Seven Brides Dancer Norma Doggett Dies at 94

Sad news today: A dancer from my favorite film, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (1954), has passed on.

Norma Doggett, who played Martha, has died at the age of 94.

Although SEVEN BRIDES was Doggett's only film, she danced on Broadway for over a decade, her last show being BELLS ARE RINGING (1959).

She's pictured here in a SEVEN BRIDES publicity still with Marc Platt (Daniel).

Here Norma is seen in the film at the bottom right, along with, moving clockwise, Betty Carr, Nancy Kilgas, Ruta Lee (billed Ruta Kilmonis), Virginia Gibson, and Julie Newmar (billed Julie Newmeyer).

With Doggett's passing, exactly half of the movie's 14 title characters have now passed on, also including Howard Keel, Jeff Richards, Matt Mattox, Marc Platt, Betty Carr, and Virginia Gibson. Obituaries for several of these cast members are linked below.

Doggett is at the far right in the still below:

Still surviving from the cast are Jane Powell, Ruta Lee, Julie Newmar, Nancy Kilgas, Tommy Rall, Jacques D'Amboise, and Russ Tamblyn.

Doggett is the center dancer in the above still from the movie's Barnraising Dance, which is probably my favorite movie dance -- and favorite movie scene -- of all time.

The work of all 14 SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS cast members, including Norma Doggett, has brought me enormous joy for most of my life, and I'm deeply grateful.

Previous obituary tributes to SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS dancers: Betty Carr (November 14, 2008), Matt Mattox (February 22, 2013), Virginia Gibson (May 28, 2013), and Marc Platt (April 1, 2014).