American Actress, Singer. Cook was Broadway’s most famous ingénue in the 1950s, originating the role of Cunegonde in Leonard Bernstein’s 1956 musical 'Candide'. She also originated the role of Marian the Librarian in 'The Music Man', for which she won a Tony Award in 1957. After graduating from high school in 1945, she worked as a typist for three years. During a two-week visit to New York with her mother, she decided to stay and try to find work as an actress. Early gigs in clubs and resorts eventually led to a Broadway debut in 'Flahooley', a 1951 musical. Shortly thereafter, she landed the role of Ado Annie in a revival of 'Oklahoma!' and went on national tour with the production. Television appearances and Broadway roles followed. Her breakout came in the 1956 Broadway premiere of Leonard Bernstein musical 'Candide'. Her signature song from that show, "Glitter and Be Gay", required her to hit more than 20 high notes, and established her as one of Broadway’s leading ingenues. In 1957, she starred as Marian the librarian in the original Broadway production of 'The Music Man', originating a role in what would become of the great titles of Broadway’s golden age. Her performance earned her a featured actress Tony Award. She would go on to star in several Broadway productions, including 'The Gay Life', 'Something More!', 'The King and I', 'Show Boat' and 'She Loves Me'. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, her battles with alcoholism, depression and her weight stalled her career. In 1975, she put together a Carnegie Hall concert that jump-started her professional life and yielded a successful live album. Over the next 30 years, Cook would perform in concerts halls and cabaret spots around the world. She returned to Broadway in 2004 with 'Barbara Cook’s Broadway!', which yielded another live recording that would become one of the 40-plus albums that she released over the years. Cook, who received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2011, died of respiratory failure.