Connie Russell (New York, May 9, 1923 – Los Angeles, December 18, 1990), Made her musical film debut in Melody and Romance (1937) while in England, MGM signed her up and she appeared to good advantage in Lady Be Good (1941) in which she sang "Fascinating Rhythm" but, despite her pin-up good looks, did not go on to better things with the studio, appearing in nothing parts in Joe Smith, American (1942) and the Red Skelton/Eleanor Powell musical Ship Ahoy (1942). She also dubbed Claire Trevor's singing voice in the film Crossroads (1942).

As a night club singer who appeared at top clubs in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, would became a network staff singer beginning in July 21, 1947. That day she started working for NBC in Chicago. Her initial assignment was to replace Skip Farell as the featured singer on the Manor House Summer Party for eight weeks.

She was formerly featured at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel and Copacabana nitery in New York ans the Latin Quarter and Chez Paree in Chicago. She also was heard on the Milton Berle radio program, Connie Russell was not only strickingly beautiful, but also an exciting performer to watch. She sangs every song with warmth conviction, with a dark, suggestive, and velvety voice. There was no gimmicks or affections in her style; there is no need, for she really known how to sing.

In 1948, Zimring landed a job as a secretary to Sam Weisbord at William Morris Agency that would put him on his career path. He caught the eye of WMA chief Abe Lastfogel, and Zimring was the senior agent in the motion picture department in the 1950s. He was promoted to head of the lit department in 1959; his clients included Karl Malden, Carl Reiner, Katharine Hepburn, Gore Vidal and Frank Capra. He had a key role in assembling pics including “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?” and “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World.”

TV proved to be more viable medium for her when she auditioned for Dave Garroway and became a regular on his Garroway at Large (1949) show. She appeared on a number of variety TV shows for such luminaries as Ed Sullivan, Steve Allen and Eddie Cantor, and appeared in New York clubs in the early 50s. Returning to Hollywood she earned a strong showing in the musical film Cruisin' Down the River (1953) alongside Dick Haymes and became a prominent Las Vegas headliner. On the musical stage one of her most popular roles was in 1951's "South Pacific" as Nellie Forbush co-starring Richard Eastham," but hopes for the subsequent film role went down the tubes when the role went to Mitzi Gaynor.

A solid recording artist with a jazzy style, her more popular renditions include "That's What a Rainy Day is For" and "You've Changed." Her last films were in This Is My Love (1954), in which she appeared as herself and sang the title tune, and the femme lead in the film noir thriller Nightmare (1956) with Kevin McCarthy and Edward G. Robinson. Marrying agent Mike Zimring, she abandoned her four-decade career after giving birth to her third daughter. She died in 1990 at age 67 of a heart ailment. Eldest daughter Lisa is also a singer.

Gary Brumburgh
http://www.imdb.com