Barbara Cook
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
Barbara Cook worked in a variety of genres and built up a diverse and reputable career. She began her acting career with roles in the series "Golden Windows" (1953-55), "Evening at Pops" (1969-2002) and "Mothers By Daughters" (1984-85). She appeared in a number of television specials, including "Hansel and Gretel" (1957-58) and "She Loves Me" (1979-1980). A regular on the awards show circuit, she made an appearance on "The 41st Annual Tony Awards" (1986-87). She appeared in a number of television specials, including "An Evening With Barbara Cook" (1985-86), "Follies in Concert" (1985) and "A Tribute to American Music: Jerome Kern" (1987-88). She also appeared in "Bernstein at 70" (1988-89). Additionally, she appeared in a number of television specials, including "Reno's Cabaret Reunion" (1989-1990), "Richard Rodgers: The Sweetest Sounds" (2001-02) and "Evening at Pops: Keith Lockhart's 10th Anniversary Special" (2003-04). She also lent her distinctive voice to "Hans Christian Andersen's Thumbelina" (1994). Cook last worked on "The 34th Annual Kennedy Center Honors" (2011-12).
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Music (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Music (Special)
Life Events
1939
Began voice training in Atlanta, GA, paid for by an anonymous donor
1948
Moved from Atlanta to NYC
1951
Made her Broadway debut as Sandy in the short-lived musical "Flahooley"
1953
Played Ado Annie in the City Center revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Oklahoma!"
1954
Early TV credit in the NBC production of "Babes in Toyland"
1955
Had her first real stage success as an Amish woman in "Plain and Fancy"
1956
Breakthrough stage role, played Cunegonde in Leonard Bernstein's new operetta "Candide"
1956
Cast as Evalina in NBC adaptation of the stage musical "Bloomer Girl"
1957
Returned to City Center to play Julie Jordan in "Carousel"
1957
Originated one of her signature stage roles, the librarian Marian Paroo in "The Music Man"
1958
Cast as Gretel in the NBC musical "Hansel and Gretel"
1960
Played Anna in the City Center revival of "The King and I"
1963
Enjoyed success as Amalia Balish in "She Loves Me"
1964
Toured in the title role of the stage musical "The Unsinkable Molly Brown"
1965
Replaced Sandy Dennis in a rare non-musical stage role in "Any Wednesday"
1965
Cast as Magnolia in the City Center production of "Show Boat"
1971
Last Broadway appearance in a book musical in "The Grass Harp"
1972
Had a rare dramatic role in the NYC stage production of Gorky's "Enemies"
1974
Made her return to NYC cabaret at the now-defunct club Brothers & Sisters
1975
Made her debut in a legendary solo concert at Carnegie Hall that resulted in a highly successful live album; first collaboration with composer and pianist Wally Harper
1985
Performed the role of Sally Durant in the concert staging of the Stephen Sondheim-James Goldman musical "Follies"
1986
Headlined the PBS broadcast "An Evening With Barbara Cook"
1987
Won rave reviews for the one-person show "A Concert for the Theatre"
1988
Made a brief return to stage acting, playing Mrs. White in a production of the stage musical "Carrie" before leaving the show over creative differences
1994
Provided the voice for the title character's mother in the animated film version of "Thumbelina," which featured music by Barry Manilow
2000
Chosen as one of the only American performers to perform at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Arts Festival in the fabled Sydney Opera House
2001
Returned to Carnegie Hall to perform "Sings Mostly Sondheim," which was recorded live and released on CD; she reprised the program for a limited run on Broadway in 2002, winning a Tony Award nomination for Best Theatrical Event
2004
Performed "Barbara Cook's Broadway" at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre
2010
Returned to Broadway in the Roundabout Theatre's Stephen Sondheim revue "Sondheim on Sondheim," and earned a Tony Award nomination for Featured Actress in a Musical
2011
Recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors
Family
Companions
