Oscar Hammerstein II
Oscar Hammerstein II is a Broadway performer known for A Celebration of Richard Rodgers, A Grand Night for Singing, Always You, Allegro, Carmen Jones, Carousel, Daffy Dill, The Desert Song, East Wind, Flower Drum Song, Free For All, The Gang's All Here, Golden Dawn, Good Boy, Gypsy Jim, Jimmie, The King and I, Me and Juliet, Mary Rose, Mary Jane McKane, May Wine, Music in the Air, New Toys, The New Moon, Oklahoma!, Pipe Dream, Queen O' Hearts, The Rainbow, Show Boat, Song of the Flame, South Pacific, The Sound of Music, State Fair, Sweet Adeline, Sunny River, Sunny, Tickle Me, The Wild Rose, Wildflower, Very Warm for May, Something Wonderful, and Cinderella. Explore their Broadway credits, shows, and songs below.
Part of our Broadway Credits Database, a resource for musical theater fans.
About
Born July 12, 1895, in New York City, Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II grew up in the theatre — his father managed the Victoria Theatre and produced vaudeville shows. After attending Columbia University and briefly studying at Columbia Law School, he abandoned law for the stage. Over the course of his career, he collaborated with composers including Otto Harbach, Jerome Kern, and Richard Rodgers, contributing lyrics to more than 800 songs. He married Myra Finn; they had two children, William and Alice. His second marriage, to Dorothy Blanchard Jacobson, produced a son, James.
Film credits include "The Sound of Music," "American Graffiti," "The King and I," "Show Boat," "South Pacific," "Oklahoma!," "Carmen Jones," "Carousel," "Annie Get Your Gun," "Flower Drum Song," "State Fair," "The Great Waltz," and "That's Entertainment!." Television credits include "The Wonderful World of Disney," "Cinderella," "Great Performances," "The Ed Sullivan Show," "Live from Lincoln Center," and "Person to Person."
Among his honors, Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II and Richard Rodgers received The Hundred Year Association of New York's Gold Medal Award in recognition of outstanding contributions to the City of New York. With Jerome Kern, he won the Oscar for Best Music, Original Song for "Lady Be Good" in 1942; with Richard Rodgers, he took the same award for "State Fair" in 1946.
The final song he wrote was "Edelweiss" for The Sound of Music. He served as a mentor to composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim. On September 1, 1960, the marquees of Broadway theaters were dimmed in his honor.
Personal Details
- Born
- July 12, 1895
- Hometown
- New York, New York, USA
- Died
- August 23, 1960
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is Oscar Hammerstein II?
- Oscar Hammerstein II is a Broadway performer known for A Celebration of Richard Rodgers, A Grand Night for Singing, Always You, Allegro, Carmen Jones, Carousel, Daffy Dill, The Desert Song, East Wind, Flower Drum Song, Free For All, The Gang's All Here, Golden Dawn, Good Boy, Gypsy Jim, Jimmie, The King and I, Me and Juliet, Mary Rose, Mary Jane McKane, May Wine, Music in the Air, New Toys, The New Moon, Oklahoma!, Pipe Dream, Queen O' Hearts, The Rainbow, Show Boat, Song of the Flame, South Pacific, The Sound of Music, State Fair, Sweet Adeline, Sunny River, Sunny, Tickle Me, The Wild Rose, Wildflower, Very Warm for May, Something Wonderful, and Cinderella. Born July 12, 1895, in New York City, Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II grew up in the theatre — his father managed the Victoria Theatre and produced vaudeville shows. After attending Columbia University and briefly studying at Columbia Law School, he abandoned law for the stage. Over the cour...
- What shows has Oscar Hammerstein II appeared in?
- Oscar Hammerstein II has appeared in A Celebration of Richard Rodgers, A Grand Night for Singing, Always You, Allegro, Carmen Jones, Carousel, Daffy Dill, The Desert Song, East Wind, Flower Drum Song, Free For All, The Gang's All Here, Golden Dawn, Good Boy, Gypsy Jim, Jimmie, The King and I, Me and Juliet, Mary Rose, Mary Jane McKane, May Wine, Music in the Air, New Toys, The New Moon, Oklahoma!, Pipe Dream, Queen O' Hearts, The Rainbow, Show Boat, Song of the Flame, South Pacific, The Sound of Music, State Fair, Sweet Adeline, Sunny River, Sunny, Tickle Me, The Wild Rose, Wildflower, Very Warm for May, Something Wonderful, and Cinderella.
- What roles has Oscar Hammerstein II played?
- Oscar Hammerstein II has played roles as Director, Producer, Writer, Source Material, Lyricist, Composer.
- Can I see Oscar Hammerstein II at Sing with the Stars?
- Sing with the Stars hosts invite only karaoke nights with real Broadway performers in NYC. Request an invite and let us know you'd love to sing with Oscar Hammerstein II. The more people who request someone, the more likely we are to make it happen.
Roles
Broadway Shows
Oscar Hammerstein II has appeared in the following Broadway shows:
Characters
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Songs
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