Vivienne Segal, a renowned Broadway star and comedienne of her time, surprisingly received limited recognition in Hollywood during the 1930s, making only five musical films, and is now often overlooked due to this snub.
Born on April 19, 1897, in Philadelphia, Vivienne's father was a doctor, and her mother, a stage mother, encouraged her early interest in the performing arts. By the age of 15, Vivienne was already on stage, and her talent quickly earned her a reputation as one of the most popular ingénues in New York City.
Vivienne made her Broadway debut in "The Blue Paradise" in 1915 and went on to appear in numerous productions throughout the 1910s and 1920s, including "My Lady's Glove," "The Little Whopper," "The Yankee Princess," and "Florida Girl." Her breakthrough role came when she played "Constance" in Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.'s 1928 production of Rudolf Friml's "The Three Musketeers."
Vivienne's success on Broadway caught the attention of Hollywood, and she signed with Warner Bros. in 1930, appearing in a trio of musicals, including "Song of the West," "Bride of the Regiment," and "Golden Dawn." However, all three films failed to impress at the box office, with "Golden Dawn" being considered one of Hollywood's biggest musical flops.
Despite this setback, Vivienne fared better in her fourth film, "Viennese Nights," and in a supporting role in "The Cat and the Fiddle" in 1934. However, she eventually gave up on film, returning to Broadway where she experienced a resurgence in popularity.
Vivienne's comeback was marked by her performances in Rodgers & Hart's "I Married an Angel" and "Pal Joey," where she sang the iconic song "Spring Is Here" and played the role of "Vera Simpson." Her witty interpretation of "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" solidified her status as a leading lady on Broadway.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Vivienne appeared in a handful of TV programs, including "Studio One in Hollywood," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," and "Perry Mason." She was married twice, first to romantic leading man Robert Ames and then to writer/producer/TV executive Hubbell Robinson, Jr., with whom she remained separated but never divorced until his death in 1974.
Vivienne spent her later years in a modest Hollywood home, away from the spotlight, and passed away at the age of 95 on December 29, 1992, in Beverly Hills.
