Bergen was an actress, a recording artist with a soulful, distinctive voice, a Broadway regular, an Emmy winner, author and businesswoman.
She made her Broadway debut in Anderson's Almanac with in 1953. Most recently, on Broadway, she appeared in the 2003 Broadway production of Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks as Lily Harrison. Before that her Broadway appearances ranged from the 2001 production of , the 1998 production of Cabaret where she played Fraulein Schneider, as well as the 1989 production of , currently being revived on Broadway with and , amongst many others.
She received a Tony nomination in 2001 for her performance as Carlotta Campion in Follies.
On television, Bergen won an Emmy in 1958 for her role as singer in "Playhouse 90." She was nominated again in 1989 for supporting actress in a miniseries for the special "War and Rememberance." Her television credits range from "Desperate Housewives" to her own musical-variety 鈥淭he Polly Bergen Show鈥� on NBC, closing every broadcast with her theme song, 鈥淭he Party's Over.鈥� Her numerous film credits include the aforementioned 1962 thriller "Cape Fear" to most recently her performance in 2012's "Struck By Lightning" with "Glee" regular Chris Colfer.
Colfer tweeted the following:
Farewell to my dear friend, Polly. I'm so blessed to have had you in my life. No one could make me鈥�
鈥� Chris Colfer (@chriscolfer)
Among Bergen's other film credits are "Move Over, Darling" (1963) with and and ' 1990 "Cry-Baby," with Johnny Depp.
As an author and businesswoman, Bergen published the first of her three advice books, 鈥淭he Polly Bergen Book of Beauty, Fashion and Charm鈥� in 1962. Her success in this realm led to her own lucrative cosmetics company
Bergen passed surrounded by friends and family.
