Tammy Grimes’s Followers (1)

Tammy Grimes

Born

in Lynn, Massachusetts, The United States

January 30, 1934

Died

October 30, 2016

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Tammy Grimes was a celebrated American stage and screen actress and singer whose distinctive voice, sharp comic timing, and theatrical flair made her a unique presence in American entertainment. Known for her effervescent charisma and idiosyncratic performing style, Grimes rose to prominence on Broadway in the early 1960s and remained a beloved figure for decades. She was twice honored with the Tony Award, first for originating the lead role in The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and later for her acclaimed portrayal of Amanda in Noël Coward’s Private Lives. Her remarkable ability to inhabit larger-than-life characters made her a frequent choice for Coward’s works, in which she starred multiple times throughout her career.
Grimes made her Broadway Tammy Grimes was a celebrated American stage and screen actress and singer whose distinctive voice, sharp comic timing, and theatrical flair made her a unique presence in American entertainment. Known for her effervescent charisma and idiosyncratic performing style, Grimes rose to prominence on Broadway in the early 1960s and remained a beloved figure for decades. She was twice honored with the Tony Award, first for originating the lead role in The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and later for her acclaimed portrayal of Amanda in Noël Coward’s Private Lives. Her remarkable ability to inhabit larger-than-life characters made her a frequent choice for Coward’s works, in which she starred multiple times throughout her career.
Grimes made her Broadway debut in the late 1950s, having studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse and under the renowned vocal coach Beverley Peck Johnson. In 1959, she was discovered by Noël Coward himself, who cast her in Look After Lulu! This marked the beginning of a lasting association with the playwright, culminating in major performances in High Spirits and Private Lives. Her turn as Molly Brown in The Unsinkable Molly Brown was a breakout role that combined her comedic chops, singing talent, and stage presence in a way that critics and audiences found irresistible.
Though Grimes had a brief and ill-fated stint in television with The Tammy Grimes Show, her performance style found its natural home on the stage. She brought a uniquely expressive energy to her characters, described by The New York Times as “outrageously appealing.” Her signature vocal style—a mixture of purring, shouting, and spluttering—became part of her theatrical identity. Beyond the stage, she also made appearances in film and television, including roles in Play It as It Lays, High Art, and guest spots on The Love Boat, Route 66, and more. She voiced characters in beloved Rankin/Bass specials such as ’Twas the Night Before Christmas and The Last Unicorn, and hosted the final season of CBS Radio Mystery Theater.
Grimes also had a notable cabaret and recording career, performing in New York clubs and contributing to Broadway music anthologies. Her love for theater extended into her later years, as she continued to perform in revues and staged readings and was an active figure in the Noël Coward Society, eventually becoming its vice president. She was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2003.
Grimes’s personal life included a marriage to actor Christopher Plummer, with whom she had a daughter, Amanda Plummer, who followed in her parents’ theatrical footsteps. Despite the glamour of her career, Grimes endured personal challenges and controversies, including a highly publicized assault in the 1960s that made national headlines.
Tammy Grimes remained a singular theatrical force whose contributions to Broadway, television, and cabaret left a lasting impression. Her wit, boldness, and flair for eccentricity made her a standout in every medium she touched. ...more

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Tammy Grimes’s books

Average rating: 4.42 · 2,772 ratings · 74 reviews · 14 distinct works

	Where the Wild Things Are and Other Stories by Maurice Sendak, Tammy Grimes (Reader) 4.26 avg rating — 1,088,808 ratings — published 1963 — 249 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Daisy Miller by Henry James, Tammy Grimes 3.37 avg rating — 39,320 ratings — published 1878 — 1330 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers, Tammy Grimes 3.81 avg rating — 20,985 ratings — published 1946	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Strega Nona's Magic Lessons by Tomie dePaola, Tammy Grimes (Narrator) 4.19 avg rating — 1,347 ratings — published 1982 — 29 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Wily Witch: And Other Fairy Tales by Godfried Bomans, Tammy Grimes, John Houseman really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 259 ratings — published 1946 — 14 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Where the Wild Things Are - In the Night Kitchen - Outside Over There, and Other Stories by Maurice Sendak, Tammy Grimes (Narrator) 4.13 avg rating — 67 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Rose for Emily and Wash by William Faulkner, Tammy Grimes (Narrator) 3.89 avg rating — 35 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Maurice Sendak Soundbook (Sbc 124) by Tammy Grimes, Maurice Sendak really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 1990	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hurray for Captain Jane 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	TAMMY GRIMES - vinyl lp. 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Combine Editions
Tammy Grimes’s books