After high school, moved to New York to study dance at the School of American Ballet and the Metropolitan Opera Ballet School
Made stage debut as a dancer with the corps de ballet of Radio City Music Hall
Danced in Broadway musicals such as High Button Shoes, Call Me Madam and The Matchmaker before landing her first speaking part in Wonderful Town; her costar, Imogene Coca, encouraged her to pursue comedy
In 1957, Jack Paar invited her to appear regularly on his new television program, The Tonight Show, but let her go a year later for upstaging him
Appeared as the high-school secretary in Grease (1978) and Grease 2 (1982); also appeared in the Broadway revival of Grease in the 1990s
Awards
1958Emmy-Best Continuing Performance (Female) in a Series by a Comedienne, Singer, Hostess, Dancer, M.C., Announcer, Narrator, Panelist, or any Person who Essentially Plays Herself:nominated