Ruby Keeler, born Ethel Hilda Keeler on August 25, 1909, in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, was a prominent actress, dancer, and singer known for her work in film, stage, and television. Her career spanned several decades, with her peak fame occurring during the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Ruby moved with her family to New York City at the age of three. She started her career in show business as a child, dancing in amateur productions. By her teens, she was working in chorus lines on Broadway, which eventually led to her big break in the 1920s.
Keeler's breakthrough came with her role in the Broadway show "No, No, Nanette" in 1925. However, it was her performance in the 1933 musical "42nd Street" that solidified her status as a star. The show, directed by Busby Berkeley, featured her in a leading role, where she performed the famous "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" number.
Her success on Broadway quickly transitioned to film. Keeler starred in several Warner Bros. musicals, including:
Ruby Keeler married Al Jolson in 1928, a marriage that was highly publicized due to Jolson's celebrity status. They divorced in 1940, but their relationship remained a significant part of her public persona. Keeler later married John Lowell Lowe in 1941, with whom she had four children.
After a hiatus from the screen, Keeler made a comeback in the 1970s with the revival of "No, No, Nanette" on Broadway, earning her a Tony Award nomination. She also appeared in television shows and made guest appearances, cementing her legacy as an icon of the American musical stage and screen.
Ruby Keeler passed away on February 28, 1993, in Rancho Mirage, California, from kidney cancer. Her contributions to the entertainment industry are remembered through her work preserved in films and her influence on the musical theatre genre.