Adriana Caselotti
Encyclopedia
Adriana Mitchell Caselotti (May 6, 1916 – January 19, 1997) was an American actress
and singer. She was the voice of the title character in Walt Disney
's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
. Caselotti was named as a Disney Legend
in 1994.
, was a teacher of music and a vocal coach. Her mother, Maria Orefice (from Naples
), was a singer in the Royal Opera
. Her older sister Louise
gave voice lessons and sang opera (for example Maria Callas
, during 1946 and 1947).
When Caselotti was seven, they left Connecticut
for Italy while her mother toured with an opera company.
Caselotti was educated at an Italian convent, San Getulio, near Rome
, while her mother performed in the opera. When they returned to New York
three years later, Caselotti spoke no English
. While relearning English, she studied singing with her father.
), Caselotti was hired by Walt Disney
in 1936 as the voice of his heroine Snow White
. She was paid a total of $970 for working on the film. As she was under studio contract from Disney, she was prevented from appearing in film and other media following Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
. Jack Benny
specifically mentioned that he had asked Disney for permission to use her on his radio show and was told, "I'm sorry, but that voice can't be used anywhere. I don't want to spoil the illusion of Snow White."
The only other work Caselotti did following her premiere was an uncredited role in The Wizard of Oz
, as the voice of Juliet
during the Tin-Man's song, "If I Only Had a Heart", singing the falsetto
line "Wherefore Art Thou, Romeo". In 1946, she had an uncredited role, singing in Martini's bar as James Stewart
was praying, in Frank Capra
's It's a Wonderful Life
.
Caselotti did, however, do several promotional spots for Snow White, signing memorabilia. On November 22, 1972 -Thanksgiving Day
-, she guest-starred on an episode of The Julie Andrews Hour
saluting the music of Walt Disney, singing "I'm Wishing" and "Someday My Prince Will Come
" with Julie Andrews
. She also made a guest appearance on the syndicated The Mike Douglas Show
. Caselotti also wrote a how-to book, Do You Like to Sing?.
Later in life, she sold autographs, and also made an attempt at an opera career (for example, Rigoletto
). In the early 1990s, when the Snow White Grotto at Disneyland was refurbished, Caselotti re-recorded "I'm Wishing" for the Snow White Wishing Well at the age of 75. In 1994, she was named a Disney Legend
.
at her Los Angeles
home at the age of 80. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered off the coast of Newport Beach, CA.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and singer. She was the voice of the title character in Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a 1937 American animated film based on Snow White, a German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. It was the first full-length cel-animated feature in motion picture history, as well as the first animated feature film produced in America, the first produced in full...
. Caselotti was named as a Disney Legend
Disney Legends
Established in 1987, the Disney Legends program recognizes people who have made an extraordinary and integral contribution to The Walt Disney Company. The honor is awarded annually during a special ceremony....
in 1994.
Early life
Her father Guido Caselotti, an immigrant from ItalyKingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
, was a teacher of music and a vocal coach. Her mother, Maria Orefice (from Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
), was a singer in the Royal Opera
Teatro dell'Opera di Roma
The Teatro dell'Opera di Roma is an opera house in Rome, Italy. Originally opened in November 1880 as the 2,212 seat Costanzi Theatre, it has undergone several changes of name as well modifications and improvements...
. Her older sister Louise
Louise Caselotti
Louise Caselotti was an American mezzo soprano or contralto.-Biography:Caselotti sang in various operatic productions, as well as performing on radio and even experimental television broadcasts in the 1930s for CBS. She dubbed the voices of several leading Hollywood actresses in the late 1930s...
gave voice lessons and sang opera (for example Maria Callas
Maria Callas
Maria Callas was an American-born Greek soprano and one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century. She combined an impressive bel canto technique, a wide-ranging voice and great dramatic gifts...
, during 1946 and 1947).
When Caselotti was seven, they left Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
for Italy while her mother toured with an opera company.
Caselotti was educated at an Italian convent, San Getulio, near Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, while her mother performed in the opera. When they returned to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
three years later, Caselotti spoke no English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. While relearning English, she studied singing with her father.
Career
In the mid-1930s (after a brief stint as a chorus girl at MGMMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
), Caselotti was hired by Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
in 1936 as the voice of his heroine Snow White
Snow White (Disney)
Snow White is a fictional character and the main protagonist from Walt Disney's first animated feature film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,...
. She was paid a total of $970 for working on the film. As she was under studio contract from Disney, she was prevented from appearing in film and other media following Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a 1937 American animated film based on Snow White, a German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. It was the first full-length cel-animated feature in motion picture history, as well as the first animated feature film produced in America, the first produced in full...
. Jack Benny
Jack Benny
Jack Benny was an American comedian, vaudevillian, and actor for radio, television, and film...
specifically mentioned that he had asked Disney for permission to use her on his radio show and was told, "I'm sorry, but that voice can't be used anywhere. I don't want to spoil the illusion of Snow White."
The only other work Caselotti did following her premiere was an uncredited role in The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
, as the voice of Juliet
Juliet
Juliet is one of the title characters in William Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet, the other being Romeo. She is the daughter of old Capulet, head of the house of Capulet. The story has a long history that precedes Shakespeare himself....
during the Tin-Man's song, "If I Only Had a Heart", singing the falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
line "Wherefore Art Thou, Romeo". In 1946, she had an uncredited role, singing in Martini's bar as James Stewart
James Stewart
James Stewart was a Hollywood movie actor and USAF brigadier general.James Stewart may also refer to:-Noblemen:*James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland*James Stewart, the Black Knight of Lorn James Stewart (1908–1997) was a Hollywood movie actor and USAF brigadier general.James Stewart...
was praying, in Frank Capra
Frank Capra
Frank Russell Capra was a Sicilian-born American film director. He emigrated to the U.S. when he was six, and eventually became a creative force behind major award-winning films during the 1930s and 1940s...
's It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life is a 1946 American Christmas drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra and based on the short story "The Greatest Gift" written by Philip Van Doren Stern....
.
Caselotti did, however, do several promotional spots for Snow White, signing memorabilia. On November 22, 1972 -Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving (United States)
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday,...
-, she guest-starred on an episode of The Julie Andrews Hour
The Julie Andrews Hour
The Julie Andrews Hour is a television variety series starring Julie Andrews that was produced by ATV and distributed by ITC Entertainment. It aired on the ABC network in the United States....
saluting the music of Walt Disney, singing "I'm Wishing" and "Someday My Prince Will Come
Some Day My Prince Will Come
"Some Day My Prince Will Come" is a popular song from Walt Disney's 1937 animated movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It was written by Larry Morey & Frank Churchill , and performed by Adriana Caselotti...
" with Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews
Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honors...
. She also made a guest appearance on the syndicated The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that aired in syndication from 1961 to 1982, distributed by Westinghouse Broadcasting and for much of its run, originated from studios of two of the company's TV stations.The program featured light banter with...
. Caselotti also wrote a how-to book, Do You Like to Sing?.
Later in life, she sold autographs, and also made an attempt at an opera career (for example, Rigoletto
Rigoletto
Rigoletto is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the play Le roi s'amuse by Victor Hugo. It was first performed at La Fenice in Venice on March 11, 1851...
). In the early 1990s, when the Snow White Grotto at Disneyland was refurbished, Caselotti re-recorded "I'm Wishing" for the Snow White Wishing Well at the age of 75. In 1994, she was named a Disney Legend
Disney Legends
Established in 1987, the Disney Legends program recognizes people who have made an extraordinary and integral contribution to The Walt Disney Company. The honor is awarded annually during a special ceremony....
.
Personal life
Caselotti was married four times. Her first husband was Robert Chard, whom she married in 1945. The marriage ended in divorce. She later met bit actor Norval Mitchell, whom she married in 1952. He retired after marrying her, but later died in 1972. The same year, she married the podiatrist Dr. Dana Costigan, who later died. Caselotti's last husband was Florian St. Pierre, a retired postal employee. They married in 1989 and later divorced.Death
On January 19, 1997, Caselotti died of cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
at her Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
home at the age of 80. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered off the coast of Newport Beach, CA.