Biography
Born on 24 December 1924 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Carol Haney passed away on 10 May 1964 in Saddle Brook, New Jersey. During her dance studies she crossed paths with choreographer Jack Cole, who became both her mentor and employer, assigning her assistant duties on various theatrical and cinematic assignments. In Hollywood she appeared in minor roles and supplied an uncredited vocal track for Gene Kelly’s footwork in the title sequence of Singin’ In The Rain (1952). She later shared an on-screen dance number with Bob Fosse in Kiss Me Kate (1953). The following year Fosse cast her as Gladys in the original Broadway staging of Richard Adler and Jerry Ross’ The Pajama Game; her nightly renditions of “Hernando’s Hideaway” and “Steam Heat” earned her the Tony Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical. While shooting the 1957 screen version of The Pajama Game, Haney learned she had diabetes; although her filmed recreations of the choreography remained flawless, she withdrew from performance. She had wed singer-dancer Larry Blyden in 1955, yet she showed no intention of leaving the profession. Redirecting her energies toward choreography, she earned strong notices for Flower Drum Song (1958), Bravo Giovanni (1962), She Loves Me (1963), Jennie (1963) and Funny Girl (1964). Compromised health together with an extravagant way of living precipitated both her divorce from Blyden and her premature death shortly after Funny Girl opened.