Esther Williams

Date of Birth: August 8, 1921

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Date of Death: June 6, 2013

Biography

Esther Jane Williams was an American competitive swimmer and actress who rose to fame through her performances in MGM’s “aquamusicals,” a series of films that combined swimming, dancing, and elaborate musical productions. Born in Inglewood, California, Williams showed an early talent for swimming, earning three national championships by the time she was 16. Her Olympic dreams were dashed when the 1940 Games were canceled due to World War II, but she transitioned to Hollywood, where her swimming skills made her a unique star. She appeared in over 20 films, including “Bathing Beauty” (1944), “Million Dollar Mermaid” (1952), and “Dangerous When Wet” (1953). After retiring from acting, Williams became a successful businesswoman, creating swimwear lines and swimming pools.

5 Interesting Facts about Esther Williams

1. Esther Williams was a national swimming champion before becoming a movie star.

2. Her films were so popular that they were credited with helping to popularize synchronized swimming.

3. She survived several near-drowning incidents during her film career, including a serious accident on the set of “Million Dollar Mermaid.”

4. Williams was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1966.

5. She was married four times and had three children.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Esther Williams

1. “All they ever did for me at MGM was change my leading man and the water in my pool.”

2. “No one had ever done a swimming movie before, so we just made it up as we went along.”

3. “I’ve been a lucky lady. I’ve had three wonderful careers: swimming, the movies, and family.”

4. “The wisdom of age: don’t stop swimming.”

5. “I was called America’s Mermaid, but I never felt like a mermaid. I felt like someone doing a job.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the height of her career, Esther Williams’ net worth was estimated to be around $40 million.

Children

Esther Williams had three children: 1. Benjamin Stanton Gage (born August 6, 1949) 2. Kimball Austin Gage (born October 30, 1950) 3. Susan Tenney (born October 1, 1953)