Nanette Fabray was a sparkling, entertaining, and highly energetic presence from a young age. Born in Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada, she moved to the United States with her parents, Lily Agnes and Raoul Bernard Fabares, a train conductor. She began her career as a singing and tap dancing child vaudevillian, billed as "Baby Nanette".
Nanette worked with top headliners in the Los Angeles area, including Ben Turpin, and sang on radio. Despite rumors, she did not appear in the "Our Gang" film shorts. Instead, she received a scholarship to the Max Reinhardt School of the Theatre and appeared in productions of "The Miracle", "Six Characters in Search of an Author", and "A Servant with Two Masters" in 1939.
The musical comedy stage became Nanette's forte, with hit New York productions like "Meet the People", "Let's Face It", "By Jupiter", and "Bloomer Girl". She earned awards for her Broadway work in "High Button Shoes" and "Love Life". However, she struggled to find success in film, aside from secondary roles in "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex" and "A Child Is Born", and her notable role in the MGM musical "The Band Wagon".
In the 1950s, Nanette turned to television, winning two consecutive Emmy awards as Sid Caesar's partner on "Caesar's Hour". She later starred in her own sitcom, "Westinghouse Playhouse", and appeared in numerous stage productions, including "Arms and the Girl", "Make a Wish", and "Mr. President".
On television, Nanette became a popular guest star, appearing in shows like "One Day at a Time" alongside her niece, Shelley Fabares. She was also a regular on game shows like "The Hollywood Squares", "The New High Rollers", "Password", and "The Match Game". Nanette's humanitarian efforts, particularly in advocating for the rights of hearing-impaired performers, were widely recognized.
Nanette was married to writer and director/producer Ranald MacDougall from 1973 until her death. She had one child with him and continued to perform until her later years, appearing in a 2007 musical revue, "The Damsel Dialogues". Nanette Fabray passed away on February 22, 2018, at the age of 97.
