Doris Eaton Travis, Last Remaining Ziegfeld Girl, Dies at 106

Born in Norfolk, Virginia, on March 14, 1904, Travis debuted in Florenz Ziegfeld’s lavish pageants at the age of 14, performing in the revues from 1918 through 1920. The singer and dancer followed her Follies stint with roles in such Broadway shows as No Other Girl, The Sap, Excess Baggage, Cross My Heart, Page Pygmalion and Merrily We Roll Along.

In recent years Travis became a beloved figure at Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' annual Easter Bonnet fundraisers. She appeared for the twelfth time at the 2010 Bonnet event in April (performing in a Lady Gaga themed skit), which raised more than $3 million for the organization.

In a statement, Tom Viola of Broadway Cares said, "No matter her age when the stage lights hit Doris, she was instantly and forever young. Whether leading 30 Broadway dancers in a conga, playing sassy in a tux with the Cagelles, celebrating her 100th birthday on the New Amsterdam stage where she first appeared at the age of 16, teaching Sutton Foster “the Black Bottom,” or showing the young ballerinas from Billy Elliott the “Ballin’ the Jack”--a number she had introduced in 1921, Doris was simply a delight. Broadway loved her, giving her a standing ovation just two weeks ago that I know she took to heart and I’m certain has taken with her. We will miss her forever.”