Vera-Ellen began to dance when she was only ten years old. A few years later, she joined the Rockettes, becoming one of their youngest members.
Vera-Ellen starred in a few Broadway musicals, until she was spotted by the director, Samuel Goldwyn. Vera-Ellen was cast into the movie, "Wonder Man," where she appeared with Danny Kaye. She appeared in many movies, most of them musicals, and was soon given the nickname "twinkle toes."
Vera-Ellen was married twice. Once to a dancer by the name of Robert Hightower, and then later to a millionaire named Victor Rothschild. Both
… More marriages ended in divorce.
She also dated Rock Hudson for three years, but it was little more than publicity.
Vera-Ellen disappeared from the movies in her later years. She had become alarmingly thin in her thirties. Anorexia took a toll on her and she withdrew from Hollywood.
This was also the time when Hollywood began to pull away from musicals. Although Vera-Ellen could act as well as dance, MGM didn't take her talents seriously enough to give her non-dancing parts.
She had one child: Victoria Ellen Rothschild, who died of Sudden Infant Syndrome.
Vera-Ellen died of cancer in Los Angeles, California, on August 30, 1981.
Vera-Ellen had an amazing gift. She could out-dance most of the famous male dancers of her time. Unfortunately, she was not cast in many movies, and is now a forgotten name.
