Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Marge Champion

Role / Field:

Iconic American dancer and actress, celebrated for her work in film musicals and choreography.

Born:

1919-09-02

Died:

2020-10-21

Century / Era:

1919s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Marjorie Celeste Champion (née Belcher; September 2, 1919 – October 21, 2020) was an American dancer and actress. At fourteen, she was hired as a dance model for Walt Disney Studios animated films. Later, she performed as an actress and dancer in film musicals, and in 1957 had a television show based on song and dance. She also did creative choreography for liturgy, and served as a dialogue and movement coach for the 1978 TV miniseries, The Awakening Land, set in the late 18th century in the Ohio Valley.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Champion was born in Los Angeles on September 2, 1919. Her father, Ernest Belcher, was a dance director who taught Shirley Temple, Betty Grable, Ramon Novarro, Cyd Charisse, Gwen Verdon, Fay Wray and Joan Crawford, as well as Champion's future husband Gower Champion; her mother was Gladys Lee Baskette (née Rosenberg). Champion had an older half sister, Lina Basquette, who began acting in 1916 in silent films. Lina was the daughter of her mother's first husband, Frank Baskette, who died by suicide. Champion and Basquette's maternal grandfather, Lazarus Rosenberg, was Jewish.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Champion began dancing at an early age as her sister had done. She started as a child under the...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adelina Patti — Contemporary (Died in 1919) (1919): Legendary Spanish-Italian soprano renowned for her bel canto technique and lyrical voice.
• Akashi Motojiro — Contemporary (Died in 1919) (1919): General in the Imperial Japanese Army and Governor-General of Taiwan.
• Alan Young — Contemporary (Born in 1919) (1919): Esteemed British actor, celebrated for voicing Scrooge McDuck and starring in variety shows.
• Alan Parker — Contemporary (Died in 2020) (2020): Acclaimed English filmmaker known for genre versatility and numerous BAFTA and Golden Globe wins.
• Albert Uderzo — Contemporary (Died in 2020) (2020): Pioneering French comic artist, co-creator of the iconic Astérix series.
• Alex Trebek — Contemporary (Died in 2020) (2020): Iconic game show host, best known for decades of Jeopardy! success.
• Ahmad Shah Massoud — Shared historical date (09-02 · Born) (1953): Afghan military leader, known as the "Lion of Panjshir", fought against foreign occupations.
• Ahuitzotl — Shared historical date (09-02 · Died) (1502): Eighth Aztec ruler and Huey Tlatoani of Tenochtitlan, key to Aztec expansion.
• 5th Dalai Lama — Shared historical date (10-21 · Born) (1617): Spiritual and political leader of Tibet, unifying the region under the Ganden Phodrang.
• Alfred Nobel — Shared historical date (10-21 · Born) (1833): Pioneering chemist, inventor of dynamite, and founder of the Nobel Prizes.
• 1919 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1919
• September 2 (09-02) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on September 2
• 2020 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2020
• October 21 (10-21) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on October 21

Frequently Asked Questions about Marge Champion