Trivia

Provided the singing voice for Natalie Wood in West Side Story (1961). She also was Deborah Kerr's singing voice in both An Affair to Remember (1957) and the musical classic The King and I (1956).

Twentieth Century-Fox insisted Marni Nixon sign a contract that she would not reveal that she dubbed any part of Deborah Kerr's vocals in "The king and I" (1956). Were she to do so, the studio threatened that they would see to it that she never worked "in this town (i.e., Hollywood) again." Deborah Kerr, who worked extremely closely - and extremely well - with Nixon thought this was very unfair and it was Miss Kerr herself who revealed the secret of the dubbing in an interview with the popular syndicated columnist Earl Wilson.

When Harvey Fierstein was asked who should play the lead in a film adaptation of the musical "La Cage Aux Folles", he replied: "Me! Dubbed by Marni Nixon!".

Also dubbed the singing voice of Anita (Rita Moreno) in West Side Story (1961) for the song "Tonight" when Betty Wand developed bronchitis at the last moment.

Toured extensively with both Liberace and Victor Borge.

She starred in her own local children's TV show in Seattle entitled "Boomerang" in the late 70s and early 80s and won four Emmys for her efforts.

Has appeared in one film with Julie Andrews: The Sound of Music (1965). She also provided Eliza Doolittle's singing voice for Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady (1964)

• a role originated on the stage by Andrews.

Playing Mrs. Higgins (Prof. Higgins' mother) in a touring production of My Fair Lady. (March 2008)

Earned her reputation as "Singing Voice of the Stars" by "ghosting" other film luminaries as well, including Margaret O'Brien, Janet Leigh, and Jeanne Crain in some of their song sequences. She even touched up some singing parts for Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), dubbing the phrase "These rocks don't lose their shape" and some higher notes in the "Diamond's Are a Girl's Best Friend" number.

In 1965, Marni appeared on the popular show "To Tell The Truth' as a participant. Half the panel which consisted of Tom Poston, Peggy Cass, Orson Bean and Kitty Carlyle were fooled.

Natalie Wood recorded all the songs she would sing in the film West Side Story and was told that only some of her higher notes would be dubbed but eventually they were all dubbed by Marnie.

Performed as the Mother Superior in The Sound of Music at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. (July 2006)

Of her three children, Andrew Gold is a rock musician, composer and producer; daughter Martha Gold Carr is a psychologist; and Melanie Gold is a singer and songwriter.

Although she never dubbed the voice of Julie Andrews, Marni Nixon sang the role of Mary Poppins on the kids' version (Disneyland label) of the music from the film.

Children with Ernest Gold: Andrew Gold, Martha Gold Carr (b. July 22, 1953), and Melanie Gold.

Performed in a concert run ('The Voice of Hollywood') that toured the US. (June 2003)

Of her three best-known dubbing jobs - Anna in "The king and I", Maria in "West side story", and Eliza in "My fair lady" - only with Deborah Kerr was Nixon able to establish a warm personal and professional rapport. The following year (1957), Nixon again dubbed Kerr's vocals, this time in "An Affair to Remember", in which Kerr was portraying a successful night club singer.

Started out at the age of four as a violinist and had a singing act with her sisters by age eight.

Hosted "Boomerang," a Seattle children's TV show.

Her voice is featured (and credited) in the film Dementia (1955) and, of course, in its 1957 re-release known as Daughter of Horror.

Replaced Joan Roberts as Heidi Schiller (who sings "One More Kiss") in the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's "Follies" (May 2001)