Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan

Moved to New York City

Made NY Stage debut as a tiger and a cow in the children's show, "Bobino"

Made Broadway debut in "Loco"

Played Regina Giddens in the Broadway production of "The Little Foxes"

Made TV debut on the eseries "The Growing Paynes" (Dumont)

Was the understudy to Ethel Merman for the Irving Berlin musical "Call Me Madam"

Cast as newspaper reporter Melba Snyder in the revival of the Rodgers and Hart show "Pal Joey"

Headlined the national tour of "Call Me Madam"

Regular panelist on TV's "Pantomine Quiz"

Cast as Trixie Norton in the pilot episode of "The Honeymooners" (CBS); fired by Jackie Gleason

Earned a Tony nomination for her dramatic role as Grace, the diner owner, in "Bus Stop"

Made film debut in "The Scarlet Hour"

Starred on the short-lived CBS sitcom "My Sister Eileen"

Received a Tony nomination for her role in Noel Coward's Broadway musical "Sail Away!"; Coward wrote the role for Stritch; reprised role in 1962 for the London production

Assumed the role of Martha in the Broadway production of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

Last feature for 12 years, "Who Killed Teddy Bear?"

Featured on the CBS series "The Trials of O'Brien"

Delivered a scene-stealing turn as the acerbic Joanne in the Broadway musical "Company"; performed what became her signature song "The Ladies Who Lunch"; earned a Tony nomination

Appeared in the documentary "Original Cast Album: Company"; film depicted the gruelling 15-hour recording of the original cast album of the stage musical; Stritch's many takes and growing frustrations was one of the more fascinating parts of the film

Moved to London; starred in the British TV comedy, "Two's Company"

Last film for a decade, "Providence" opposite John Gielgud and Ellen Burstyn

Returned to New York City

Appeared in the all-star concert version of the Stephen Sondheim-James Goldman musical "Follies"

Played Ellen Burstyn's mother on the short-lived ABC sitcom "The Ellen Burstyn Show"

Made return to features after a decade in Woody Allen's "September"

Joined the Stella Adler Conservatory as an advanced acting teacher

Had starring role in the busted CBS pilot for a sitcom based on "Steel Magnolias"

Created the role of lawyer Lanie Siegel on an episode of the NBC series "Law & Order"; reprised role four years later in another episode

Played Parthenia Hawks in Harold Prince's revival of the landmark musical, "Show Boat"

Earned fourth Tony nomination for her performance as the alcoholic sister Claire in the revival of Edward Albee's "A Delicate Balance"

Featured as Dyan Cannon's mother in the comedy "Out to Sea"

Reprised starring role in concert version of "Sail Away"

Appeared in the one-woman show, "Elaine Stritch at Liberty"; began performances Off-Broadway at the Public Theatre and later moved to Broadway (aired on HBO in 2003)

Received a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word for The Best Halloween Ever

Cast as James Gandolfini's mother in "Romance & Cigarettes" directed by John Turturro (released theatrically in 2007)

Appeared as the mother of Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) on the NBC hit series "30 Rock"; earned Emmy nominations in 2008 and 2009 for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series