Charlotte Greenwood was born Frances Charlotte Greenwood on June 25, 1890, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was a sickly child whose father left the family when she was very young. However, Charlotte grew into a healthy, six-foot-tall woman, and her career in vaudeville as a dancer began, where she gained recognition for her remarkable long legs. Her signature dance move was a high kick, earning her the nickname "Lady Longlegs."
In 1915, Charlotte married actor Cyril Ring, with whom she was deeply in love, but he left her for another woman. She married songwriter Martin Broones in 1924, and although she had aspirations to become a dramatic actress, she found greater success in comedy. She starred in a series of stage shows, playing the character "Letty," a man-crazy woman, which became incredibly popular, leading to the film adaptation, So Long Letty, in 1929.
Charlotte appeared in numerous films, including Down Argentine Way, Star Dust, and The Gang's All Here, and was often cast as the comedic sidekick, becoming one of the most recognizable character actresses. During World War II, she joined the Hollywood Victory Caravan and traveled across the country with other film stars, raising money for the war effort. After the war, Charlotte returned to the stage, starring in Cole Porter's Out of This World in 1950.
As a devout Christian Scientist, Charlotte's faith influenced her decision to turn down roles she felt were too risqué. In 1955, she played Aunt Eller in the hit musical Oklahoma, and made a few more films before retiring. Charlotte enjoyed a happy marriage with Martin until his death in 1971, and she passed away on December 28, 1977, due to natural causes. She was cremated, and her ashes were scattered at sea, as she had no children.
