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A photo of Rosemary Clooney

Rosemary Clooney 1928 - 2002

Rosemary Clooney was born on May 23, 1928 in Maysville, Kentucky USA to Andrew Joseph Clooney and Marie Frances Stone, and had siblings Nicholas Joseph Clooney, Rose Mary Clooney, and Elizabeth Ann Campo. She married Jose Ferrer on July 13, 1953 and they later divorced on May 9, 1962. She had children Miguel Ferrer, Maria Ferrer, Gabriel Ferrer, Monsita Ferrer, and Rafael Ferrer. Rosemary Clooney died at age 74 years old on June 29, 2002 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, California United States, and was buried at St Patrick Cemetery, in Maysville, Mason County, KY.
Rosemary Clooney
May 23, 1928
Maysville, Kentucky, USA
June 29, 2002
Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, California, United States
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Rosemary Clooney's History: 1928 - 2002

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  • Introduction

    Rosemary Clooney, aunt of George Clooney, was an American singer and actress.
  • 05/23
    1928

    Birthday

    May 23, 1928
    Birthdate
    Maysville, Kentucky USA
    Birthplace
  • Ethnicity & Family History

    She is the daughter of Marie Frances Guilfoyle and Andrew Joseph Clooney. Her father was of Irish and German descent, and her mother was of English and Irish ancestry.
  • Nationality & Locations

    Rosemary Clooney was born in Maysville, Kentucky, and lived in the John Brett Richeson House in the late 1940s. Later in life she moved to Los Angeles, CA.
  • Professional Career

    Clooney signed with Columbia and made her first record with Tony Pastor's big band in 1947 called, "I'm Sorry I Didn't Say Sorry" She made her solo recording debut in mid-1949 with "Bargain Day" b/w "Cabaret." In 1951, she record "Come On-a My House" that became her first big chart hit. Clooney recorded several duets with Marlene Dietrich and appeared in the early 1950s on Faye Emerson's Wonderful Town series on CBS. She also did several guest appearances on the Arthur Godfrey radio show and did duets when he played his ukulele. She also had a prominent acting career starring alongside Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Vera-Ellen in the 1954 movie "White Christmas", "The Stars Are Singing" (1953), "Deep in My Heart" (1954), "Twilight Theater" (1982), and starred in "The Rosemary Clooney Show" a half-hour tv musical-variety show in 1956. In later years, Clooney often appeared with Bing Crosby on television, such as in the 1957 special "The Edsel Show", and the two friends made a concert tour of Ireland together.
  • Personal Life & Family

    Rosemary married José Ferrer, a Puerto Rican movie star on June 1, 1953, in Durant, Oklahoma.The couple moved to Santa Monica, California, in 1954, and then to Los Angeles in 1958. Together, they had five children; Miguel, Maria, Gabriel, Monsita, and Rafael. Clooney and Ferrer divorced for the first time in 1961. Clooney remarried Ferrer on November 22, 1964, in Los Angeles. However, the marriage again crumbled due to Ferrer carrying on an affair. The couple divorced again in 1967 after she found out about the affair. In 1997, Clooney joined the presidential campaign of her close friend Robert F. Kennedy, and said she heard the shots when he was assassinated on June 5, 1968.A month later, she had a nervous breakdown onstage in Reno, Nevada, began shouting insults to her audience, and was ultimately hospitalized and remained in psychoanalytic therapy for eight years.
  • 06/29
    2002

    Death

    June 29, 2002
    Death date
    Lung cancer due to smoking
    Cause of death
    Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, California United States
    Death location
  • Gravesite & Burial

    mm/dd/yyyy
    Funeral date
    St Patrick Cemetery, in Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky 41056, United States
    Burial location
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4 Memories, Stories & Photos about Rosemary

Rosemary Clooney and Jose Ferrer
Rosemary Clooney and Jose Ferrer
They were married and five children.
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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Jose Ferrer and Rosemary Clooney and Family.
Jose Ferrer and Rosemary Clooney and Family.
Family Portrait.
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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Rosemary Clooney - singer and actress
Rosemary Clooney - singer and actress
Rosemary Clooney was born in Maysville, Kentucky on May 23, 1928.

She made her singing debut at age 13 on the radio. She gained popularity in the 1950's as a singer and actress. She sang such hits as "Mambo Italiano", "Hey There" and "Come On-A My House". As an actress, she starred alongside Bing Crosby in White Christmas in 1954. She also made a cameo on ER with her Academy Award winning actor and nephew, George Clooney.

Rosemary had five children with José Ferrer. Their first son, Miguel José, was born in 1955. He was followed by Maria Providencia in 1956, Gabriel Vicente in 1957, Monsita Teresa in 1958 and Rafael Francisco in 1960.

She died from lung cancer in June 2002.
Date & Place: in USA
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White Christmas - Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye, Bing Crosby
White Christmas - Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye, Bing Crosby
Rosemary Clooney starred alongside Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen in White Christmas in 1954. It was the first film to be shot in Paramount's VistaVision process with color by Technicolor. The film boasted more than 15 songs.

Lucky for Danny Kaye, Donald O'Connor became sick and was unable to shoot the film after Fred Astaire declined the project.

Even though Vera-Ellen's character Ellen played the younger sister to Betty (Rosie Clooney), Rosemary Clooney was 7 years younger.

The film took in $12 million dollars in 1954. Tickets were approximately 25¢ for children under 12 and 50¢ for over 12 & adults.
Date & Place: in USA
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1954 - Musicals were big, VistaVision was new (enabling wide screen movies), and "White Christmas" debuted.
Photo of Jacqueline Robinette Jacqueline Robinette
via Facebook
12/18/2019
Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, & Rosemary Clooney?
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Rosemary Clooney's Family Tree & Friends

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Friendships

Rosemary's Friends

Friends of Rosemary Friends can be as close as family. Add Rosemary's family friends, and her friends from childhood through adulthood.
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8 Followers & Sources
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