Photo: William Morris Agency / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Pearl Bailey was born in Newport News, Virginia, United States on March 29, 1918. Pearl Bailey was listed as a singer, stage actor and film actor. Death is recorded on August 17, 1990, at the age of 72. Education on record includes William Penn High School and Georgetown University. Awards on record include Presidential Medal of Freedom (1988), Daytime Emmy Award, Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award and 2 more.
My Take
What strikes me about Pearl Bailey is how she turned warmth into a craft. Plenty of performers can sing or act, but few could wrap an audience in that easy, generous charisma she had, on stage and screen alike. Rising from vaudeville to a Tony-honored Hello, Dolly! and a Presidential Medal of Freedom, while also writing cookbooks and studying at Georgetown, she refused to be one thing. I admire that she was both a trailblazing Black entertainer and an unpretentious storyteller. To me she represents an old-school generosity of spirit that modern fame too often forgets, and that is worth remembering.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Pearl Bailey
- Name (Japanese)
- パール・ベイリー
- Reading
- ぱーる・べいりー
- Born
- March 29, 1918 – August 17, 1990
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Horse
- Origin
- Newport News, Virginia, United States
- Occupation
- singer / stage actor / film actor / voice actor / television actor
2. Background
- High school
- William Penn High School
- University
- Georgetown University
Awards & achievements
- 1988 Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Daytime Emmy Award
- Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- 1976 Coretta Scott King Award
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Carmen Jones | — | |
| Notable work | Porgy and Bess | — | |
| Notable work | Pearl's kitchen : an extraordinary cookbook | — |
4. Links
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl%20Bailey
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q462118
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-19
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Pearl Bailey born?
Born March 29, 1918.
When did Pearl Bailey die?
Died August 17, 1990, aged 72.
Where was Pearl Bailey from?
Pearl Bailey was from Newport News, Virginia, United States.
What did Pearl Bailey do?
Pearl Bailey worked as singer, stage actor, film actor, voice actor, television actor.
What was Pearl Bailey known for?
Notable works include Carmen Jones, Porgy and Bess, Pearl's kitchen : an extraordinary cookbook.
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