Sondra Lee, a veteran Broadway dancer with roles in 'Peter Pan' and 'Hello Dolly!' dies at 97

Broadway dancer and actor Sondra Lee, who helped shape “Peter Pan” and “Hello, Dolly

NEW YORK -- Sondra Lee, a dancer and actor discovered by the legendary choreographer-director Jerome Robbins and originated the role of Tiger Lily on Broadway in “Peter Pan” and played Minnie Fay in the original production of “Hello, Dolly!,” has died. She was 97.

Lee died Monday of natural causes in her New York City apartment, according to her friend and colleague, the Rev. Joshua Ellis, a former Broadway press agent.

After her dancing days, Lee taught at Stella Adler’s Conservatory and New York University. She also was a consultant to such films as “Places in the Heart” with Sally Field, “The Last of the Mohicans” with Daniel Day Lewis and “The Morning After” starring Jane Fonda, Jeff Bridges and Raul Julia.

In her 2009 memoir, “I’ve Slept With Everybody,” she recounted meeting Robbins at the Shubert Theatre. She had just missed his audition for “High Button Shoes” and did not know who he was.

“Oh,” she told him. “I just auditioned for ‘Allegro’ and they found I was too short so they let me go. So I'm going home to commit suicide.” Robbins replied: “Don't go home and commit suicide, come over here and dance for me.” She did and got the job, actually two comic roles in the show.