Idaho-Born Star Collaborated With Sinatra, Disney & Lucille Ball

Idaho has produced a great number of famous people including singers, writers, actors/actresses, professional athletes, politicians, and award-winning scientists. Many Idahoans may not know the solid link the Gem State has to Disney.

Some of the most famous, Idaho-born individuals include professional baseball player and Hall-of-Famer Harmon Killebrew, actor Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad), nineteen forties actress and model Lana Turner, and poet Ezra Pound. These people are just a couple of examples of celebrities that have achieved "household name" status. The really fascinating thing about celebrity links to Idaho involve the ones that flew just under the radar enough to avoid worldwide acclaim.

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Until recently, I had no idea just how influential Idaho-born human beings were to Walt Disney in the "Golden Age" of entertainment. I mean, Walt's own wife Lillian (an Idaho native) is the one credited with giving the Disney founder the idea of "Mickey" for the world-famous cartoon icon's name. Another name that helped shape Disney in the first two decades of its existence was Norma Zimmer.

Zimmer grew up a singer and stage fan in Larson, Idaho, which is located in the state's panhandle. She was a regular on the Lawrence Welk Show, performed with famous musicians the likes of Frank Sinatra, and made appearances on popular television shows such as I Love Lucy. Zimmer also voiced the character, the White Rose, in the 1951 Disney classic Alice in Wonderland.

Zimmer passed away in California in 2011.

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Filed Under: Actress, Alice In Wonderland, idaho, Larson, Lawrence Welk, Norma Zimmer, singer, Walt Disney

Categories: General, Idaho News, Lifestyle