Carol Lawrence (born September 5, 1932) is an American actress most often associated with musical theatre.

Born as Carolina Maria Laraia in Melrose Park, Illinois, Carol Lawrence made her Broadway debut in 1952. She achieved success in the role of Maria in the original Broadway production of West Side Story in 1957, and received a nomination for Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for this role. She played the role for two years, and after an appearance in the show Saratoga returned to West Side Story for its 1960 season. Among her other Broadway successes were I Do! I Do! (1967) and Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993-95).

She has played several roles at The Muny in St. Louis, the oldest and largest outdoor theater in the U.S., including Fanny Brice in Funny Girl (1975), Charity in Sweet Charity (1977), and Lucille Early in No, No, Nanette (1990).

Her television performances include guest roles in Breaking Point (as Evelyn Denner in the 1963 episode entitled "There Are the Hip, and There Are the Square"), Rawhide, Combat!, Wagon Train, The Fugitive, Hawaii 5-0, Marcus Welby, M.D., Medical Center, Kung Fu, Mannix, Murder She Wrote, Saved by the Bell, General Hospital and Sex and the City.

Lawrence was awarded the Harvard Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year Award in 1960.

[edit] Personal life

She was married and divorced three times. She was married to the actor and singer Robert Goulet, from 1963 until 1981, and together they had two children, Christopher and Michael.

[edit] External links