Liliane Montevecchi, a captivating French entertainer, was born on October 13, 1932, in the City of Light, Paris. At the tender age of eight, she first donned ballet shoes, marking the beginning of a lifelong passion for dance. Nine years later, having honed her craft at the prestigious Conservatoire for two years and performed with various companies, she rose to the esteemed position of prima ballerina in Roland Petit's renowned ballet company.
The allure of Hollywood soon beckoned, and Montevecchi found herself in the midst of a sudden surge of interest in the early 1950s, alongside fellow foreign-born ballet dancers Leslie Caron, Zizi Jeanmaire, and Moira Shearer. Signing with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, she began making appearances in their musicals, further refining her acting skills by studying at the esteemed Actor's Studio. Her cinematic ventures during this period included The Glass Slipper (1955),Daddy Long Legs (1955),Moonfleet (1955),Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956),The Sad Sack (1957),Me and the Colonel (1958),and the Elvis Presley vehicle King Creole (1958),although these endeavors did not garner significant recognition for Montevecchi.
It was, however, the live stage that would elevate her to legendary status. Montevecchi's remarkable career with the Folies Bergere spanned nine years, during which she traveled the world, captivating audiences with her unique blend of talent and charisma. Her subsequent conquest of Broadway in the 1980s earned her both Tony and Drama Desk awards for her dazzling performance in the musical "Nine," inspired by Federico Fellini's iconic film 8½ (1963). She went on to receive a Tony Award nomination for her equally impressive role in the musical "Grand Hotel."
Montevecchi's endearing mangling of the English language, her sassy wit, and her ability to vamp and camp with the best of them have made her a beloved figure in the world of entertainment. She has appeared in concert at esteemed venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and has headlined her own acclaimed cabaret shows and nightclub performances, including the semi-autobiographical productions "On the Boulevard" and "Back On the Boulevards."
Throughout her remarkable career, Montevecchi continued to defy the boundaries of age, remaining a one-of-a-kind diva well into her 70s. Her final performances included appearances in the musical revues "From Broadway with Love" in December 2010, alongside Kaye Ballard and Donna McKechnie, and "Doin' It for Love" in early 2012, reuniting with Ballard and joined by Lee Roy Reams. Montevecchi remained unmarried until her passing, succumbing to colon cancer on June 29, 2018, in her beloved New York City.
