Esther Williams (August 8, 1921 – June 6, 2013) was an American competitive swimmer and actress. She set multiple national and regional swimming records in her youth and won three US national championships. Williams later transitioned to acting and became a successful Hollywood star in the 1940s and 1950s. Throughout her career, Williams was known for her aquatic-themed films, and her performances in swimming and diving sequences were highly praised by critics and audiences alike. Her films often featured elaborate underwater choreography and synchronized swimming routines, which were innovative for the time.
Career
Esther Williams began her career as a competitive swimmer, and her athletic achievements led to her being signed to a contract by MGM Studios in 1941. She was initially cast in small roles, but her natural screen presence and athletic abilities soon led to her being given larger roles, often playing the love interest of leading men such as Red Skelton and Van Johnson. Williams quickly became one of the studio’s most popular actresses and was known for her roles in musicals, comedies, and dramas.
One of her first major roles was in the film “Bathing Beauty” (1944) where she played a swimming star who falls in love with a college music professor. The film was a hit and established her as a leading lady in Hollywood.
In the 1950s, Williams starred in a series of popular films, such as “Neptune’s Daughter” (1949), “Dangerous When Wet” (1953), and “Jupiter’s Darling” (1955). She also starred in the 1952 film “Million Dollar Mermaid”, which was a biographical film about the life of Australian swimming star Annette Kellerman. The film was a critical and commercial success and earned her widespread recognition.
In the late 1950s, Williams’ career began to slow down as she became less interested in acting and more interested in her personal life. She retired from acting in the early 1960s but made occasional appearances on television and in films in the following decades.
Personal life
Esther Williams was married four times in her life. Her first marriage was to Leonard Kovner in 1940, but they divorced in 1944. She then married actor Ben Gage in 1945, with whom she had three children: Benjamin Jr., Kimball, and Susan. They divorced in 1959. Williams married Fernando Lamas, an Argentine actor, in 1969, and they remained married until he died in 1982. She had one child with her third husband, Fernando Lamas. They had a son together named Lorenzo Lamas, who was born in 1958. Lorenzo Lamas is an actor and television personality best known for his role in the 1980s soap opera “Falcon Crest” and for hosting the reality series “Leave It to Lamas.” Her last marriage was to Edward Bell in 1984, but they divorced in 1991. Williams was not known to have any children with Bell.
Throughout her life, Williams was known for her philanthropic efforts and was actively involved in charitable organizations, such as the March of Dimes and the American Cancer Society. She was also a strong advocate for swimming and aquatic safety and worked to promote swimming as a sport and a means of exercise and recreation.
Esther Williams passed away on June 6, 2013, at 91, due to complications from a broken neck. According to her spokesman, Williams had broken her neck in a fall several weeks earlier and had been hospitalized since then. Her publicist confirmed her death. She is remembered for her contributions to the entertainment industry, philanthropy, and advocacy for swimming and aquatic safety.
