Broadway Legend Sondra Lee Dies at 97

Broadway theater actress Sondra Lee, who worked in the industry for over 60 years, has died at 97.

Lee passed away from natural causes in her apartment on Monday evening.

The announcement was made by her colleague Joshua Ellis, a former Broadway press agent.

The thespian was best known for playing Tiger Lily opposite Mary Martin in Peter Pan and she also originated the character Minnie Fay in the original production of Hello, Dolly!

The blonde worked with and befriended several A-list Hollywood stars.

She acted with and Betty Grable, and even coached and . And she popped up in the 1960 film La Dolce Vita.

Lee grew up in New Jersey and studied ballet in Carnegie Hall with Vera Nemtchinova.

At the start of her career in New Jersey, she spent time with Buddy Hackett, Red Buttons, Jack Carter and Joey Adams. 

When she moved to New York City she learned from Maureen Stapleton and Marlon Brando.

In the 1950s she worked in Europe on La Revue des Ballets de Paris and on Ballets: U.S.A. troupe in Spoleto, Florence, Trieste.

Federico Fellini cast her as an American ballerina in the final party scene of the 1960 film La Dolce Vita.

Lee then went back to Broadway to work on Hotel Paradiso starring Bert Lahr and Angela Lansbury.

An she worked with Robert Redford on Sunday In New York.

She then started working as a coach as she helped Jane Fonda, Sally Field and Amy Adams. And she consulted on Places in the Heart, The Last of the Mohicans and The Morning After.

Lee made her final public appearance at Carnegie Hall on June 23, 2025, during the Transport Group’s Hello, Dolly! In Concert. 

Her 2009 memoir, I’ve Slept with Everybody: A Memoir, Lee chronicled 50 years of show business.

A celebration of Lee’s life and career will take place sometime in 2026.