Sondra Lee, a dancer and actor found by the legendary choreographer-director Jerome Robbins and originated the position of Tiger Lily on Broadway in “Peter Pan” and performed Minnie Fay within the unique manufacturing of “Hello, Dolly!,” has died. She was 97.
Lee died Monday of pure causes in her New York City condominium, based on her pal and colleague, the Rev. Joshua Ellis, a former Broadway press agent.
After her dancing days, Lee taught at Stella Adler’s Conservatory and New York University. She additionally was a guide to such movies as “Places in the Heart” with Sally Field, “The Last of the Mohicans” with Daniel Day Lewis and “The Morning After” starring Jane Fonda, Jeff Bridges and Raul Julia.
In her 2009 memoir, “I’ve Slept With Everybody,” she recounted assembly Robbins on the Shubert Theatre. She had simply missed his audition for “High Button Shoes” and didn’t know who he was.
“Oh,” she informed him. “I just auditioned for ‘Allegro’ and they found I was too short so they let me go. So I’m going home to commit suicide.” Robbins replied: “Don’t go home and commit suicide, come over here and dance for me.” She did and received the job, really two comedian roles within the present.
Robbins would turn out to be her champion and likewise gave her a nickname: “Peanuts,” from the Charles Shultz cartoon strip. “I had been given a gift and I ran with it,” she writes.
Other profession highlights included supporting Bert Lahr and Angela Lansbury on Broadway within the farce “Hotel Paradiso,” a job within the Robert Redford-led “Sunday in New York” on Broadway and an uncredited flip in Federico Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita.”
Lee originated the position of Tiger Lily within the 1954 Broadway manufacturing of “Peter Pan” — in addition to taking part in the half within the 1955, 1956 and 1960 TV broadcasts of “Peter Pan” — working alongside Mary Martin.
In 1964, she started the longest run of her profession. The director Gower Champion requested her to play Minnie Fay within the unique manufacturing of “Hello, Dolly!” with Carol Channing. She would stick with the present for years and likewise tour with it from 1965-68.
Lee’s final public look was at Carnegie Hall in 2025 as a part of the Transport Group’s live performance efficiency of “Hello, Dolly!” She acquired a chronic standing ovation.
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