Introduction
Stockard Channing and Carol Channing are two of the most celebrated actresses in Broadway and Hollywood history. They have both starred in iconic musicals, such as Grease and Hello, Dolly!, and have earned numerous awards and accolades for their performances. But are they related by blood or by marriage? This is a question that has intrigued many fans and curious observers for decades. In this article, we will explore the origins of this rumor, the evidence for and against it, and the final verdict on whether Stockard Channing and Carol Channing are related.
The Origin of the Rumor
The rumor that Stockard Channing and Carol Channing are related seems to stem from their shared surname and their similar appearance. Both actresses have blonde hair, blue eyes, and prominent cheekbones. They also have distinctive voices, whether singing or for comedic effect. Some people may have assumed that they are sisters, cousins, or even mother and daughter, based on these superficial similarities.
However, the truth is that they are not biologically related at all. Stockard Channing was born Susan Antonia Williams Stockard on February 13, 1944, in New York City. Her father, Lester Napier Stockard, was in the shipping business, and her mother, Mary Alice English, came from a large Brooklyn Irish Catholic family. Stockard Channing married Walter Channing Jr. in 1963 and kept the amalgamated name “Stockard Channing” after they divorced in 1967. She has since been married three more times, but has never changed her name again.
Carol Channing was born Carol Elaine Channing on January 31, 1921, in Seattle, Washington. Her father, George Channing, was a journalist and a Christian Science practitioner, and her mother, Adelaide Glaser, was of German-Jewish descent. Carol Channing did not know that she had African-American ancestry until she was 16 years old, when her mother revealed that her father’s mother, Clara, was black. Carol Channing married four times, and had one son, Channing Lowe, with her second husband, Alex Carson.
The Evidence for and against the Rumor
Despite the lack of biological connection, some people may still wonder if Stockard Channing and Carol Channing are related by marriage. After all, they both have had multiple spouses, and some of them may have been related to each other. However, there is no evidence to support this claim either. None of their husbands share the same surname, and none of them have any known ties to each other’s families. Furthermore, Stockard Channing and Carol Channing have never publicly acknowledged or confirmed any familial relationship between them.
On the contrary, there is evidence that they are not related by marriage. In fact, they have never even met each other in person. In a 2019 interview with The Guardian, Stockard Channing said that she had never seen Carol Channing perform live, and that she had only seen her on television. She also said that she had never spoken to her, and that she did not know if Carol Channing knew who she was. She added that she admired Carol Channing’s work, and that she was sorry to hear of her death in January 2019.
The Final Verdict
Based on the available information, we can conclude that Stockard Channing and Carol Channing are not related by blood or by marriage. They are two separate individuals who happen to share a surname and some physical traits. They have both achieved remarkable success in their respective careers, and have left a lasting legacy in the entertainment industry. They are both worthy of admiration and respect, but not of confusion or speculation. Therefore, the rumor that Stockard Channing and Carol Channing are related is false, and should be put to rest once and for all.