Although she made her career playing the quintessential Parisian coquette, Fifi D'Orsay was actually a Canadian. She was born Yvonne Lussier in Montreal, Québec, in 1904. At the age of 20 she arrived in New York, determined to become an actress. She was met by 'Helen Morgan . Her song "Ah, Paris" was strong and sexy and helped make the cast album a success. "Follies" opened April 4, 1971, at New York's Winter Garden Theatre and ran for 522 performances. It won seven Tony Awards and the New York Drama Critics' Award for Best Musical. Fifi died on December 2, 1983
A couple of comeback attempts in the 1950s failed to re-ignite her career. One was when she got herself booked at the Palace Theatre; the other was when Ralph Edwards saluted her on his well-known "This Is Your Life" (1952) TV show.
Although presented as "The French Bombshell", the French-Canadian DOrsay never ventured outside North America, and in fact cashed in the round-trip plane ticket to Paris that she was given on Ralph Edwards "This Is Your Life" (1952) TV show.
Niece of Canadian actress Blanche de la Sablonnire born Angline Lussier.
