Monica Lewis, a Hollywood actor and the voice behind Chiquita Banana cartoons, dies at the age of 93 at her home in Woodland Hills, California.
According to the report of DAilyMail UK, Alan Eichler, Monica Lewis' former manager, said that the famous actress died a natural death on Friday in her home.
It is recalled that Monica Lewis started her singing career as lead singer of Benny Goodman's orchestra, and then some time in 1940's she had recorded several jazz hits.
She became famous in Hollywood in 1950 when she signed an exclusive contract with MGM. Her famous movies then were "The Strip with Mickey Rooney" and "Excuse My Dust" with Red Skelton. She also became an endorser of several products appearing in various ad campaigns like Burlington Mills' hosiery, Camel cigarettes, and General Electric
HollywoodReporter said that in 1956, Monica Lewis married widowed MCA/Universal production executive Jennings Lang. She adopted the two young sons of her husband and put her career on hold to take care of her family. Although, from time to time she involved herself in her husband's projects and had appeared on several movies like "Earthquake."
Variety has published a concise biography of Monica Lewis. It was said that she was born in Chicago to a Musical family. Her father, Leon Lewis, was a symphonic composer and conductor, while her mom Jessica was a singer in Chicago Opera Company. She also had a sister named Barbara who was a skillful and talented classical pianist. The head of variety for CBS-TV was her brother Marlo who produced the Ed Sullivan show's "Toast of the Town."
Monica learned to sing through her mom who taught her voice lessons since she was a toddler. Before she became the vocalist of Benny Goodman, Monica started out as a radio vocalist. She quitted school to help out her parents. For 14 years, she had been the voice of Chiquita Banana.
She is survived by her two sons and three grandchildren.
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