Kay Armen
Background information
Birth name Armenuhi Manoogian
Born November 2, 1915
Chicago, Illinois
Origin American Armenian
Died October 3, 2011 (aged 95)
New York City, New York
Occupations: Singer and Character Actress and Songwriter.
Armenuhi Manoogian (Armenian: Արմենուհի Մանուկյան); November 2, 1915 – October 3, 2011), better known by her stage name Kay Armen (Armenian: Քեյ Արմեն), was an American Armenian singer popular during the 1940s and 1950s. Her career in show business spanned almost six decades, as she worked in radio, television, onstage and in film. She wrote multiple songs, performed in nightclubs and recorded many records.
Radio
Armen was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her father, Robert Manoogian, Sr., was a professional wrestler billed as "The Terrible Turk".
She first appeared on radio at WSM in Nashville, Tennessee, performing on 12 programs per week.[4] In 1947, she had her own weekly 15-minute program, Kay Armen-Songs, on NBC-Blue.
Television and Film
She appeared in a number of roles, notably in the 1959 NBC sitcom Love and Marriage, and on screen in the 1955 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musical Hit the Deck and the 1961 film Hey, Let's Twist!. She was also a songwriter with compositions including "Be Good to Yourself", "My Love and I" and "It’s a Sin to Cry Over You".
Personal life
Her younger brother Robert Manoogian, Jr. (January 4, 1918 – April 3, 2002) was an American professional wrestler who was best known for his work with National Wrestling Alliance in the 1940s as Bobby Managoff.
Kay Armen died in 2011 in New York City, New York at the age of 95.
Filmography
1955: Hit the Deck as Mrs. Ottavio Ferrari
1959-1960: Love and Marriage as Sophie (TV series, 18 episodes)
1961: Hey, Let's Twist! as Angie
1980: Jimmy B. & André as Mama Butsicaris (TV film)
1981: Paternity as Claudia Feinstein
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