Marni Nixon

Marni Nixon (September 22, 1930 – July 24, 2023) was an American soprano and ghostly voice of Hollywood's most iconic movie musicals. Born Margaret-Ann Nixed Nixon, she became one of the most heard yet least recognized singers in cinema history. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Nixon dubbed the singing voices for numerous leading actresses in major musicals, most famously providing the voice for Deborah Kerr in 'The King and I' (1956), for Natalie Wood in 'West Side Story' (1961), and for Julie Andrews in 'The Sound of Music' (1965). Her work was exceptional—her vibrato, technique, and emotional delivery brought these characters to life musically, yet she received no on-screen credit for decades. Nixon's voice was selected for these roles because she possessed the technical vocal range and quality that the studio system deemed necessary, while the lead actresses were primarily known for their acting abilities. It wasn't until much later in her career that Nixon gained recognition for her contributions, receiving a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001 and being featured in the 2015 documentary 'Marni Nixon: The Voice of Hollywood.' Her story exemplifies the often-invisible labor behind Hollywood's golden age and the contributions of women whose talents were systematized into the studio system.