Shannon Bolin

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Shannon Bolin (January 1, 1917 – March 25, 2016) was an American actress and singer known for her deep, distinctive voice. Born Ione Shannon Bolin in Spencer, South Dakota, she started singing as a teenager and moved to the East Coast at age 20 to pursue a career.

During World War II she worked for CBS Radio in Washington, D.C. and hosted her own musical program. She performed in New York at the Stage Door Canteen in 1944 and with the Chamber Music Guild of Washington. Bolin later joined the New Opera Company and appeared on NBC Opera Theater’s television broadcasts, including Puccini’s Suor Angelica in 1954 as The Princess.

Bolin is best remembered for playing Meg Boyd in the original Broadway production of Damn Yankees (1955–57) and in the 1958 film adaptation. Her stage work also included roles in The Golden Apple, Take Me Along, and Helen Goes to Troy (the latter credited as Anne Bolin). She worked with Marc Blitzstein on Regina, the opera that debuted on Broadway with her as part of the cast. Her screen credits include If Ever I See You Again (1978) and The Children (1980). She did radio work and appeared on television, including the NBC Opera Theatre production of Suor Angelica and a Jackie Gleason special.

In 1955 Bolin and her husband, pianist Milton Kaye, released Rare Wine, an album of rarely heard songs. The couple married in 1946 and remained together until his death in 2006. Shannon Bolin died in New York at age 99.