Judy Holliday Trivia

This is a collection of trivia surrounding the life and career of Judy Holliday. I have gathered these facts from a variety of sources throughout my years of research. In some instances the facts have historical significance, while others are truly trivial...in every sense of the word. More facts including specifics on her birth, death and family can be found in the F.A.Q. section of this site.

With her role as "Nina Tracey" in Phffft, Judy Holliday became the first actor (male or female) to play a film character whose occupation was that of a television script writer.

Judy Holliday was the first actress to ever be simultaneously nominated for Golden Globe Awards in both the "Actress in a Leading Role - Musical or Comedy" and the "Actress in a Leading Role - Drama" categories. Stranger still was the fact that both nominations were for the same film, Born Yesterday.

Judy Holliday was the first actress to ever be nominated for Golden Globe Awards in both the lead (Born Yesterday) and supporting (Adam's Rib) actress categories in the same year.

Judy Holliday won both the Golden Globe Award for "Actress in a Leading Role - Musical or Comedy" and the "Best Actress" Academy Award in the same year for Born Yesterday.

In 1957, Judy Holliday won a Tony Award in the "Leading Actress - Musical" category for Bells Are Ringing.

Judy Holliday became the 5th actress in entertainment history to win both the Oscar and Tony Awards in the lead actress categories.

The Leonard Bernstein musical composition "Rondo for Lifey" was so titled in honor of Judy Holliday's dog...a Skye Terrier named Lifey.

The first film to actually bear the name Judy Holliday was 1944's Winged Victory. It was her third film overall.

Actress Nancy Allen said she loosely modeled her performance in the 1981 film Blow Out on Judy Holliday.

Actress Mary Steenburgen said that she studied all of Judy Holliday's films as preparation for her Oscar-winning performance in the 1980 film Melvin and Howard.

Among those who list Judy Holliday as one of their favorite actresses are Madonna, Catherine Deneuve, Winona Ryder, Pamela Anderson, Cathy Moriarty, Mia Farrow, Shirley MacLaine, Kristen Miller, Tilda Swinton, Arte Johnson and Woody Allen.

The animated character "Billie the Mouse" on the televison series Animaniacs (and also its spin-off Pinky and the Brain) was inspired by Judy Holliday's portrayal of "Billie Dawn" in Born Yesterday.

Judy Holliday worked briefly as an Assistant Switchboard Operator at The Mercury Theatre run by Orson Welles and John Houseman.

The character of "Lina Lamont" in the 1952 film Singin' in the Rain was written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green with their friend Judy Holliday mind. However a variety of circumstances prevented her from doing the film. Instead Jean Hagen, who had made her debut in the 1949 film Adam's Rib along side of Holliday, was cast.

Judy Holliday turned down the role of "Lorelei Lee" in the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes because she felt no actress other than Carol Channing (who played the part on Broadway) should be cast. Her advice fell on deaf ears however and the role eventually went to Marilyn Monroe.

Columbia Pictures boss Harry Cohn originally purchased Born Yesterday for Rita Hayworth to star in. He also had hopes of landing Humphrey Bogart to be her co-star. But Hayworth's temporary retirement and Bogart's refusal enabled Judy Holliday and William Holden to grab the lead roles.

Judy Holliday's final screen credit came as a song writer. She co-wrote the title song to the 1965 film A Thousand Clowns with Gerry Mulligan. It was released posthumously.

Judy Holliday was one of the five founding members of the satirical nightclub act The Revuers. The others were Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Alvin Hammer and John Frank.

Judy Holliday spoke only one line of dialogue in the 1944 film Something For the Boys. The line was: "I knew a girl once who had carborundum in her teeth, and she turned into a radio receiving set." Her role is uncredited.

As a favor to Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Judy Holliday dubbed one line of dialogue for their 1949 film On the Town. The line is: "The grass is always greener if ya know what I mean." Her voice replaces that of the uncredited actress who plays "Daisy," the date of "Sailor Simpkins."

Judy Holliday's I.Q. was a remarkable 172.

Judy Holliday stood 5 foot 7 inches in bare feet and 5 foot 10 inches in heels.

Judy Holliday's "professional weight" flucuated between 120 and 150 pounds.

Judy Holliday's favorite game was Scrabble.

Judy Holliday's favorite singer was Billie Holiday.

Judy Holliday's favorite actress was Laurette Taylor.

Judy Holliday was the person who came up with the title "Blight of the Fumble Bee" for the song that appears on the 1962 Paul Desmond/Gerry Mulligan album Two of a Mind.

One of Judy Holliday's best friends in high school was Patricia Highsmith. Highsmith would go on to become a celebrated author of suspense novels like Strangers on a Train and The Talented Mr. Ripley.

Judy Holliday once dated singer/actor Frank Sinatra.

Judy Holliday gave actor Roddy McDowall his first break as a professional photographer when she asked him to photograph her for the Laurette theatre poster.

Alec Wilder wrote the musical composition "Small Suite for Flute and Piano" for Judy Holliday. The piece is also dedicated to her.

Judy Holliday had a fear of flying.

Judy Holliday's astrological sign was Gemini.

For a portion of her career, Judy Holliday was represented by the William Morris Agency.

One of Judy Holliday's hobbies was refurbishing antiques.

Judy Holliday was an avid enthusiast of double-crostic word puzzles.

Born Yesterday was the 6th highest grossing film in the United States for the year 1951.

The person who opened the envelope and announced Judy Holliday as the winner of the Best Actress Oscar was her Born Yesterday co-star, Broderick Crawford.

In her leisure time, Judy Holliday enjoyed painting as well as cooking French & Italian food.

Judy Holliday enjoyed playing poker and often played with friends like Maureen Stapleton and Gene Kelly.

There is a type of gesneriad plant named in Judy Holliday's honor. You can see a picture of it here and read more about it here.

Judy Holliday smoked the Regent brand of cigarettes in the early 1950's.

Judy Holliday was offered a role in the 1963 Stanley Kramer film It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World, but turned it down because she had already made the decision to retire from acting.

Director Woody Allen recommended that Scarlett Johansson watch Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday as preparation for her role in his film Scoop.

In 1953, Judy Holliday was reported to be the replacement for Rosalind Russell in Comden and Green's musical Wonderful Town, but her film commitments to Columbia Pictures prevented her from taking the role.

When Warner Brothers bought the film rights to Gypsy in 1960, Judy Holliday was reported to be the studio's first choice to play the role of Gypsy Rose Lee's mother. Judy Garland was also rumored for the part, but it eventually went to Rosalind Russell.

Carl Reiner wrote the screenplay for The Thrill Of It All as a vehicle for Judy Holliday. Reiner showed the script to Judy, who reportedly loved it. Her illness, however, precluded her from accepting the lead role. Doris Day was eventually cast when the project became a film in 1963.