Sylvia Lewis

Sylvia Lewis, born April 22, 1931, is an American actress, dancer, and choreographer originally from York, Pennsylvania. Her performing career began in childhood during the final years of vaudeville in Baltimore, Maryland. She trained as a scholarship student at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where she studied dance, voice, and piano, and relocated to Hollywood at the age of twelve.

Lewis entered the film industry as a dancer, with early screen credits including Singin' in the Rain and Red Garters. Her work as an actress followed with Drums of Tahiti. She was among the actresses considered for the role of Princess Aouda in Around the World in 80 Days (1956) after Shirley MacLaine declined the part twice; Lewis tested for the role twice before MacLaine ultimately accepted it. In 1961, Lewis appeared in The Ladies Man, dancing alongside star Jerry Lewis.

On television, Lewis became a regular featured performer on the ABC series Where's Raymond?, playing a dancer named Sylvia who partnered series star Ray Bolger. It was during this period that she began adding choreography to her credits. She went on to choreograph numerous television productions from the 1950s onward, including Who's the Boss? and Married... with Children. Guest appearances on The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. further extended her television presence.

Lewis also maintained a stage career on both coasts. Her Broadway credit is the 1960 revue Vintage '60. In 1995, at the age of 63, she appeared in the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies as July.