Adriana Caselotti was an American actress and singer who became famous for voicing the character of Snow White in the 1937 Disney animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. She was the first female voice-over artist to be named a Disney Legend in 1994. However, her career and life were not as fairy-tale-like as her iconic role. She faced many challenges and restrictions in the film industry, and she died of lung cancer at the age of 80 in 1997. In this article, we will explore the cause and circumstances of her death, as well as her legacy and impact on the animation world.
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The Voice That Could Not Be Used Anywhere
Caselotti was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1916, to an Italian-American family of musicians and singers. She learned to sing from her father, who was a vocal coach and music teacher, and her mother, who was an opera singer. She also had an older sister, Louise, who taught singing to Maria Callas. When she was seven years old, she moved to Italy with her family for three years, where she attended a convent school. She returned to New York and continued her singing studies with her father.
In 1935, when she was 18 years old (but lied that she was 16), she auditioned for the role of Snow White after overhearing a phone call between her father and Walt Disney, who was looking for a young voice actress for his first full-length animated feature film. She impressed Disney with her sweet and innocent voice, and she was hired for the part. She was paid a total of $970 for working on the film (equivalent to $19,746 in 2022), according to Wikipedia. She did not know that she was making a feature film until she attended the premiere, where she saw many movie stars and celebrities. She later said that she was “thrilled” and “overwhelmed” by the experience.
However, she soon realized that her voice was not hers anymore. She was not credited for the role, and Disney wanted to keep the illusion of Snow White being real. He prevented her from appearing or performing in any other films or shows, saying that “that voice can’t be used anywhere. I don’t want to spoil the illusion of Snow White”, according to Best Life. She was even denied the opportunity to go on the Jack Benny radio show, which was very popular at the time. She had only two more jobs in the film business: an uncredited role in The Wizard of Oz (1939), where she spoke one line as Juliet during the Tin Man’s song; and another uncredited role in It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), where she sang in a bar scene.
The Life After Snow White
Caselotti did not give up on her passion for singing and music. She wrote a how-to book called Do You Like to Sing?, according to Wikipedia. She also sold autographs and memorabilia related to Snow White, and appeared in several promotional events and interviews. She sang opera and performed in Rigoletto. In 1972, she guest-starred on an episode of The Julie Andrews Hour, where she sang “I’m Wishing” and “Some Day My Prince Will Come” with Julie Andrews. In the early 1990s, when the Snow White Grotto at Disneyland was refurbished, she re-recorded “I’m Wishing” for the Snow White Wishing Well exhibit at the age of 75.
She also had a personal life that was not very happy. She married four times, but none of her marriages lasted long. Her first husband was a dentist named Norval Mitchell; they divorced after six months. Her second husband was a doctor named Robert Chard; they divorced after two years. Her third husband was a businessman named Dana Costigan; they divorced after four years. Her fourth husband was a painter named Florian St Pierre; they divorced after three years.
She had no children of her own, but she adopted a son named Robert Mitchell from her first marriage. However, he died in a car accident when he was 18 years old.
The Cause and Date of Death
Caselotti died on January 18, 1997, at her home in Los Angeles, California. The cause of death was respiratory failure from lung cancer, according to The Celebrity Deaths. She had been diagnosed with cancer two years earlier, but she did not want to undergo chemotherapy or radiation treatment. She preferred to use alternative medicine and natural remedies.
She was cremated and her ashes were scattered at sea.
The Legacy and Impact of Adriana Caselotti
Despite her short and limited career in the film industry, Caselotti left a lasting mark on the history of animation and cinema. Her voice as Snow White is considered one of the most recognizable and influential voices in animation, and the film itself is regarded as a masterpiece and a milestone in the art form. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first full-length animated feature film, the first film to have a soundtrack album, and the first film to be preserved in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. It also won an honorary Academy Award for Walt Disney, who received one normal-sized Oscar and seven miniature ones.
Caselotti was also recognized for her contribution to the Disney legacy. In 1994, she was named a Disney Legend, making her the first female voice-over artist to achieve this honor. She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which she received in 1987.
Caselotti’s voice as Snow White has inspired and influenced many other voice actors and singers, such as Julie Andrews, Judy Garland, Betty Boop, and Marilyn Monroe. Her voice has also been imitated and parodied by many comedians and performers, such as Carol Burnett, Amy Poehler, and Kristen Wiig.
Caselotti’s voice as Snow White will always be remembered and cherished by generations of fans and admirers. She once said, “I know that my voice will never die”. She was right. Her voice lives on in the hearts and minds of millions of people who love Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
