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A Happy Holm: Broadway Baby Celeste Holm Celebrates her 90th Birthday |
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 The star of the night: Celeste Holm celebrates her 90th birthday  Legendary newscaster Walter Cronkite  Former Governor and First Lady Mario and Matilda Cuomo
Celeste Holm's Birthday Celebration April 29th, 2007
Tony's Di Napoli
at the Casablanca Hotel
147 West 43rd. St.
The gal who "cain't say no" said yes to a birthday bash filled with nearly as many stars as she has years. Celeste Holm, the once-and-always Ado Annie of Broadway's original "Oklahoma!" and the Supporting Actress Oscar-winner for "Gentlemen's Agreement" (1947) celebrated her 90th birthday in style at the Times Square branch of the home-style Italian restaurant Tony's Di Napoli at the end of April 2007. Sitting with her at the main table were former Governor and First Lady Mario and Matilda Cuomo, television news legend Walter Cronkite, Angela Lansbury, Elaine Stritch and others -- including her decades-younger fifth husband, Frank Basile, who told a heartwarming story of how he and Celeste had first come together.
A humanitarian event as well to raise funds for UNICEF, the all-star event included tributes by that organization's executive director, Ann Veneman, as well as by Cuomo, Cronkite and Stritch. Cabaret singer K.T. Sullivan and "Grey Gardens" co-star Bob Stillman performed a short set of various standards and songs from her career.
Swarming around the cinematic songbird were various other luminaries from the political, professorial and entertainment fields, including such thespian greats as "Grey Gardens" star Christine Ebersole; Fritz Weaver ("McCloud") and his wife, actress Rochelle Oliver; the ever-young Joyce Randolph (Trixie from the "Honeymooners"); dance great Tania Eng; the author, lecturer and Brooklyn College film professor Foster Hirsch, and "TV Guide" movies editor Maitland McDonagh. Sending telegrams in celebration were Lesley Ann Warren and others, with Rosie O'Donnell sending a video clip.
Happy birthday Celeste Holm, and here's to many more.
 Celeste Holm and friend |  TV Guide movies editor Maitland McDonogh with author/Brooklyn College film professor Foster Hirsch |  Angela Lansbury |  Elaine Stritch |  Bob Stillman from "Grey Gardens" performs |  K.T. Sullivan, along with Bob Stillman performed selections from Holm's long career |  Fritz Weaver and Rochelle Oliver |  Joyce Randolph from "The Honeymooners" and Frank Lovece |
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