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Patrice Munsel

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
18

Gender
Female

Birthday
May 4, 1925 (101 years old)

Place of Birth
Spokane, Washington, USA

Patrice Munsel

Biography

Patrice Munsel (born Patrice Beverly Munsil) was an American coloratura soprano. Nicknamed "Princess Pat", she was the youngest singer ever to star at the Metropolitan Opera.

Munsel first sang at the Metropolitan at age 17 in March 1943. She made her official Metropolitan debut on December 4, 1943, aged 18, singing Philine in Mignon, for which won popular praise but poor critical reviews. Her first opera contract was for three years at $40,000 per year; with other appearances she was making around $100,000 annually.

Perhaps best known for the roles of Adele in Die Fledermaus and Despina in Cosi Fan Tutte, Munsel sang 225 times at the Metropolitan Opera. Sir Rudolf Bing called her a "superb soubrette" and implied that she was the world's best. Her opera roles also included Rosina in The Barber of Seville and Gilda in Rigoletto.

Her husband Robert C. Schuler (1917–2007) conceived and produced the ABC-TV primetime variety series The Patrice Munsel Show, which starred his wife, and was broadcast in the 1957–1958 season. Munsel appeared on many other TV shows during her career, including the role of Marietta (Countess d'Altena) in the January 15, 1955 live telecast of the operetta Naughty Marietta. She portrayed the title role in the 1953 film Melba, which chronicled the life of the great opera singer, Dame Nellie Melba.

Munsel made frequent television appearances on The Bell Telephone Hour, and was the central singer in the Camp Fire Girls' famous TV commercial and song "Sing Around the Campfire (Join the Camp Fire Girls)", aired in the mid-1960s. A former Camp Fire Girl herself, she was also a spokeswoman for the organization.

Munsel made her final performance for the Metropolitan Opera on January 28, 1958, in the title role in La Périchole. She appeared on stage as a guest during the 1966 Gala Farewell to the old opera house at Broadway and 39th Street. Munsel ended her career as an opera singer in 1981, and began to perform in musical comedies. She retired from performing in 2008.

Known For

Acting

1965The Wild Wild Westas
1963Miss USAas Self - Judge
1962The Merv Griffin Showas Self
1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas Self
1961The Mike Douglas Showas Self
1959The Big Partyas Self
1959The Bell Telephone Houras Self
1956The Stingiest Man in Townas Belle
1956The Steve Allen Showas Self
1955The Great Waltzas Resi Eberstäter
1955Naughty Mariettaas Marietta d'Altena
1954The George Gobel Showas Self
1953Melbaas Nellie Melba
1951The Ezio Pinza Showas Self
1951America Applauds: An Evening for Richard Rodgersas
1950The Colgate Comedy Houras Self
1950Your Show of Showsas
1950What's My Line?as Self

Production