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Lena Horne

Birth Place: Brooklyn, NY, USA

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BIO

Horne was an American dancer, actress, Grammy-winning singer, and civil rights activist. Horne's career spanned over 70 years, appearing in film, television, and theater. Horne joined the chorus of the Cotton Club at the age of 16 and became a nightclub performer before moving to Hollywood.



Horne advocated for human rights and took part in the March on Washington in August 1963. Later she returned to her roots as a nightclub performer and continued to work on television, while releasing well-received record albums. She announced her retirement in March 1980, but the next year starred in a one-woman show, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, which ran for more than 300 performances on Broadway. She then toured the country in the show, earning numerous awards and accolades. Horne continued recording and performing sporadically into the 1990s, retreating from the public eye in 2000. Horne died of congestive heart failure on May 9, 2010, at the age of 92.

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Unknown, 1981
Performer

[Broadway]
Concert [Broadway], 1974
Performer

[Broadway]
Closed on the road, 1961
Performer

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1957
Savannah

[Broadway]
1939
Performer

[Broadway]
1934
A Quadronne Girl

[Los Angeles]
Los Angeles Revival, 1978
Vera Simpson


Movies

The Duke Is Tops
[ 1938 ] Ethel Andrews
Cabin in the Sky
[ 1943 ] Georgia Brown
Swing Fever
[ 1943 ] Lena Horne
I Dood It
[ 1943 ] Lena Horne
Thousands Cheer
[ 1943 ] Lena Horne
Stormy Weather
[ 1943 ] Selina Rogers
Broadway Rhythm
[ 1944 ] Fernway de la Fer
Two Girls and a Sailor
[ 1944 ] Lena Horne
Ziegfeld Follies
[ 1945 ] Lena HorneLove
Words and Music
[ 1948 ] Lena Horne
Duchess of Idaho
[ 1950 ] Lena Horne
Meet Me in Las Vegas
[ 1956 ] Lena Horne
Death of a Gunfighter
[ 1969 ] Claire Quintana
The Wiz
[ 1978 ] Glinda the Good

Awards and Nominations


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1981 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Lena Horne, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music


winner
New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 1981 - Special Citation

Lena Horne, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music


winner
Tony Awards - 1981 - Special Tony Award

Lena Horne, The Lady and Her Music

Tony Awards - 1958 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Lena Horne, Jamaica

Videos

News


SIX Ths Musical Comes To The Bushnell This Month

The Bushnell has announced the regal return of the Tony Award-Winning electrifying musical phenomenon SIX by Tony Award-winners Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss are on sale now for eight performances from December 31 through January 5, 2025.
SIX National Tour to Return to The Fabulous Fox This Winter

The Fabulous Fox will present the Tony Award-Winning new musical phenomenon SIX, by Tony Award-winners Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss for 16 performances. Learn how to purchase tickets.
SIX On Sale This Week At Jubilee Auditorium

Tickets for the Tony Award-winning electrifying new musical phenomenon SIX by Tony Award®-winners Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss will go on sale December 16, 2025. SIX will play eight performances in Calgary from May 20-25, 2025 at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.
Papo Vázquez Leads Third Annual Holiday Jazz & Latin Jazz Parranda

The Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture will present Holiday Jazz & Latin Jazz Parranda for its third winter season, led by Papo Vazquez. Learn more about the upcoming event here!
SIX is Coming to Popejoy Hall in March 2025

The Tony Award-Winning SIX by Tony Award-winners Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss is coming to Popejoy Hall in March. Learn how to purchase tickets.
Tickets For SIX in Portland Go on Sale Next Week

 Broadway in Portland has announced that tickets for the Tony Award-Winning musical SIX by Tony Award-winners Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss will go on sale next week. Learn more here!
Tickets On Sale Next Week For SIX in Vancouver

Tickets for the Tony Award-Winning musical SIX by Tony Award-winners Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss will go on sale Monday, December 16, 2024 for eight performances.
Current Queens Of SIX On Broadway Set Final Performance Dates

The current Broadway Queens of Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss's musical SIX will play their final performances at Lena Horne Theatre in the coming months. Learn more about their departure dates here!
New Musical CALL ME FROM THE GRAVE Will Receive Developmental Readings

Amas Musical Theatre will present developmental readings of Call Me From the Grave, a new musical with music and lyrics by Charlie Romano, and book by Harold Hodge, Jr. at Ripley-Grier Studios.
Tickets to SIX at Clowes Memorial Hall to go on Sale Tomorrow

Tickets for the Tony Award-Winning SIX by Tony Award-winners Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss will go on sale this week for performances at Clowes Memorial Hall. Learn how to purchase tickets.
Photos: SIX Queens Celebrate Six Years With A Royal Afternoon Tea At The Rubens At The Palace

The stars of the award-winning global smash hit SIX enjoyed Royal Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at the Palace on 6 November, in the shadow of Buckingham Palace. Check out photos from the afternoon.
Tickets on Sale This Week For SIX in Seattle

Tickets for the Seattle run of SIX the musical, by Tony Award®-winners Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, will go on sale Wednesday, November 6 for the eight performances between May 6 – 11, 2025.
Adrianna Hicks Will Return to SIX on Broadway

Original Broadway cast member Adrianna Hicks will return to cast of Six as Catherine of Aragon starting Monday, November 25. Learn more about when to catch her in the show here!
SIX Comes to Fresno in 2025

Broadway in Fresno has announced that tickets for the Tony Award®-Winning electrifying new musical phenomenon SIX by Tony Award®-winners Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss are on sale now.
Review: René Marie Jumps Into Belafonte's Calypso Beats at Jazz at Lincoln Center

René Marie at the Appel Room is a formidable, feisty presence saluting the late legend Harry Belafonte, concentrating on calypso. Her handling of the repertoire of legendary Belafonte, JUMP IN THE LINE!, brings a warm embrace with a hot band.
Tickets to THE WIZ at the Citizens Opera House on Sale Now

Tickets for the Boston engagement of THE WIZ are currently on sale.  THE WIZ returns “home” to stages across America in an all-new Broadway tour, the first one in 40 years. 
Top Five Finalists Revealed for 13th Annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center revealed the top five finalists for the 13th annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, featuring emerging talents from around the world. Learn more!
Karen Slack, Lyric Unlimited's Artist-In-Residence, To Present Three-Part Recital Series

Karen Slack, Lyric Unlimited's Artist-In-Residence, will present a three-part recital series exploring diverse musical genres and themes, offering audiences a unique musical experience. Learn more about the series!
Hattie McDaniel Biopic Sets Houston Film Premiere This Month

Vincent Victoria Presents have announced the premiere of THE DICHOTOMY OF HATTIE MCDANIEL, a film exploring the life of the first African American Academy Award winner, debuting October 26, 2024, in Houston.
Photos: SIX THE MUSICAL Welcomes New Queens to the West End

All new production photos have been released featuring the new West End cast of Six the Musical. Plus, Six has once again extended its reign in the West End, with tickets now available at the Vaudeville Theatre until 30 November 2025.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Lena Horne been in?

Lena Horne has appeared on Broadway in 6 shows.

How many West End shows has Lena Horne been in?

Lena Horne has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has Lena Horne been nominated for?

Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, Special Citation (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, Special Tony Award (Tony Awards) for The Lady and Her Music and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Jamaica.

What awards has Lena Horne won?

Lena Horne won several prestigious awards, including the Outstanding Actress in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music. She also received a Special Citation from the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music. Additionally, Horne was awarded a Special Tony Award at the Tony Awards for The Lady and Her Music.

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