Mel Torme


Singer

About

Also Known As
Melvin H Torme, Melvin Howard Torme
Birth Place
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Born
September 13, 1925
Died
June 05, 1999
Cause of Death
Complications From A Stroke

Biography

Crooner Mel Tormé was a child prodigy, first singing professionally at the age of four. As a teen he played drums in Chico Marx's band, where he earned the nickname The Velvet Fog, due to his buttery baritone. Between 1933 and 1941 he acted on the radio shows "Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy" and "The Romance of Helen Trent." He wrote his first song at 13, and in 1944 graduated from...

Photos & Videos

Family & Companions

Ava Gardner
Companion
Actor. Had relationship in the late 1940s.
Candy Toxton
Wife
Actor. First wife.
Arlene Miles
Wife
Actor. Second wife.
Janette Scott
Wife
Actor. Third wife.

Bibliography

"Traps, the Drum Wonder"
Mel Torme, Oxford University Press (1991)
"The Other Side of the Rainbow"
Mel Torme

Biography

Crooner Mel Tormé was a child prodigy, first singing professionally at the age of four. As a teen he played drums in Chico Marx's band, where he earned the nickname The Velvet Fog, due to his buttery baritone. Between 1933 and 1941 he acted on the radio shows "Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy" and "The Romance of Helen Trent." He wrote his first song at 13, and in 1944 graduated from Hyde Park High School. Tormé made his movie debut in the Frank Sinatra film "Higher and Higher" in 1943, and went on to sing and act in many films and TV shows through his career. In 1944 he formed his own singing group and later went solo, singing at the legendary Copacobana. In 1963 Tormé wrote songs and musical arrangements for "The Judy Garland Show." Into the 1980s Tormé made frequent guest appearances as himself on the sitcom comedy "Night Court"; main character Judge Harry T. Stone--and the actor who played him, Harry Anderson--were huge Tormé fans. The singer continued to make inroads into American pop culture in 1995, when he appeared on an episode of the hit sitcom "Seinfeld" in which he serenaded a drooling Kramer.

Filmography

 

Cast (Feature Film)

The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear (1991)
Self
The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear (1991)
Himself
Daffy Duck's Quackbusters (1988)
Voice
Night of the Living Duck (1988)
Artie Shaw: Time Is All You've Got (1984)
Hotel (1983)
Pray TV (1982)
Himself
Snowman (1975)
Zak O'Brien
A Man Called Adam (1966)
Himself
The Patsy (1964)
The Private Lives of Adam & Eve (1961)
Hal Sanders
Walk Like a Dragon (1960)
The Deacon
The Big Operator (1959)
Fred McAfee
Girls Town (1959)
Fred Alger
The Fearmakers (1958)
Barney Bond
Duchess of Idaho (1950)
Cyril
Words and Music (1948)
Good News (1947)
Danny
Janie Gets Married (1946)
Dick's buddy
Junior Miss (1945)
Sterling Brown
Let's Go Steady (1945)
"Streak" Edwards
Ghost Catchers (1944)
Drummer
Pardon My Rhythm (1944)
Ricky O'Bannon
Higher and Higher (1943)
Marty

Music (Feature Film)

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2018)
Song
Green Book (2018)
Song
Black Mass (2015)
Song
Born to Be Blue (2015)
Song
Get On Up (2014)
Song
Gangster Squad (2013)
Song
The Best Man Holiday (2013)
Song
The Possession (2012)
Song Performer
What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012)
Song Performer
A Very Harold & Kumar 3-D Christmas (2011)
Song
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Song Performer
A Very Harold & Kumar 3-D Christmas (2011)
Song Performer
Jack Goes Boating (2010)
Song Performer
The Lovely Bones (2009)
Song
Obsessed (2009)
Song
This Christmas (2007)
Song
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006)
Song
Guess Who (2005)
Song
The In-Laws (2003)
Song Performer
Two Weeks Notice (2002)
Song Performer
The Rookie (2002)
Song
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Song
Possible Worlds (2000)
Song Performer ("Long Ago And Far Away")
Bounce (2000)
Song
An Education (2000)
Song Performer
The Iron Giant (1999)
Song Performer
Go (1999)
Song ("The Christmas Song ('Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire')")
End of Days (1999)
Song ("The Christmas Song")
Living out Loud (1998)
Song
Living out Loud (1998)
Song Performer
101 Dalmatians (1996)
Song
Jingle All the Way (1996)
Song
The Ref (1994)
Song
With Honors (1994)
Song
Dick Tracy (1990)
Song Performer
The Big Picture (1989)
Song
Let's Get Lost (1988)
Song
Scrooged (1988)
Song
Falling in Love (1984)
Song
The Swinger (1966)
Composer
Walk Like a Dragon (1960)
Composer
So Dear to My Heart (1949)
Composer
Magic Town (1947)
Composer
Abie's Irish Rose (1946)
Composer
Wake Up and Dream (1946)
Voc Arrangements
Let's Go Steady (1945)
Composer
Pardon My Rhythm (1944)
Composer

Misc. Crew (Feature Film)

The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear (1991)
Other

Cast (Special)

Christmas in Hollywood (1998)
Hugh Hefner: American Playboy (1996)
An Evening With Mel Torme (1996)
Mel Torme (1995)
Cincinnati Pops Holiday With Erich Kunzel and Mel Torme (1995)
THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT (1992)
The Christmas Songs With Mel Torme, Maureen McGovern, and Doc Severinsen (1992)
A Spinal Tap Reunion (1992)
Frank Sinatra: The Voice of Our Time (1991)
Host
Night of 100 Stars III (1990)
The Royal Variety Performance 1987 (1989)
Newport Jazz '89 (1989)
The Unforgettable Nat "King" Cole (1989)
Christmas With the Stars: An International Earthquake Benefit (1989)
Happy New Year, U.S.A.! (1988)
Remembering Bing (1987)
Happy New Year, U.S.A.! (1987)
Sentimental Swing: The Music of Tommy Dorsey (1987)
Host
A Tribute to American Music: Cole Porter (1987)
The Night of 100 Stars II (1985)
The Comedian (1957)
Lester Hograth

Music (Special)

Grammy's Greatest Performances (1999)
Song Performer ("Scat")
An Evening With Mel Torme (1996)
Song Performer ("You Make Me Feel So Young" "Just One Of Those Things" "Green Dolphin Street" "Things" "Lady Be Good" "Stardust" "Love For Sale" "Since I Fell For You")
Cincinnati Pops Holiday With Erich Kunzel and Mel Torme (1995)
Song Performer
The Christmas Songs With Mel Torme, Maureen McGovern, and Doc Severinsen (1992)
Song Performer
The Christmas Songs With Mel Torme, Maureen McGovern, and Doc Severinsen (1992)
Song
Newport Jazz '89 (1989)
Song Performer
John Denver's Christmas in Aspen (1988)
Song ("The Christmas Song")
A Tribute to American Music: Cole Porter (1987)
Song Performer ("Friendship" "Just One Of Those Things" "Easy To Love" "Miss Otis Regrets" "Begin The Beguine" "You'D Be So Nice To Come Home To" "What Is This Thing Called Love?" "I Concentrate On You" "Night And Day" "You'Re The Top")

Misc. Crew (Special)

Sentimental Swing: The Music of Tommy Dorsey (1987)
Special Program Consultant

Music (TV Mini-Series)

Hallelujah (1993)
Song

Life Events

Family

Steve Torme
Son
Singer. Born c. 1952.
Melissa Torme
Daughter
Born c. 1955.
Tracy Torme
Son
Producer, screenwriter, TV series creator. Born c. 1959.
Daisy Torme
Daughter
Born c. 1969.
James Torme
Son
Born c. 1973.
Carrie Torme
Step-Daughter
Kurt Goldstein
Step-Son

Companions

Ava Gardner
Companion
Actor. Had relationship in the late 1940s.
Candy Toxton
Wife
Actor. First wife.
Arlene Miles
Wife
Actor. Second wife.
Janette Scott
Wife
Actor. Third wife.
Ali Severson
Wife
Attorney. Fourth wife; married in 1984; survived him.

Bibliography

"Traps, the Drum Wonder"
Mel Torme, Oxford University Press (1991)
"The Other Side of the Rainbow"
Mel Torme