Origins & Early Life

Gypsy Rose Lee (born Rose Louise Hovick, January 8, 1911 – April 26, 1970) was an American burlesque entertainer, stripper, actress, author, playwright and vedette, famous for her striptease act. Her 1957 memoir, Gypsy: A Memoir, was adapted into the 1959 stage musical Gypsy. Rose Louise Hovick was born in Seattle, Washington, on January 8, 1911; however, she always gave January 9 as her date of birth. She was known as Louise to her family.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Her sister, actress June Havoc, was born in 1912. Their mother, Rose Thompson Hovick, forged various birth certificates for each of her daughters—older when needed to evade varying state child labor laws, and younger for reduced or free train fares. The girls were unsure until later in life what their years of birth were. Their mother had married Norwegian-American John Olaf Hovick, a newspaper-advertising salesman and a reporter at The Seattle Times. They married on May 28, 1910, in Seattle.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

They divorced on August 20, 1915. Rose Thompson married her second husband, Judson Brennerman, a traveling salesman, on May 26, 1916, at a Unitarian church in Seattle, with the Rev. J. D. A. Powers officiating.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Ahmed Urabi — Contemporary (Died in 1911) (1911): Pioneering Egyptian military and political leader who spearheaded the 'Urabi Revolt.
• Ashok Kumar — Contemporary (Born in 1911) (1911): Pioneering superstar and master character actor of Hindi cinema.
• Babe Didrikson Zaharias — Contemporary (Born in 1911) (1911): Versatile American athlete, celebrated for dominance in golf, basketball, and track.
• Abraham Maslow — Contemporary (Died in 1970) (1970): Pioneering American psychologist known for the Hierarchy of Needs and self-actualization theory.
• Alan Shearer — Contemporary (Born in 1970) (1970): English football legend, record goalscorer, and respected pundit.
• Allen Lane — Contemporary (Died in 1970) (1970): Pioneering British publisher who founded Penguin Books, bringing literature to the masses.
• Adrien-Marie Legendre — Shared historical date (01-09 · Died) (1833): Pioneering French mathematician known for Legendre polynomials and least squares method.
• Alvah Curtis Roebuck — Shared historical date (01-09 · Born) (1864): Co-founder of Sears, Roebuck and Company, pioneering American retail businessman.
• A. E. van Vogt — Shared historical date (04-26 · Born) (1912): Influential Canadian-American science fiction writer known for bizarre narratives.
• Akseli Gallen-Kallela — Shared historical date (04-26 · Born) (1865): Pioneering Finnish painter, celebrated for national romanticism and the Kalevala.
• 1911 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1911
• January 9 (01-09) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on January 9
• 1970 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1970
• April 26 (04-26) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on April 26