Legendary Performer Mimi Hines, Known for 'Funny Girl,' Passes Away at 91

Mimi Hines, a legendary singer, comedian, television personality, and Broadway performer who famously took over Barbra Streisand's role in the original cast of Funny Girl, passed away on Monday, October 21, at the age of 91 due to natural causes. Her longtime attorney, Mark Sendroff, confirmed her death in a statement to several U.S. media outlets, mentioning that she died peacefully at her home in Las Vegas.

Mimi Hines was born in Vancouver, Canada, in 1933 and showed a passion for entertainment from a young age. By the time she was 12, she was already performing in nightclubs. Little did anyone know she would later become well-known in the industry as part of the duo Ford and Hines, alongside the late actor and comedian Phil Ford.

Mimi Hines and Phil Ford met in 1952 while performing at different nightclubs in Alaska. They started working together after Ford's female partner accidentally broke her ankle, and 19-year-old Hines filled in for her. They quickly fell in love and got married two years later, in 1954.

Ford and Hines gained national fame in 1958 after appearing on The Tonight Show. During the show, Hines sang "Till There Was You" from Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man, which reportedly brought host Jack Paar to tears.

After that, Ford and Hines became regulars on various variety and talk shows, including The Ed Sullivan Show, The Merv Griffin Show, The Dean Martin Show, The Joey Bishop Show, The David Frost Show, The Hollywood Palace, The Garry Moore Show, Pat Boone in Hollywood, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, among others. Hines also became a popular guest on game shows.

In 1964, a sitcom pilot called Mimi was filmed, featuring Hines and Ford as the owners of a resort hotel, but it was not picked up for a series.

After years of performing in top showrooms and nightclubs, Hines got the role of a lifetime as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl. Barbra Streisand was initially supposed to continue in the role but had to back out.

Hines made her Broadway debut in the role in December 1965 and stayed with the production for 18 months, until July 1, 1967. Ford played opposite her as Eddie Ryan, a dancer and director who supports Fanny during her vaudeville days.

Hines also appeared in other productions such as I Do, I Do!, Prisoner of Second Avenue, Sugar Babies, Hello Sunshine, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, No, No, Nanette, and Sugar, some of which featured Ford as well.

Hines was also a successful singer and recorded several albums, including Mimi Hines Sings and Mimi Hines Is A Happening.

Hines and Ford divorced in 1972 but continued to work together and made joint appearances on several occasions. Ford passed away in 2005 at the age of 85. They did not have any children, so the only survivors are their "legion of fans," according to Sendroff.

The duo was recently honored with a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Fame. The planned ceremony will now celebrate Mimi’s life and career.

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