Shani Wallis
 | This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (November 2015) |
Shani Wallis | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 April 1933 |
| Citizenship | United Kingdom United States |
| Alma mater | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Occupation | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1953–present |
| Spouse(s) | Bernie Rich
(m. 1968) |
| Children | 1 |
Shani Wallis (born 14 April 1933) is a British actress and singer, who has worked in theatre, film, and television in both her native United Kingdom and in the United States. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she is perhaps best known for her roles in the West End, and for the role of Nancy in the 1968 Oscar-winning film musical Oliver!
Biography[]
Wallis was born in Tottenham, London,[1] and made her first stage appearance at the age of four. She later studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) on a scholarship and resumed her theatrical career appearing in many London and provincial productions. She made her theatrical debut in Call Me Madam at the London Coliseum (as "Princess Marie") with Anton Walbrook.
Wallis is a naturalised citizen of the United States, where she has lived for more than forty years. She married her agent, Bernie Rich, on 13 September 1968, and they have one daughter, Rebecca, and two granddaughters.[1] Wallis is a patron of the theatre charity the Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America.[2]
Selected credits[]
Film[]
- Ramsbottom Rides Again (1956)
- The Extra Day (1956)
- A King in New York (1957) as Cabaret Singer
- Oliver! (1968) as Nancy
- Arnold (1973)
- Terror in the Wax Museum (1973)
- Mayday at 40,000 Feet (1976)
- The Great Mouse Detective (1986) (voice of Lady Mouse)
- Round Numbers (1992)
- The Pebble and the Penguin (1995) (narrator)
- Mojave Phone Booth (2006) (voice of "Greta")
TV[]
- Once Upon a Mattress (as Lady Larken, with most of the original Broadway cast)
- Gunsmoke (as Stella in the episodes "Women for Sale")
- The Young and the Restless (as Frances the Governess)
- The $10,000 Pyramid
- Charlie's Angels (guest appearance as Ellen Jason)
- Columbo
- Murder, She Wrote (guest appearance as Olivia Waverley
- Night Gallery
- Mickie Finn's
- The Ed Sullivan Show (where she was spotted and subsequently auditioned and won the part of Nancy in the 1968 film Oliver)
- The Red Skelton Hour (1965 episode singing "I'm Old Fashioned" and singing/dancing "Pass Me By")
- The Dean Martin Show (singing "I'm a Girl" and "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?")
- The Garry Moore Show
- The Tom Jones Show
- Give Us a Clue
- Highway
- The Morecambe and Wise Show
- Oliver! (the reunion; as herself)
Theatre[]
- Call Me Madam, London Coliseum (as Princess Marie)
- Wish You Were Here, London Casino
- Happy As A King, Princes Theatre, London (as Juliet)
- Wonderful Town (1953), London Casino (as Fay Tomkin)
- Irma La Douce (1961), Lyric Theatre (title role)
- Fine Fettle (1959), Palace Theatre
- Green Room Rags (1954), Princes Theatre
- The Dave King Show, London Hippodrome
- Aladdin, (pantomime), Streatham Hill Theatre (as Aladdin)
- King Cole (pantomime), Palace Manchester (as Miranda)
- Bells Are Ringing (musical) (1958), Princess Theatre, Melbourne[3]
- Bus Stop (1958), Golders Green Hippodrome (as Cherie)
- You'll Be Lucky, Adelphi Theatre with Lauri Lupino Lane
- Cowardy Custard (1989), Theatre Royal Bath
- A Time for Singing (1966), Broadway Theater
- Finian's Rainbow (1958), New Shakespeare Theatre
- 42nd Street, Drury Lane Theatre
- Always (1996), Victoria Palace Theatre
- Follies (1990), Long Beach Civic Light Opera, 20th Anniversary Revival (as Sally Durant Plummer)
Recordings[]
- Call Me Madam – original London stage recording (1952)
- Wish You Were Here – original London stage recording (1953)
- Shani! EP (1960) – Philips BBE 12337 ("Personality", "Please Don't Say No", "Don't Take Your Love Away from Me", "There Goes My Heart")
- A Time for Singing (1966) – original Broadway cast recording
- I'm a Girl! LP (1967) – Kapp Records KS-3472
- Look to Love LP (1967) – Kapp Records KS-3527
- Oliver! (1968) – original film cast recording
- As Long As He Needs Me LP (1968) – Kapp Records KS-3573
- The Girl from Oliver LP (1969) – Kapp Records KS-3606
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b Robinson, Peter (5 January 2018). "I would have liked a bit more from my career after Oliver says Shani Wallis". The Sunday Post. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ "Our Treasured Patrons", The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America (online). Retrieved 1 August 2013.
- ^ Princess Theatre, Melbourne theatre programme (1958)
External links[]
- 1933 births
- Living people
- American film actresses
- American television actresses
- American female singers
- English film actresses
- English television actresses
- English female singers
- English emigrants to the United States
- People from Tottenham
- Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
- Kapp Records artists