Legendary ‘Oklahoma!' Actress and Last Surviving Original Cast Member Turns 100
Broadway history has few remaining living connections to its earliest modern era, and one of its most remarkable is celebrating a huge milestone as she turns 100 years old on April 26, 2026.
Actress and dancer Bambi Linn, best known for her work in the original Broadway production of Oklahoma!, has turned 100 years old, marking a rare centennial for a performer whose career stretches back to what is widely considered a defining moment in American musical theater.
Born on April 26, 1926, Linn built her early career during the so-called "Golden Age" of Broadway, a period when musical theater was evolving and growing into the dynamite industry it is today.
She was part of the original Broadway company of Oklahoma!, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical that premiered in 1943 and is frequently credited with changing the course of American stage history. The musical is the first to be written by the legendary duo Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, and it's based on the 1931 play Green Grow the Lilacs by Lynn Riggs.
The story is set in 1906 in rural Oklahoma and follows a young woman named Laurey Williams as she faces two suitors, the cowboy named Curly and the farm hand named Jud. Throughout the musical, Laurey tries to figure out which man she truly has feelings for during the day leading up to a box social dance that night, where everyone comes together, and chaos ensues.
Linn's debut in Oklahoma! was also her first role on stage ever, after training as a dancer for a long time. She originated the role of Aggie and was an ensemble dancer.
In an interview with writer Jim Colleran, Linn said of the musical's legacy, "Oklahoma! was made for the people. And the people made Oklahoma! If the audience hadn't received it the way it did, Oklahoma! would not have been Oklahoma!"
Over a decade after the original Broadway production of Oklahoma! premiered, Linn returned to the classic story for the 1955 film adaptation. This time around, she took on the role of Dream Laurey, performing the show's famous ballet dance routine.
As of writing, Linn is the last surviving member of the original Oklahoma! opening night cast.
After her Broadway debut, Linn continued working as an actress and dancer, appearing in Carousel in 1945, Alice in Wonderland in 1947, and I Can Get It for You Wholesale in 1962, among other productions. She eventually retired from the stage and dance to live a private life with her family.
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This story was originally published April 26, 2026 at 9:15 AM.