Ivy Sawyer

Ivy Sawyer (February 13, 1897 – November 16, 1999) was a British-born American dancer, singer, and stage actress who worked in cabaret, ballroom, and musical theatre. Born in London, England, she built a career that spanned Broadway and touring engagements across the United States.

Sawyer danced professionally with John Jarrot before meeting fellow dancer and actor Joseph Santley, whom she later married. The two became a performing partnership, appearing together in musical comedies for nearly two decades. Their Broadway debut as a couple came in 1916 in Betty at the Globe Theatre, and they returned to Broadway two years later in the musical comedy Oh, My Dear! at the Princess Theatre. Among their most prominent shared credits were the Irving Berlin Music Box Revues of the 1920s, including the 1922–23 edition. Sawyer's Broadway career extended from 1916 to 1927 and included additional productions such as Just Fancy, Lucky, Mayflowers, and The Half Moon.

Beyond New York, Sawyer and Santley toured the United States, performing at major venues including the National Theatre in Washington, D.C. After their dancing careers concluded, the couple relocated to Los Angeles, California, where Santley transitioned into directing musical comedy films. Together they had three children. Santley died in 1971, leaving Sawyer widowed. She died in California on November 16, 1999, at the age of 101.