choreographed and directed by Bob Fosse (1927-1987). She also starred in the movie The Turning Point (1977) with a very young Mikhail Baryshnikov (1948-) and a great many other dramatic roles since that time, winning her multiple best actress nominations and awards.

Also Born Today: Dancer Tucker Smith (1935-1988) is best known for playing the role of Ice in the film version of West Side Story (1961).

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Movie: Captain January released in 1936