Champion, Marge (1919–)

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Champion, Marge (1919–)

American actress and dancer. Name variations: Marjorie Bell. Born Marjorie Celeste Belcher, Sept 2, 1919, in Hollywood, California; dau. of Ernest Belcher (ballet coach); half-sister of Lina Basquette (actress); studied ballet with father, tap with Nick Castle, ballet with Vincenzo Celli and modern dance with Hanya Holm; m. Art Babbitt (animator), 1937 (div. 1940); m. Gower Champion (dancer-choreographer), 1947 (div. 1973); m. Boris Sagal (director, died 1981); stepchildren: Katey Sagal, Jean Sagal, and Liz Sagal (all actresses).

Began dancing as a child; was a movement model for Disney's Snow White and for the Blue Fairy in Pinocchio; appeared in 3 films as Marjorie Bell, including Honor of the West and All Women Have Secrets (1939); teamed with Gower Champion (1945) to appear in Show Boat, Lovely to Look At, Everything I Have Is Yours, Give a Girl a Break, Jupiter's Darling and Three for the Show; other films include The Party and The Swimmer; choreographed dances for The Day of the Locust (1975). Won Emmy for choreography for "Queen of the Stardust Ballroom" (1975).

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