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Adriana Caselotti | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Caselotti in 1944 | |
| Born | Adriana Elena Loretta Caselotti (1916-05-06)May 6, 1916 Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | January 19, 1997(1997-01-19) (aged 80) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1932–1997 |
| Notable work | Original voice ofSnow White inWalt Disney'sSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) |
| Spouses | |
| Relatives | Louise Caselotti (sister) |
| Awards | Disney Legend (1994) |
Adriana Elena Loretta Caselotti (May 6, 1916 – January 19, 1997) was an American actress and singer. Caselotti was best known as the voice of thetitle character of the firstWalt Disney animated feature,Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), for which she was named aDisney Legend in 1994, making her the first female voice-over artist to achieve this.
Adriana Elena Loretta Caselotti was born inBridgeport, Connecticut on May 6, 1916 to anItalian-American family.[1] Her father, Guido Luigi Emanuele Caselotti, was an immigrant fromUdine, and worked as a music teacher and vocal coach, and served as the organist for theHoly Rosary Church; and her mother, Maria Josephine (née Orefice) fromCasavatore, was a singer (coloratura soprano) in theRoyal Opera Theatre of Rome. Her older sister,Louise, sang opera and gave voice lessons—Maria Callas being a student of hers. When Caselotti was seven years old, her family leftConnecticut for Italy, while her mother toured with an opera company. Caselotti was educated andboarded at the San Getulioconvent, nearRome. When her family returned to New York three years later, Caselotti re-learnedEnglish and studied singing with her father.[2] In 1934, Caselotti attendedHollywood High School where she sang in the senior class Girls' Glee Club and had a leading role in the school's annual musical,The Belle of New York.[3]
In 1935, after her brief stint as a chorus girl and session singer atMGM,Walt Disney hired Caselotti as the voice of the heroine,Snow White.[4] She was paid a total of $970 for working on the film (equivalent to $21,217 in 2024).[2] She was not credited for the role, and had trouble finding new opportunities later in life.Jack Benny specifically mentioned that he had asked Walt Disney for permission to use her on his radio show and was told, "I'm sorry, but that voice can't be used anywhere. I don't want to spoil the illusion of Snow White."[5] Caselotti had several more jobs in the film business. The two most well-known were an uncredited role in MGM'sThe Wizard of Oz (1939) as the voice ofJuliet during the Tin Woodman's song "If I Only Had a Heart", speaking the line "Wherefore art thou Romeo?"[6] and an uncredited role inFrank Capra'sIt's a Wonderful Life, singing in Martini's bar asJames Stewart is praying.[7]
Adriana Caselotti appeared in several promotional spots forSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs and signed memorabilia during promotional events. On November 22, 1972 (Thanksgiving Day), she guest-starred on an episode ofThe Julie Andrews Hour saluting the music of Walt Disney, singing "I'm Wishing" and "Some Day My Prince Will Come" withJulie Andrews.[8] She also made a guest appearance on the syndicatedThe Mike Douglas Show. Caselotti later wrote a how-to book,Do You Like to Sing?.[4]
Later in life, she sold autographs and sang opera, including performing inRigoletto. In the early 1990s, when the Snow White Grotto atDisneyland was refurbished, Caselotti, at the age of 75, re-recorded "I'm Wishing" for the Snow White Wishing Well exhibit. In 1994, she was named aDisney Legend.[4]
Caselotti was married four times. Her first husband was Robert James Chard, a local theater ticket broker[9] whom she married in 1945. The marriage ended in divorce. She later met actor Norval Weir Mitchell, whom she married in 1952. He retired after marrying her and died in 1972. The same year, she was married to a podiatrist, Joseph Dana Costigan, who died in 1982.[10] Caselotti married her last husband, Joseph Laureat Florian St. Pierre, a retired postal employee, in 1989 and they later divorced.[6]
Caselotti died of cancer at her Los Angeles home on January 19, 1997, at the age of 80.[2]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | One Hour in Wonderland | Snow White | Voice actress |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | The Julie Andrews Hour | Herself | Aired onThanksgiving Day |
| 1981 | A Gift of Music | TV special | |
| 1983 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Desk - "Vacation Snapshots" | |
| The Magical World of Disney | Episode: 20 | ||
| 1985 | Disney Family Album | "Voice Actors" | |
| 1993 | John & Leeza from Hollywood | Season 1: Episode 14 |
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | Modern Inventions | Robot Nurse Maid | Voice actress |
| Donald's Ostrich | Opera Singer | ||
| 1944 | Donald's Off Day | Singer of Opening Song |
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | Naughty Marietta | Dancing Doll | Voice actress |
| 1936 | Toby Tortoise Returns | Bunny Girl | |
| 1937 | The Bride Wore Red | First Peasant Girl | |
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Snow White | Voice actress | |
| 1939 | The Wizard of Oz | Juliet | Voice actress |
| 1942 | We Were Dancing | Opera Singer | |
| 1945 | Hobo's Lady | Pom Pom | Voice actress |
| 1946 | It's a Wonderful Life | Singer at Martini's | Voice actress |
| Two Sisters from Boston | Opera Singer | Voice actress | |
| 1978 | Business as Usual | Snow White | Voice actress |
| 1981 | Once Upon a Mouse | ||
| 1983 | The Fairest of Them All | Herself | TV movie |
| 1990 | Celebrating Walt Disney's 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs': The One That Started It All | Snow White | Voice actress |
| 1992 | The Music of Disney: A Legacy in Song | ||
| 1993 | The Best of Disney Music: A Legacy in Song - Part I | Herself | TV movie |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Lux Radio Theatre | Snow White / Herself | Lux Radio Theatre Intermission |
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Nominated work | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Disney Legends | Animation—Voice | Won | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | [4] |
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