Star of stage and screen Carol Channing, who died Tuesday morning at the age of 97, is being remembered and honored by those in Hollywood and on Broadway as “one of Broadway’s greatest lights.”
“She rejoins the heavens as a new diamond in the night sky, and as she famously sang, they are a girl’s best friend,” actor George Takei tweeted. “Goodbye and farewell, forever our Dolly.”
Channing’s work on stage in the original production of “Hello, Dolly!” and “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” is being celebrated by stars like Lin-Manuel Miranda, Rosanna Arquette and Gilbert Gottfried, among others.
The cast of the current Broadway production of “Hello, Dolly” issued a statement this morning, saying. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of the one and only Carol Channing. She was a ‘Dolly’ for the ages, and a true icon of the American Theater. Betty Buckley and the cast will dedicate tonight’s performance in San Diego to her memory.”
GLAAD also honored her Tuesday morning for her contributions to LGBT artists and audiences, quoting her as saying, “The gay community is responsible for so much of my success, and I love them. It’s a mutual love affair, really. They make the better audiences too, because they laugh often and loudly.”
“Thank you Carol Channing for a brilliant career and for being a friend,” the official account of GLAAD said in a tweet.
Finally, Heather Hitchens, president and CEO of the American Theatre Wing, issued this statement on her passing: “Carol Channing was one of the great icons of the American theater, and a beloved ambassador for this art form. She possessed a quality so unique and so special that she became her own archetype. Though her loss will be felt deeply by fans and professionals alike, her indomitable spirit lives on in the countless leading ladies who have been — and continue to be — influenced by her greatness.”
Rest in peace Carol Channing, and thanks for all the jams. See some of the other reactions below:
Carol was a true life-force…a kind and effervescent woman who never allowed the parade to pass her by! xo B pic.twitter.com/C2WSCsYZbl
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) January 15, 2019
The great, the legendary #CarolChanning has died at age 97. She was a complete original, and there will never be another. Blonde, 6 ft tall and utterly hilarious, she was a legend. My condolences to the world; to those who knew her or saw her and those who never got the chance.
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) January 15, 2019
“When the whistles blow
And the cymbals crash
And the sparklers light the sky
I'm gonna raise the roof
I'm gonna carry on
Give me an old trombone
Give me an old baton
Before the parade passes by!”
Goodbye, Carol.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ https://t.co/Z6KFQzrcWV— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 15, 2019
https://twitter.com/RoArquette/status/1085190622032490497
She was show business and love personified ❤️❤️❤️❤️ https://t.co/isNzReB733
— Bernadette Peters (@OfficialBPeters) January 15, 2019
RIP Carol Channing. pic.twitter.com/WJNJIdp5il
— Gilbert Gottfried (@RealGilbert) January 15, 2019
One of Broadway's greatest lights, Carol Channing, has passed on. She rejoins the heavens as a new diamond in the night sky, and as she famously sang, they are a girl's best friend. Goodbye and farewell, forever our Dolly. https://t.co/0u2zLcAnff
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) January 15, 2019
We remember the life of Broadway legend and comedy icon Carol Channing. Here are window cards from her two appearances at Carnegie Hall in 1988 and 1991. What is your favorite memory of Ms. Channing? https://t.co/051vPMc6HD pic.twitter.com/rLODMLsgFK
— Carnegie Hall (@carnegiehall) January 15, 2019
I am so sad just lost my incredible original inspiration #carolchanning I saw her in Hello Dolly when I was 8 and she changed my DNA love you lady forever one of the greatest entertainers of all times
— Sandra Bernhard (@SandraBernhard) January 15, 2019
We’ll only ever say HELLO, not Goodbye. The legendary #CarolChanning, January 31, 1921 – January 15, 2019. Tomorrow is the 55th anniversary of the original HELLO, DOLLY opening night at the St. James. She will always be Wow Wow Wow, fellas. Forever. pic.twitter.com/OAaskBnkjV
— Jordan Roth (@Jordan_Roth) January 15, 2019
RIP Carol Channing. https://t.co/CaicC5OuKd pic.twitter.com/HaZjGi4uc2
— Vince Guerrieri (@vinceguerrieri) January 15, 2019
Saddened by the news of my friend Carol Channing, a Broadway legend who has paved the way for many. I was honored to be a recipient of the 1994 Carol Channing Diamond Award. My prayers are with her family and friends. pic.twitter.com/M16ivP62a8
— Eduardo J. Padrón (@EduardoJPadron) January 15, 2019
Carol Channing was a legend for many many reasons, but one of my favorites is that she was the very first Super Bowl Halftime Show – which might be is the best Broadway/sports overlap of all time.
https://t.co/P2Vi0C5iq6 pic.twitter.com/yFZSDmFSFs— ashley hufford (@ashleyhufford) January 15, 2019
All the cliches due her- "one of a kind, they broke the mold, one and only, icon, she did it way, a true star in heaven," and, seemingly immortal, Carol Channing has passed. My sincere sympathies to all her loved ones, of which there are millions. Take one more bow, Dolly. 👏 https://t.co/YVzW0WF5we
— Debra Strege (@EdinaDebbie) January 15, 2019
RIP Carol Channing.
“When asked by the Wall Street Journal in 2013 if there’s anything hasn’t gotten around to doing yet, she had the perfect response.
“No, I did everything that I ever thought was marvelous.” https://t.co/PvVCCcnhBs
— Scotty Ginett🏳️🌈 (@ScottyGinett) January 15, 2019
RIP Carol Channing, the original Broadway Dolly 💔 pic.twitter.com/SGYEv8L7X6
— The Theatre Cafe (@thetheatrecafe) January 15, 2019
Rest In Peace, Carol Channing. Thanks for all the jams. pic.twitter.com/gFDFSeAwSO
— Ben Siemon (@BenjaminJS) January 15, 2019