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Adriana Caselotti

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Adriana Caselotti
Caselotti in 1937
Born
Adriana Elena Loretta Caselotti

(1916-05-06)May 6, 1916
Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.
DiedJanuary 19, 1997(1997-01-19) (aged 80)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations
Years active1932–1997
Notable workOriginal voice of Snow White in Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Spouses
Robert James Chard
​
​
(m. 1945, divorced)​
Norval Weir Mitchell
​
​
(m. 1952; died 1972)​
Joseph Dana Costigan
​
​
(m. 1972; died 1982)​
Florian St. Pierre
​
​
(m. 1989, divorced)​
RelativesLouise Caselotti (older sister)
AwardsDisney Legend (1994)

Adriana Elena Loretta Caselotti (May 6, 1916 – January 19, 1997) was an American actress and singer. Caselotti was the voice of the title character of the first Walt Disney animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), for which she was named a Disney Legend in 1994, making her the first female voice-over artist to achieve this.

Early life

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Adriana Caselotti was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to an Italian-American family.[1] Her father, Guido Luigi Emanuele Caselotti, was an immigrant from Udine, and worked as a music teacher and vocal coach, and served as the organist for the Holy Rosary Church; and her mother, Maria Josephine née Orefice Caselotti from Casavatore, was a singer in the Royal Opera Theatre of Rome. Her older sister, Louise, sang opera and gave voice lessons—Maria Callas being a student of hers. When Caselotti was seven years old, her family left Connecticut for Italy, while her mother toured with an opera company. Caselotti was educated and boarded at the San Getulio convent, near Rome. When her family returned to New York three years later, Caselotti re-learned English and studied singing with her father.[2] In 1934, Caselotti attended Hollywood High School where she sang in the senior class Girls' Glee Club and had a leading role in the school's annual musical, The Belle of New York.[3]

Career

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In 1935, after her brief stint as a chorus girl and session singer at MGM, Walt Disney hired Caselotti as the voice of the heroine, Snow White.[4] She was paid a total of $970 for working on the film (equivalent to $20,559 in 2023).[2] She was not credited for the role, and had trouble finding new opportunities later in life. Jack Benny specifically mentioned that he had asked Walt 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."[5] Caselotti had several more jobs in the film business. The two most well-known were an uncredited role in MGM's The Wizard of Oz (1939) as the voice of Juliet during the Tin Woodman's song, "If I Only Had a Heart", speaking the line, "Wherefore art thou Romeo?"[6] and an uncredited role in Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life, singing in Martini's bar as James Stewart is praying.[7]

Adriana Caselotti appeared in several promotional spots for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and signed memorabilia during promotional events. 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 "Some Day My Prince Will Come" with Julie Andrews.[8] She also made a guest appearance on the syndicated The Mike Douglas Show. Caselotti later wrote a how-to book, Do You Like to Sing?.[4]

Later in life, she sold autographs and sang opera, including performing in Rigoletto. In the early 1990s, when the Snow White Grotto at Disneyland was refurbished, Caselotti, at the age of 75, re-recorded "I'm Wishing" for the Snow White Wishing Well exhibit. In 1994, she was named a Disney Legend.[4]

Personal life

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Caselotti was married four times. Her first husband was Robert James Chard, a local theater ticket broker[9] whom she married in 1945. The marriage ended in divorce. She later met actor Norval Weir Mitchell, whom she married in 1952. He retired after marrying her and died in 1972. The same year, she was married to a podiatrist, Joseph Dana Costigan, who died in 1982.[10] Caselotti married her last husband, Joseph Laureat Florian St. Pierre, a retired postal employee, in 1989 and they later divorced.[6]

Death

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Caselotti died of cancer at her Los Angeles home on January 19, 1997.[2]

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1950 One Hour in Wonderland Snow White Voice actress

Television shows

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Year Title Role Notes
1972 The Julie Andrews Hour Herself Aired on Thanksgiving Day
1981 A Gift of Music Herself TV special
1983 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Herself Desk - "Vacation Snapshots"
The Magical World of Disney Herself Episode: 20
1985 Disney Family Album Herself "Voice Actors"
1993 John & Leeza from Hollywood Herself Season 1: Episode 14

Animation

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Year Film Role Notes
1937 Modern Inventions Robot Nurse Maid Voice actress[11]
Donald's Ostrich Opera Singer Voice actress
1944 Donald's Off Day Singer of Opening Song Uncredited, voice actress

Film

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Year Film Role Notes
1935 Naughty Marietta Dancing Doll Uncredited
1936 Toby Tortoise Returns Bunny Girl Uncredited[12]
1937 The Bride Wore Red First Peasant Girl Uncredited
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Snow White Voice actress, uncredited
1939 The Wizard of Oz Juliet Uncredited, voice actress
1942 We Were Dancing Opera Singer Uncredited, voice actress
1945 Hobo's Lady Hobo Voice actress
1946 It's a Wonderful Life Singer at Martini's Uncredited, voice actress
Two Sisters from Boston Opera Singer Uncredited
1978 Business as Usual Snow White Voice actress
1981 Once Upon a Mouse Snow White Voice actress
1983 The Fairest of Them All Herself TV movie
1990 Celebrating Walt Disney's 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs': The One That Started It All Snow White Voice actress
1992 The Music of Disney: A Legacy in Song Snow White Voice actress
1993 The Best of Disney Music: A Legacy in Song - Part I Herself TV movie

Radio

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Year Title Role Notes
1951 Lux Radio Theatre Snow White / Herself Lux Radio Theatre Intermission

Awards and recognition

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Year Award Category Result Nominated work Ref.
1994 Disney Legends Animation—Voice Won Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs [4]

References

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  1. ^ "Adriana Caselotti Birth Certificate, Passport, and Bank | Lot #97030 | Heritage Auctions". Heritage Auctions. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Adriana Caselotti, 80, Voice of Snow White"; New York Times;" Obituary article; 01/21/1997; retrieved October 8, 2017
  3. ^ Poinsettia Yearbook (29 ed.). Hollywood: Hollywood High School. 1934. pp. 79, 81.
  4. ^ a b c d "Adriana Caselotti". D23. Disney. Archived from the original on 2015-09-08. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  5. ^ Thomas, Bob (July 3, 1993). "Singer Still Hopes to Cash in as Voice of Snow White". The Day. New London CT. Associated Press. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  6. ^ a b Sibley, Brian (February 10, 1997). "Obituary: Adriana Caselotti". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  7. ^ "On a Wing and a Prayer". Los Angeles Times. November 24, 2022.
  8. ^ "The Heartbreaking Story of the Woman Who Played Disney's Snow White". Yahoo News. December 29, 2022.
  9. ^ "The Bradford Era"; Newspapers.com; On-line Newspaper archives; article; Thursday, July 18, 1946; Bradford, Pennsylvania; p. 5; retrieved April 2021
  10. ^ "Snow White's House on the Market for $995,000". Orange Country Register. January 17, 2023.
  11. ^ "Modern Inventions Donald Duck Animation Drawing (Walt Disney, 1937)". Heritage Auctions. November 18, 2023.
  12. ^ Cartoon Voices of the Golden Age, Vol. 2
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