- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- August 8, 1921
- Place of Birth
- Inglewood, California, USA
- Died
- June 6, 2013
Esther Williams
Esther Jane Williams (August 8, 1921 – June 6, 2013) was an American competitive swimmer and actress. She set regional and national records in her late teens on the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team. Unable to compete in the 1940 Summer Olympics because of the outbreak of World War II, she joined Billy Rose's Aquacade, where she took on the role vacated by Eleanor Holm after the show's move from New York City to San Francisco. While in the city, she spent five months swimming alongside Olympic gold-medal winner and Tarzan star Johnny Weissmuller. Williams caught the attention of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer scouts at the Aquacade. After appearing in several small roles, and alongside Mickey Rooney in an Andy Hardy film and future five-time co-star Van Johnson in A Guy Named Joe, Williams made a series of films in the 1940s and early 1950s known as "aquamusicals", which featured elaborate perfor…
Filmography
movieEsther Williams: Hollywood's Mermaid
2024 · Self (archive footage)
movieThe Fabulous Allan Carr
2017 · Self (archive)
Hollywood Legenden
2004 · Self
movieBusby Berkeley: Going Through the Roof
2003 · Self
movieGene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer
2002 · Self (archive footage)
movieThe Original Mermaid
2002 · Herself (archive footage)
movieHollywood Musicals of the 40's
2000 · Self (archive footage)
movieGlorious Technicolor
1998 · Self
tvParkinson
1998 · Self
tvThe Rosie O'Donnell Show
1996 · Self
tvPrivate Screenings
1996 · Self
movieThat's Entertainment! III
1994 · Self - Co-Host / Narrator
tvMGM: When the Lion Roars
1992
Stars and Stripes: Hollywood and World War II
1991 · Self
Pebble Mill
1991 · Self
Burt Reynolds' Conversations with...
1991 · Self
movieTom & Jerry's 50th Birthday Bash
1990 · Self
movieDance Crazy in Hollywood
1990 · Self - Actress (archive footage)
movieHappy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
1987 · Self
movieNight of 100 Stars II
1985 · Self
movieThat's Dancing!
1985 · From 'Bathing Beauty' (archive footage)
movieThat's Entertainment, Part II
1976 · (archive footage)
movieThat's Entertainment!
1974 · (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieHollywood: The Dream Factory
1972 · Self (archive footage)
movieMagic Fountain
1963 · Hyacinth Tower
movieThe Big Show
1961 · Hillary Allen
The Big Party
1959 · Self
movieAndy Hardy Comes Home
1958 · Sheila Brooks (archive footage) (uncredited)
tvThe Donna Reed Show
1958 · Molly Duncan
movieRaw Wind in Eden
1958 · Laura
movieThe Unguarded Moment
1956 · Lois Conway
tvThe Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956 · Self
tvDick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956 · Sarah Harmon
tvThe Steve Allen Show
1956 · Self - Swimmer
tvMGM Parade
1955 · Self - Water Ballerina in 'Ziegfeld Follies' (archive footage)
movieJupiter's Darling
1955 · Amytis
The Jimmy Durante Show
1954 · Self
tvReflets de Cannes
1954 · Self
movieEasy to Love
1953 · Julie Hallerton
movieDangerous When Wet
1953 · Katy Higgins
tvThe Oscars
1953 · Self
movieMillion Dollar Mermaid
1952 · Annette Kellerman
tvOmnibus
1952
movieSkirts Ahoy!
1952 · Whitney Young
movieCallaway Went Thataway
1951 · Esther Williams (uncredited)
movieTexas Carnival
1951 · Debbie Telford
moviePagan Love Song
1950 · Mimi Bennett
Lux Video Theatre
1950 · Vicki
movieDuchess of Idaho
1950 · Christine Riverton Duncan
movieThe Costume Designer
1950 · Self (archive footage)
Screen Actors
1950 · Self (uncredited)
tvWhat's My Line?
1950 · Self - Mystery Guest
movieNeptune's Daughter
1949 · Eve Barrett
movieTake Me Out to the Ball Game
1949 · K.C. Higgins
tvThe Ed Sullivan Show
1948 · Self
movieOn an Island with You
1948 · Rosalind Rennolds
movieThis Time for Keeps
1947 · Nora Cambaretti
movieFiesta
1947 · Maria Morales
movieTill the Clouds Roll By
1946 · Esther Williams - Signing Autographs (uncredited)
movieEasy to Wed
1946 · Connie Allenbury
movieThe Hoodlum Saint
1946 · Kay Lorrison
movieZiegfeld Follies
1945 · Esther Williams (segment "A Water Ballet")
movieParade of Aquatic Champions
1945 · Herself
movieThrill of a Romance
1945 · Cynthia Glenn
movieBathing Beauty
1944 · Caroline Brooks
movieA Guy Named Joe
1944 · Ellen Bright
movieTwenty Years After
1944 · (archive footage)
movieAndy Hardy's Double Life
1942 · Sheila Brooks
movieInflation
1942 · Mrs. Smith
Personalities
1942 · Sheila Brooks (screen test footage) (uncredited)