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American theater actress (1916?2016)
Billie Worth
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![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Actress_Billy_Worth_dressed_for_tennis%2C_6-10-1937%2C_Sydney%2C_NSW.%2C_Sam_Hood_%2816101697058%29.jpg/220px-Actress_Billy_Worth_dressed_for_tennis%2C_6-10-1937%2C_Sydney%2C_NSW.%2C_Sam_Hood_%2816101697058%29.jpg) Actress Billy Worth dressed for tennis, 6 October 1937, Sydney, by Sam Hood
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Born
| Wilhelmina E. Rothmund
(
1916-10-20
)
October 20, 1916
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Died
| December 3, 2016
(2016-12-03)
(aged 100)
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Other names
| Billy Worth, Billie Worth Burr
|
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Occupation(s)
| Actor, tennis player
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---|
Known for
| Thumbs Up!
(1934),
Higher and Higher
(1940),
Bright Lights of 1944
(1943),
Jackpot
(1944),
Seven Lively Arts
(1944),
South Pacific
(1949), and
Courtin' Time
(1951).
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Billie Worth
(born
Wilhelmina E. Rothmund
; October 20, 1916 ? December 3, 2016) was an American actress who performed on Broadway and in other venues from regional theater in the United States to European capitals. Her name is sometimes seen as
Billy Worth
,
[1]
and she is also known as
Billie Worth Burr
.
[2]
Life and career
[
edit
]
Worth was born as Wilhelmina Rothmund in
Rome, New York
on October 20, 1916,
[3]
[4]
as a member of a show business family.
[2]
In her youth, her tennis skills made her a ranking junior player in the Eastern states.
[5]
Worth's Broadway credits included
Thumbs Up!
(1934),
Higher and Higher
(1940),
Bright Lights of 1944
(1943),
Jackpot
(1944),
Seven Lively Arts
(1944),
South Pacific
(1949), and
Courtin' Time
(1951).
[3]
In 1953, she was called "the toast of the British Isles" for her performance as leading lady in a London production of
Call Me Madam
[6]
that ran for 18 months.
[7]
She also played in
Anything Goes
in London and in five musical comedies in Australia.
[5]
She performed in American regional theaters, including the
Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera
[6]
and
Muny Opera
in St. Louis,
[8]
and she directed some regional productions.
[2]
In November 1935, Worth married Edgar Burr Lush, an actor who used the stage name Donald Burr.
[9]
[10]
[5]
They had two children and remained together until Burr's death on February 27, 1979, at the age of 71.
[11]
In the early 1970s, she sold real estate.
[2]
Worth latterly lived in
Wellington, Florida
. She died on December 3, 2016, at the age of 100.
[12]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Wallace, Kenneth G. (July 6, 1960).
"Billy Worth Gives 'Mame' A New Flair"
.
The Record
. New Jersey, Hackensack. p. 65
. Retrieved
December 28,
2019
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
Crossett, Allen (April 27, 1972).
"Concerning The Past and The Present -- A Talk With Billie Worth Burr"
.
Bernardsville News
. New Jersey, Bernardsville. p. 16
. Retrieved
December 28,
2019
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
a
b
"Billie Worth"
.
Internet Broadway Database
. The Broadway League. Archived from
the original
on December 28, 2019
. Retrieved
December 28,
2019
.
- ^
"Today, Oct. 20"
. Passaic, New Jersey: The Herald-News. October 20, 1977. p. 34
. Retrieved
February 8,
2023
.
- ^
a
b
c
"A Star Is Born As Billie Worth Steps Into Ethel Merman Role"
.
The Birmingham News
. Alabama, Birmingham. March 13, 1949. p. 93
. Retrieved
December 28,
2019
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
a
b
"Star of 'Lady in the Dark' Whisked Here From London"
.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
. Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh. August 20, 1953. p. 12
. Retrieved
December 28,
2019
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
"Billie Worth Is At Oakdale For 'Call Me Madam" Lead"
.
The Bridgeport Post
. Connecticut, Bridgeport. August 22, 1954. p. 36
. Retrieved
December 29,
2019
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
"Muny Opera Casts Include Five New Comediennes, New Comedians and Dance Teams"
.
St. Louis Globe-Democrat
. Missouri, St. Louis. May 25, 1947. p. 2 F
. Retrieved
December 28,
2019
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
"Walter Winchell on Broadway"
. Dayton, Ohio: The Dayton Herald. November 18, 1935. p. 23
. Retrieved
February 8,
2023
.
- ^
Smith, John C. (October 20, 1957).
"Paddling to Broadway"
. Cincinnati, Ohio: The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 155
. Retrieved
February 8,
2023
.
- ^
"Donald Burr, Singer, Actor and Director Of Broadway Shows"
. The New York Times. March 1, 1979. p. 18
. Retrieved
February 8,
2023
.
- ^
"Wilhelmina E. Lush"
.
Forever Missed
. Retrieved
February 8,
2023
.