What you might not know about the American author
Dancer, singer, and actor Sammy Davis Jr. eats pound cake while reading a magazine in his dressing room in 1953.
Singer Frank Sinatra relaxes in his dressing room at the Paramount Theater in New York City.
Humphrey Bogart shown wearing a top hat and buttoning the sleeves of his shirt, without any pants on.
Visiting the dressing room with their mother Rachel Kempson (1910–2003), Vanessa and Corin (1939–2010) gaze in admiration as dad Michael Redgrave (1908–1985) is aged before their eyes under the skillful hands of makeup expert Tony Sforzini. The Redgraves are one of Britain's most famous acting dynasties.
Dancer Josephine Baker and her French husband Joe Bouillion (1908–1984) read congratulatory letters in her dressing room at Manhattan's Strand Theater in 1951 after she opened her first Broadway engagement in 15 years.
Audrey Hepburn pictured in 1954 in her dressing room at the 46th Street Theater in New York as the actress applies makeup for her role in the play 'Ondine.'
Lyricist Alan Jay Lerner (1918–1986), who wrote the lyrics for the musical 'Camelot,' visits the show's stars, Julie Andrews and Richard Burton, in this dressing room scene from 1960.
Elizabeth Taylor takes a dressing room break from filming 'Becket' in 1964, in which Richard Burton plays the title role.
Elvis Presley, still in the US Army when this photograph was taken, listens to fellow musical artist Bill Haley (1925–1981) tune his guitar during a dressing room encounter in the late 1950s.
Jane Birkin pictured in 1964 in her dressing room during her run in the stage play 'Carving a Statue,' in which she plays the part of a deaf mute.
Sources: (Norton Simon Museum) (Nostalgia Central)
See also: Outrageous celebrity backstage requests
Christopher Plummer applies his makeup for his role in the 1973 musical 'Cyrano.' The show was in Boston as part of a pre-Broadway run.
World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Muhammad Ali relaxes in his dressing room at a training gym days before his 1975 bout known as the "Thrilla in Manila" in the Philippines.
Ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev in the dressing room at the Coliseum Theatre in London in 1977. On his dressing table is a row of ballet shoes and an array of makeup.
Comedian and actor Jerry Seinfeld tying up loose ends as he prepares for a stage performance in 1993.
Michael Jackson in his 'dressing room' backstage in Bremen, Germany during the HIStory World Tour in 1997.
In his dressing room, British actor Michael Crawford, star of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical 'Phantom of the Opera,' holds the phantom mask during a break from rehearsals for the musical's New York premiere at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway in 1998.
British Shakespearean actor John Gielgud, photographed in his dressing room in 1930, makes himself up as Prospero for the Old Vic's production of 'The Tempest.'
Bing Crosby getting his makeup applied in a Paramount Pictures studio dressing room in 1936.
Orson Welles caught in a odd dressing room moment with a towel over his head during a 1942 backstage interview.
Vivien Leigh in her dressing room on the opening night of 'School for Scandal' at the Tivoli Theatre in Adelaide, Australia, this in 1948.
Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons (1929 –2010) in a dressing room during filming of 'Desiree' in 1954.
Cary Grant in his dressing room, circa 1955. In the background is the 1941 painting 'Flower Vendor (Girl with Lilies)' by Diego Rivera, owned by Grant.
Actor and comedian Peter Sellers in his dressing room as a headmaster before appearing in his sitcom and sketch show 'The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d.'
British singer Cliff Richard in the dressing room at the Palladium Theatre in London with cards for his 20th birthday, this in 1960.
Barbra Streisand photographed in 1965 using a telephone in her home dressing room.
The Fab Four—John Lennon (1940–1980), Paul McCartney, George Harrison (1943–2001), and Ringo Starr—pass the time playing cards before a concert in Cambridge, England, in 1963.
Composer, conductor, and jazz pianist Duke Ellington catches up on fan mail while relaxing in his dressing room in 1963.
John Travolta relaxing in his dressing room during a break from filming the TV sitcom 'Welcome Back, Kotter' in 1975.
Danny Kaye (1911–1987) and Luciano Pavarotti (1935–2007) kiss Montserrat Caballe (1933–2018) in a dressing room at the San Francisco Opera House. Pavarotti and Caballe were performing in Giacomo Puccini's 'Tosca.'
The dressing room is usually a place where an actor or entertainer can escape the glare of publicity. But sometimes a photographer is invited in to capture a special moment, or to run off a few candid snaps. When that happens, the results can be amusing and quite unique.
Click through this gallery and focus upon these vintage celebrity dressing room moments.
Vintage celebrity dressing room moments
Stars photographed behind the scenes
CELEBRITY Backstage
The dressing room is usually a place where an actor or entertainer can escape the glare of publicity. But sometimes a photographer is invited in to capture a special moment, or to run off a few candid snaps. When that happens, the results can be amusing and quite unique.
Click through this gallery and focus upon these vintage celebrity dressing room moments.