Esther Williams dead at 91

[crash]

I remember watching her as a young tacker in old movie re-runs. I guess the older you get, the more of these classy old broads you see fall off the perch. I don't imagine anyone remembering those abominable Kardashians in the same light in 60 years time.

Esther Williams was in a class by herself.

The Olympic hopeful turned leading lady, who utilized her aquatic skills in Technicolor romances such as Bathing Beauty and Neptune's Daughter, died early this morning in her sleep. She was 91.

A champion swimmer as a teen growing up in Los Angeles, Williams was headed for the 1940 Summer Olympics in Tokyo when the outbreak of World War II prompted the Games' cancellation. But it turned out the brunette beauty was destined for stardom in other arenas.

She was discovered swimming alongside Tarzan star Johnny Weismuller as part of Billy Rose's Aquacade show in San Francisco and her career took off in the 1940s when she starred in a series of "aquamusicals," romantic dramedies with lavish sequences of synchronized swimming and diving.

Williams also played Australian swimming star Annette Kellerman in the MGM musical Million Dollar Mermaid, which went on to become the actress' nickname in Hollywood for years to come and the title of her autobiography. The 1952 film was also notable thanks to the off-screen story of an affair between her and costar Victor Mature—which Wiliams admitted to in her book.

[Duchess]

I've noticed her films on the classics channel and they are so old I guess I just assumed she died years ago.

[Carsman]

R. I. P. Esther.

Always enjoyed her lighthearted movies.

[Cynical Ninja]

“Aquamusicals” sounds, what's the word I'm looking for?, ah yeah shit!