Ilene Woods | |
|---|---|
 Woods performing forABC in the 1940s | |
| Born | Jacqueline Ruth Woods (1929-05-05)May 5, 1929 Portsmouth, New Hampshire, U.S.[1] |
| Died | July 1, 2010(2010-07-01) (aged 81) Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1940–2008 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Disney Legend (2003) |
Jacqueline Ruth Woods[1] (May 5, 1929 – July 1, 2010),[2] better known asIlene Woods, was an American actress and singer. Woods was the original voice of thetitle character ofWalt Disney animated filmCinderella, for which she was named aDisney Legend in 2003.
Her mother worked behind the scenes of films, taking Woods with her. As a little girl, Woods dreamed about becoming a schoolteacher, but her mother wanted her to become a singer. By 1944, she gained her own radio program.[3][4] DuringWorld War II, she toured withPaul Whiteman and the Army Air Forces Orchestra.[4]
In 1948, two of her songwriter friends,Mack David andJerry Livingston, called Woods to record "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo", "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes", and "So This is Love".[5] Soon, the songs were presented toWalt Disney so that they could be used in the English version ofCinderella. Walt Disney heard the demo recordings, and two days later asked Ilene to voice the star role ofCinderella. She gladly accepted the role, surprised that she had won against more than 300 others who had auditioned. She said in an interview for Classic Film, "Seeing it [the film] in its new form was breathtaking for me. It's so beautiful. The color is magnificent, it just took my breath away, it was so wonderful. I sort of forget when I'm watching the movie that I had anything to do with it. Yet, it brings back so many beautiful memories of working with the wonderful artists and working with Walt mostly. It brings back wonderful, wonderful memories."[5] To promoteCinderella, Woods voicedSnow White in the 1949 Disney audiobook release ofSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs.[6] Woods sang for PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt at his home in Hyde Park. She also sang at the White House for PresidentTruman, after singing for soldiers and sailors.[2] Woods retired from show business in 1972, but she continued to appear at occasional autograph shows.
She married the first time at the age of 17 to Stephen Steck, Jr. and had a daughter, Stephanie.[7] After a divorce, she marriedThe Tonight Show drummerEd Shaughnessy in 1963. Woods and Shaughnessy had two sons, James and Daniel.[2][7]
When Disney began releasing video cassette versions of its animated films, Woods was one of at least three actresses to file lawsuits over royalties for their performances; at the time of Woods' December 1990 filing,Peggy Lee ofLady and the Tramp (1955) had won her lawsuit the previous April and a 1989 suit byMary Costa ofSleeping Beauty (1959) was still pending.[8]Voice actress Jennifer Hale replaced Woods as the voice of Cinderella in the 2002 filmCinderella II: Dreams Come True. In 2003, Woods was awarded aDisney Legend award for her voice work onCinderella. In an interview withStarlog in 2006 Woods said, "I love the idea that after I’m gone, children will still be hearing my voice [as Cinderella]."[9]
Woods suffered fromAlzheimer's disease at a care facility inCanoga Park, Los Angeles in the later years of her life. During this time, she didn't even remember that she played Cinderella. On July 1, 2010, at the age of 81, she died from complications ofAlzheimer's disease.[4] Noservice was held, Woods was cremated, and her ashes were given to her family.[10]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | The Alan Young Show | Singing Neighbor | Uncredited |
| 1980 | Spring & Fall | Socialite | Episode: "Out of Line" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | We, the People | Herself | Episode: "Gene Stanlee, Ilene Woods" |
| 1951 | The Garry Moore Show | Herself | 19 episodes |
| 1956 | Of All Things | Herself | Regular Performer |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | On Stage Everybody | Talent Show Winner No. 3 | |
| 1950 | Cinderella | Cinderella | Voice |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | The Philco Hall of Fame | Singer | Regular member |
| 1944 | The Ilene Woods Show | Herself / Host |
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Nominated work | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Disney Legends | Music—Voice | Won | Cinderella | [11] |
She was born Jacqueline Ruth Woods on May 5, 1929 in Portsmouth, N.H., the daughter of a 'backstage mom' who got Ilene her start at age two.
