O'shea, Tessie (1913–1995)
O'shea, Tessie (1913–1995)
Welsh-born singer and actress. Born Teresa O'Shea, Mar 13, 1913, in Cardiff, Wales; died April 21, 1995, in Leesburg, FL.
A music-hall performer who cheerfully capitalized on her wide girth, made 1st tour at age 7; was a veteran headliner of the Bristol Hippodrome by 15; appeared in a Blackpool revue singing "Two-Ton Tessie from Tennessee," the song that ultimately became her anthem; headlined British revues On With the Show and High Time; made NY debut in The Girl Who Came to Supper (1963), a Tony-winning performance; appeared on CBS variety series "The Entertainers" (1964) and on Broadway in A Time for Singing (1966), Something's Afoot (1976) and Broadway Follies (1981); films include The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966) and Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971).
See also Women in World History.