American stage and film musical actress Carol Channing dies at age 97!

Updated On March 18, 2024 | Published By: shahid | In Death

Carol Channing had won the hearts of millions through her acting, dancing, and singing. She was an American actress who acted in film musicals and on Broadway. Carol died on 15 January 2019 at the age of 97.

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Carol Channing and her death

Carol Channing died a natural death on 15 January 2019. She was 97 when she passed away. She breathed her last at her home which is situated in Rancho Mirage, California, her publicist, B Harlon Boll revealed. He stated:

“It is with extreme heartache, that I have to announce the passing of an original Industry Pioneer, Legend and Icon – Miss Carol Channing. I admired her before I met her, and have loved her since the day she stepped … or fell rather … into my life. It is so very hard to see the final curtain lower on a woman who has been a daily part of my life for more than a third of it. We supported each other, cried with each other, argued with each other, but always ended up laughing with each other. Saying good-bye is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, but I know that when I feel those uncontrollable urges to laugh at everything and/or nothing at all, it will be because she is with me, tickling my funny bone.”

Carol is survived by her son Channing Lowe, and a close family member named Sylvia Long.

Tributes for Carol Channing flow in

Carol was everyone’s beloved and has been in the industry for over 70 years. She was proud to be of the colored heritage and had once said:

“No white woman can do it like I did,”

Broadway Black tweeted:

“Rest In Heaven to a Broadway Legend!”

Rest In Heaven to a Broadway Legend! ❤️✊🏽😢 #CarolChanning #YouAreBroadwayBlack https://t.co/dHzk4eNtub
— BROADWAY BLACK! (@BroadwayBlack) January 15, 2019

She was, supportive of the LGBTQ+ community and GLAAD tweeted:

“The gay community is responsible for so much of my success, and I love them. It’s a mutual love affair, really. They make the better audiences too, because they laugh often and loudly.” Thank you Carol Channing for a brilliant career and for being a friend. “

“The gay community is responsible for so much of my success, and I love them. It's a mutual love affair, really. They make the better audiences too, because they laugh often and loudly." Thank you Carol Channing for a brilliant career and for being a friend. ❤️ https://t.co/XU9tKU92y0
— GLAAD (@glaad) January 15, 2019

Alex Huffman said on Twitter:

“All but one of the original Hello, Dolly! chorus boys are dead from AIDS,” says a surprisingly somber Channing Carol Channing is a legend for many reasons & her unwavering support of the LGBTQ community from the beginning of the AIDS crisis is definitely near the top of the list.”

Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bernadette Peters, and many more celebrities paid their last tribute to Carol Channing. Miranda tweeted:

“Goodbye, Carol,”

Peters wrote:

“She was show business and love personified.”

Better Midler wrote:

“The great, the legendary #CarolChanning has died at age 97. She was a complete original, and there will never be another. Blonde, 6 ft tall and utterly hilarious, she was a legend. My condolences to the world; to those who knew her or saw her and those who never got the chance.”

More tributes paid

Sandra Bernhard tweeted:

“I am so sad just lost my incredible original inspiration #carolchanning I saw her in Hello Dolly when I was 8 and she changed my DNA love you lady forever one of the greatest entertainers of all times.”

The present touring company of Hello Dolly wrote:

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of the one and only Carol Channing. She was a ‘Dolly’ for the ages, and a true icon of the American Theater. Betty Buckley and the cast will dedicate tonight’s performance in San Diego to her memory.”

Kristin Chenoweth tweeted:

“Carol Channing was one of the few who paved the path for so many women in theater and beyond… I will forever admire and look up to you, Carol. Rest In Peace.”

Louis Armstrong stated:

“Goodbye, Dolly. Mourning the loss of Carol Channing today at the age of 97. Here she is onstage with Louis Armstrong when he attended a performance of “Hello, Dolly!” at the St. James Theatre in 1965.”

Goodbye, Dolly. Mourning the loss of Carol Channing today at the age of 97. Here she is onstage with Louis Armstrong when he attended a performance of "Hello, Dolly!" at the St. James Theatre in 1965. pic.twitter.com/msojsru2E0
— Louis Armstrong (@ArmstrongHouse) January 15, 2019

Stacy London expressed:

“97 ain’t bad for a lifespan. Thank you Carol Channing. Because of you diamonds and raspberries are my favorites. #rip”

Several other celebrities also tweeted tributes and praises for Carol and these included George Takei, SE Cupp, Joshua Henry, Josh Gad, Luann de Lesseps, Neil Meron, Loni Love, and the like.

May Carol Channing’s soul rest in peace!

Source: Vogue, the grapevine, ew

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