Josephine Baker | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Freda Josephine McDonald |
Born | St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. | June 3, 1906
Died | April 12, 1975 Paris, France | (aged 68)
Genres | Cabaret, Music hall |
Occupation(s) | Dancer, singer, actress, Civil Rights Activist, spy |
Website | Josephine Baker profile |
Josephine Baker | |
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Spouse(s) | Willie Wells (1919), Willie Baker (1921), Jean Lion (1937), Jo Bouillon (1947) |
Children | adopted 12 |
Josephine Baker (June 3, 1906 – April 12, 1975) was an American-born French dancer, singer, and actress. She was born Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, Missouri. Fluent in both English and French, Baker became an international musical and political icon. She was given such nicknames as the "Bronze Venus", the "Black Pearl", and the "Créole Goddess".
Baker was the first African-American female to star in a major motion picture, Zouzou (1934), and to become a world-famous entertainer.