She studied acting with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse. She appeared in starring roles on Broadway in the 1950s in "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?", in which she succeeded Jayne Mansfield. Other credits include Fats Waller's 1943 Broadway musical "Early to Bed", "Call Me Mister" (in which she succeeded Betty Garrett), "The Pajama Game", and "Carnival!" (succeeding Kaye Ballard). She had a featured role in "Take Me Along" which starred Jackie Gleason, who would remember her a few years later when casting his weekly hour television program. She co-starred with Charlotte Rae in the 2002 Los Angeles production of the Kander and Ebb musical "70, Girls, 70" at the El Portal Theatre.