Nellie Breen

Nellie Breen (April 3, 1897 – April 26, 1986) was an American comedian and dancer whose career spanned vaudeville and Broadway during the early decades of the twentieth century. Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Breen came from a family with international roots: her mother was Australian and her father was Irish-American, and the two had married in Victoria, Australia. Her sister, Margaret Breen, also pursued a career as an actress.

Before establishing herself on Broadway, Breen worked in vaudeville, where she performed in a double act alongside Lester Allen. In 1922, she achieved a notable distinction by performing the first tap dance on radio.

Breen's Broadway career ran from 1918 to 1926 and encompassed a range of musical productions. Her earliest credited appearance came in Everything in 1918. She returned to Broadway in The Passing Show of 1922, one of the productions listed among her verified stage credits. In 1923, she appeared in the musical Ginger, playing the character Ruth Warewell. Her work continued in 1925 with two productions: Mercenary Mary, in which she portrayed the character Norah, and Florida Girl, where she took on the role of Betty. Breen's final Broadway credit during this period was The Desert Song in 1926, in which she played the character Susan.

Breen died on April 26, 1986, in Santa Clara County, California, at the age of 89.