Trivia

On The 57th Annual Tony Awards (2003), she performed the climactic song "Rose's Turn" from "Gypsy", in which she was nominated that year for Best Lead Actress in a Musical. However, she had been suffering from a severe respiratory infection and had missed several performances of the show. Originally, the producers did not want her to perform live at the Tony Awards for fear of her damaging her vocal chords. She refused to cancel and insisted on performing live. She got through the song and received a 2-minute standing ovation, one of the longest in Tony history.

She was involved with Steve Martin, her co-star in The Jerk (1979) and Pennies from Heaven (1981), prior to his marriage to Victoria Tennant.

Is the youngest performer to be inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.

Created the roles of Dot in "Sunday in the Park with George", Mabel Normand in "Mack and Mabel" and The Witch in "Into the Woods" in the original Broadway productions.

Was on Broadway in the revival of "Gypsy" in 2003-2004. She performed in the show for a year and did over 500 performances. Peters was offered a national tour of the show, but bowed out saying, "I love this show and the role of Rose, but after playing her for a year she has worn me totally out!" The role of Mama Rose is considered one of the greatest and most difficult roles for a musical theater actress.

Has won two "Best Leading Actress in a Musical" Tony Awards for "Song and Dance" and "Annie Get Your Gun".

Her husband, Michael Wittenberg died in a helicopter crash in Montenegro, Europe on September 26, 2005. An investment advisor, he was reportedly on a business trip.

Is of Italian/Sicilian ancestry, and changed her last name to Peters (after her father's first name) because at the time, non-Anglo stage names were discouraged.

Although she has many Tony nominations and two wins, she is the only actress to not win a Tony Award for a revival of the musical, "Gypsy". Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly and Patti LuPone all received Tony Awards as best actress in a musical for their performances in "Gypsy" revivals, but neither Peters nor the role's originator, Ethel Merman, ever received the award.

She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Live Theater at 6706 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on April 23, 1987.

Daughter of Margaret (Maltese) and Peter Lazzara, who drove a bread truck.

Received the Drama League Award for Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre in May 2013 in recognition of her contribution to the musical theatre.

Is an animal rights activist.

Is the youngest of three children of Peter and Marguerite Lazarra.

Replaced Bette Midler on Broadway in "Hello Dolly". (January 2018)

Inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame in 2002.

Dated Warren Beatty.

Has won two Tony Awards as Best Actress (Musical): In 1986 for "Song and Dance" and in 1999 for a revival of "Annie Get Your Gun". In addition, she has received five other Tony nominations: one as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Musical) in 1972 for a revival of "On the Town"; and four other Best Actress (Musical) nominations: in 1975 for "Mack and Mabel"; in 1984 for "Sunday in the Park with George", a performance she recreated in the television version with the same title, Sunday in the Park with George (1986); in 1993 for "The Goodbye Girl"; and in 2003 for a revival of "Gypsy".

Younger sister of casting director Donna DeSeta. Aunt of Tian DeSeta.

Has two siblings: Joseph Lazarra and Donna DeSeta.

Is a member of the MTC Board of Directors.

Is one of 23 actresses who did not receive an Oscar nomination for their Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical Golden Globe-winning performance; hers being for Pennies from Heaven (1981). The others, in chronological order, are: June Allyson for Too Young to Kiss (1951), Ethel Merman for Call Me Madam (1953), Jean Simmons for Guys and Dolls (1955), Taina Elg and Kay Kendall for Les Girls (1957), Marilyn Monroe for Some Like It Hot (1959), Rosalind Russell for A Majority of One (1961) and Gypsy (1962), Patty Duke for Me, Natalie (1969), Twiggy for The Boy Friend (1971), Raquel Welch for The Three Musketeers (1973), Barbra Streisand for A Star Is Born (1976), Kathleen Turner for Romancing the Stone (1984) and Prizzi's Honor (1985), Miranda Richardson for Enchanted April (1991), Jamie Lee Curtis for True Lies (1994), Nicole Kidman for To Die For (1995), Madonna for Evita (1996), Renée Zellweger for Nurse Betty (2000), Sally Hawkins for Happy-Go-Lucky (2008), Amy Adams for Big Eyes (2014), Awkwafina for The Farewell (2019), Rosamund Pike for I Care a Lot (2020) and Rachel Zegler for West Side Story (2021).

Awarded the President's Award at the 11th Annual 'Mr. Abbott' Awards Dinner.

Was a candidate for the role of Juliet Capulet in Romeo and Juliet (1968).

Born on exactly the same date as Mercedes Ruehl (of Romeo and Juliet (1968) and The Warriors (1979) fame).