The family also fully appreciated Henie's interest in sports. The daughter of a fur wholesaler in Norway, Sonja Henie received her first pair of ice skates when she was six. She defended her Olympic titles in 1932 and in 1936, and her world titles annually until 1936. After Henie won the world championship one last time in 1936, she prepared to retire from amateur sports and enter professional skating. Sonja Henie's Night, an exhibition that played before and during the intermission of ice hockey games at Madison Square Garden during March 1936, was a success. When live television began to cut into the film industry, Henie stopped making movies and returned to traveling ice shows. In 1921, at Oslo's Frogner Stadium, Henie competed in and won Norway's highest junior level of competition. Her passion for performing turned her into a huge financial and popular success among athletes. Encyclopedia.com. A petite, glamorous woman with a taste for luxury and a shrewd business sense, she was immensely successful next with a series of her own ice revues, and prospered as a motion picture star. "Sonja Henie Sonja Henie - IMDb By this time her movie career was over. Both Hans and Selma became deeply involved in Sonja's skating career. The signature of her ice skate blades adorns the cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Henie was drinking heavily at that time and could no longer keep up with the demands of touring, and this marked her retirement from skating. Burial. [1], Henie was born in 1912 in Kristiania (now Oslo) Norway; she was the only daughter of Wilhelm Henie (18721937), a prosperous Norwegian furrier, and his wife, Selma Lochmann-Nielsen (18881961). Henie went on to win a total of three Olympic figure skating championships: she also won gold medals at Lake Placid, New York in 1932 and at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria in 1936. She remembered in the Sporting News how Henie had screamed at her after the 1933 World Championship competition, saying she was an unworthy opponent. The band goes to Ellis Island to meet the girl and soon discovers that the refugee isn't a 10-year-old child, but a young woman, Karen Benson ( Sonja Henie ). Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. back to Norway and opened a museum to showcase their art collection. In 1968 Sonja was diagnosed with leukemia. She had high profile romances with Tyrone Power, boxer Joe Henie became so popular with the public that police had to be called out for crowd control on her appearances in various disparate cities such as Prague and New York City. [13] Henie incorporated dance elements into her figure skating, through the placement of spins, jumps, and choreography to reflect the mood of the music she used. She managed to tie together the elements in her routine in way that had not been done before. Having turned professional after her Olympic triumph in 1936, Henie toured Europe and the Americas as the star of the Hollywood Ice Revue, and for a time (195152) she acted as producer of her ice shows. During the twentieth century no competitor was able to match Henie's three consecutive Olympic gold medals in women's figure skating. When Zanuck realized this, he cast her in more musical comedies; Sun Valley Serenade (1941) with Glenn Miller, John Payne, The Nicholas Brothers, and hit songs such as "In the Mood", "Chattanooga Choo Choo", "It Happened in Sun Valley", and "I Know Why (And So Do You)"; followed by Iceland (1942) with Jack Oakie, Payne, and the hit song "There Will Never Be Another You"; and finally Wintertime (1943) with Cesar Romero, Carole Landis, Cornel Wilde, and Oakie. "Ice Wars: The Prequel." Her jumps and spins seem ridiculously easy compared to the athletic feats of contemporary figure skaters. 2009-05-21 23:06:30. The former NCIS star shared the heartbreaking news Saturday that his younger brother Will Weatherly died on Thursday, April 20. Actress: Sun Valley Serenade. Her innovations and unparalleled determination would fuel another ten years of amateur successes, including a still unmatched Olympic record. At age seven Henie learned to skate from her elder and only brother, Leif. advertisement On a hilltop overlooking the Henie-Onstad Museum. Sun Valley Serenade (1941), with John Payne and Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, received three Academy Award nominations for best cinematography, best music, and best song ("Chattanooga Choo Choo"), but her two releases in 1942 and 1943 marked the end of her contract with Twentieth CenturyFox. For a time she had her own company, Sonja Henie's Hollywood Ice Revue, but an unfortunate bleacher collapse at one of her shows caused the venture to fold. While her ice show numbers were still worth watching, the film received few distributors and poor reviews, ending her film career. However, these are not Henie's most enduring achievements. She nevertheless had negotiated an impressive contract and was an immediate hit with audiences. Time (July 17, 1939): 51-54. Barbara Ann Scott, Canadian Figure Skater, Dies at 84 - New York Times She is mentioned by Ty Webb, Chevy Chases character in Caddyshack, as a possible but unavailable substitute for Rodney Dangerfields character (Al Czervik) in the final golf wager round before Michael OKeefes Danny Noonan is chosen. So the skating star created her own ice show, Sonja Henie with Her 1952 Ice Revue. For emphasis on Henie's film career, see entries in David Shipman, The Great Movie Stars: The Golden Years (1970; rev. Sonja Henie Death Fact Check, Birthday & Date of Death - Dead or Kicking From 1931 through 1936, Henie competed in and won six consecutive women's European Figure Skating Championships. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures, Hamill, Dorothy -- Sonja Henie OSLO, Norway -- She was the first to spin, the first to jump, the first to be crowned a figure skating ice queen. Public interest in Henie has fueled continued debate about her off-ice and off-screen behavior. She was 57 years old. . Sun Valley Serenade (1941), in which Henie appeared with John Payne and Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, is memorable for its Academy Award nominations for best cinematography, best music, and best song. In a 1999 account for Newsweek, silver-medal holder Cecilia Colledge also remembered competing against Henie in the 1936 Olympic games. She had already delighted in dancing, and--with her brother Leif giving her her first lessons--enjoyed Kestnbaum argues that the costumes Henie wore in her shows and films, which were short, revealing, full of sequins and feathers, and more reminiscent of the costumes of female entertainers than of the clothes worn in the more conservative world of competitive figure skating of the time, most likely contributed to the "showiness" that influenced the costume choices of later generations of female competitive figure skaters.[15]. . To allow for a rigorous training schedule, Henie's parents took her out of school, hired a private tutor, and gave her ballet lessons in London during the summer. As a result, the image of the figure skater was linked to "the image of the glamorous movie star",[15] within the conventions of film and stage musicals of the 1930s. At the height of her fame, Henie brought as much as $2 million per year from her shows and touring activities. His daughter began studying ballet at age five and would be active in skiing, swimming, and horseback riding. New York Times (October 13, 1969). Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures. During sixteen years of touring she earned something in the range of $10 million and her movies probably netted her more than $25 million. An excellent book that devotes much attention to Henie in the context of the development of skating is Nigel Brown, Ice-Skating: A History (1959). Sonja Henie (8 April 1912 - 12 October 1969) was a Norwegian figure skater and film star. "Even on the podium after the Olympics, there were no kisses, no handshakes, not even a word." In her revised 1954 biography,[9] she states that no Norwegian judge was in the panel for the 1936 Olympicsas she was entitled to as a Norwegian. These shows, the "Hollywood Ice Revues," were major attractions at Madison Square Garden for many years, up to 1952. Henie did not have any children and became an active collector with her new husband. Birthday: April 8, 1912. Sonja Henie was born on April 8, 1912 in Oslo, Norway. Beginning in 1927, at just 14 years old, figure skater Sonja Henie glided onto the world stage and dominated the icenot only revolutionizing her sport with 10 consecutive world championships. [citation needed] The Royal Family were very mindful of whom they supported after the war[11] and Norwegians looked to them as role models in that respect. Moreover, Hulten believed that Henie's father influenced competition organizers by playing poker for "appearance fees" and, in one case, the agreement to place Hulten third in the 1936 Olympics. In the mid-1960s she developed leukemia and spent the rest of her life fighting the disease. [13] When white boots quickly became standard for female skaters, Henie began wearing beige boots because she wanted to remain unique. Her brother, Leif Henie, coauthored Queen of Ice, Queen of Shadows: The Unsuspected Life of Sonja Henie (1985), in which he discussed her violent temper. In the fall of 1968 Henie was diagnosed with leukemia. Entertainment Weekly (February 11, 1994): 62. (Getty Images) I saw a tweet this week from Kiira Korpi, the Finnish figure skater who won medals three times at the European Championships . "Tonya-no! Sonja had by now developed a comedy flair and these films were all among the top box-office hits for 20th Century-Fox the respective years. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Elizabeth Ann Family (1) Spouse Niels Onstad ( 6 June 1956 - 12 October 1969) (her death) Winthrop Gardner ( 15 September 1949 - 14 May 1956) (divorced) The international star had managed to keep her illness a secret and was seen with her husband at an Oslo theater less than two weeks before her death. When Geoffrey and Ken get so distracted by romance that they begin to neglect their assignments, it almost leads to disaster as the Gestapo sets out to silence Norden once and for all. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. It made the most of Henie's smiling, energetic persona and her dimpled beauty in a story about an Olympic hopeful. During the latter part of her competitive career she was coached primarily by the American Howard Nicholson in London. She finished in last place. Sonja HENIE Biography, Olympic Medals, Records and Age At the time of the 1994 Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan rivalry, their altercations were compared in the press with the sparring that went on between Henie and Swedish skater Vivi-Anne Hulten many years earlier. Her program also included double axels, spins, twirls, and jumps. After Nora falls for the handsome owner, she convinces her uncle to invest in the inn and modernize it. The young Norwegian was profoundly influenced by Pavlova's artistry, and she tried to incorporate ballet-style choreography into her skating routines. Omissions? She was a three-time Olympic champion (1928, 1932, 1936) in women's singles, a ten-time World champion (19271936) and a six-time European champion (19311936). She studied in Oslo together with Martin Stixrud and Erna Andersen who was her competitor and skate club member.[17]. When the Nazis arrived to take over the house, they saw the picture and left quickly. A dynamic athlete, Henie ranked third among Norway's female tennis players and was "a daring equestrienne." She appeared in the film Thin Ice and was rated in a Motion Picture Herald poll as the eighth most popular film star of the year. The best paired her with some of the biggest male stars of the time, including Tyrone Power in Thin Ice and Second Fiddle (1939), Don Ameche (for the second time) and Cesar Romero in Happy Landing (1938), and Ray Milland and Robert Cummings in Everything Happens at Night (1939). 436. Henie's popularity as a film actress attracted many new fans and instituted skating shows as a popular new entertainment. Eight Sonja Henie movies crossed the $100 million domestic gross mark. She died on October 12, 1969 at the age of 57. Temper Remembered Best Answer. 10 time World Champion Women's Figure Skating according to A&E the age of 57. https://www.encyclopedia.com/sports/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/henie-sonja, Scott, Paula Pyzik "Henie, Sonja Her performance, skating "at home" in Norway's Frogner Stadium, earned her the first of ten consecutive world figure skating titles (and the distinction of being the youngest world champion until Tara Lipinski edged her out in 1997 by a margin of thirty-two days). ." Sonja (April 27, 2023). She took a largely unnoticed, technically-oriented sport and turned it into a dynamic art form that, along with its star performers, is avidly followed by fans around the world. Wings On My Feet, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1940. Among her many victories as a competitive skater, she also won ten consecutive world championships. Death. Notable Sports Figures. A bubbly, smiling figure in her performances, she was in fact a fierce competitor who wanted nothing to do with her rivals. In 1951 Wirtz and Henie were unable to agree on a contract and parted ways. Henie opened up opportunities for figure skaters to use their skills to earn a living. success. April 08, 1912 Died October 12, 1969 Cause of Death Leukemia Biography Read More Winner of the Olympic Gold medal in figure skating an impressive three times in a row (1928, 1932, 1936), Henie came to Twentieth Century-Fox shortly after her last win and was built up as a popular star. Henie was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the mid-1960s. The daughter of a fur wholesaler in Norway, Sonja Henie received her She incorporated 19 different spins into her programs, and she could spin nearly 80 revolutions. Sonja Henie. "Henie, Sonja At the height of the Great Depression she had become an international star with enough clout that she could announce that she planned to be in motion pictures. She signed with Darrly F. Zanuck and 20th Century-Fox, and her first skating film, "One in a Million," was released at the end of 1936. She herself earned over $200,000 from her film work alone in 1937. I don't think she ever really learned to enjoy life. Her fur-trimmed costume On his advice, I arranged an ambulance plane to take her home to Oslo. Sonja Henie in The Countess of Monte Cristo., Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Gordon Lightfoot, mournful Canadian singer-songwriter, dies at 84, Tim Bachman, founding guitarist of Bachman-Turner Overdrive, dies at 71, Jerry Springer, syndicated talk-show host and politician, dies at 79, Ginnie Newhart, Bob Newharts wife of 60 years, dies at 82, Search Obituaries & Guest Books on Legacy.com, Honor a loved one, place an obituary notice, Harry Belafonte, singer, actor and civil rights activist, dies at 96, Len Goodman, long-serving judge on Dancing With the Stars, dies at 78, Dame Edna creator Barry Humphries dies in Sydney at 89, Craig Breedlove, former land-speed record holder, dies at 86, Todd Haimes dies; took off-off-Broadway company to Tony Award glory, Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan dies at 92. in ice shows and even starred in her own television special. Her father was a wealthy fur salesman and a former amateur cycling champion who encouraged his children to compete. After a twirl on the ice with her pupils, Trudi consents. Not long after the center's lavish opening celebration, Henie was diagnosed with leukemia. Henie's autobiography, written with Janet Owen, is Wings on My Feet (1940). Her illness had been a well-kept secret. She did try to make a film series at her own expense; a series that would serve as a travelogue to several cities. the world performing in ice shows and landed many lucrative endorsement 1. Henie is credited with many "firsts," including being the first international sports star, the first superstar among figure skaters, and the firstand still onlywoman to win three Olympic gold medals in figure skating. 2023
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