Swimming Star Esther Williams Dies at Beverly Hills Home

By City News Service

Esther Williams, a childhood swimming phenom who was denied her chance at Olympic glory by war in Europe but found fame appearing in Hollywood's so-called "aqua-musicals," died Thursday at her home in Beverly Hills.

Williams, 91, died peacefully in her sleep, according to publicist Harlan Boll.

The Los Angeles native grew up a swimming champion, and was winning national titles with the Los Angeles Athletic Club by the time she was 16. She qualified for the 1940 U.S. Olympic team, but the escalating war forced the cancellation of the games in Helsinki, Finland.

She decided to turn pro, but she tried out for a role in "San Francisco Aquacade Review," and was chosen out of about 100 hopefuls to fill the role opposite Johnny Weismuller.

She went on to appear in films such as "Bathing Beauty," "Neptune's Daughter" and "Million Dollar Mermaid." Her bathing-suit-clad appearances in big-screen MGM musicals also made her a favorite pin-up girl of the 1940s, particularly for servicemen returning from World War II.

She was married four times, to Leonard Kovner in the 1940s, followed by Ben Gage from 1945-59, then Fernando Lamas from 1969-82. She is survived by her latest husband, Edward Bell, whom she married in 1994.

She is also survived by her children, Benjamin Gage and Susan Beardslee; three grandchildren; three stepchildren; and eight step-grandchildren.

Funeral services have not been announced.

The family requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.