Anne Russell, a Broadway actress known for her roles in the classic musicals “Hello, Dolly!” and “Mame,” has died at the age of 103. Her passing was confirmed by her longtime friend Ted Seifman, who said she died peacefully on Tuesday evening at The Actors Fund Home in Englewood, New Jersey.

Born on March 22, 1923, in Raleigh, North Carolina, Russell moved to New York early in her life and became a longtime resident of the Upper West Side of Manhattan, where she lived for more than 75 years. She began her career as a featured vocalist with the Les Brown and Jerry Wald orchestras before transitioning into musical theatre.

Russell’s breakthrough came after collaborating with composer and musical director Peter Howard, who helped refine her nightclub act. Impressed by her talents, Howard recommended her to producer David Merrick for the role of Electra in the national tour of “Gypsy.” The production also featured a young Bernadette Peters and her sister Donna.

In 1965, Russell made her Broadway debut in “Flora, The Red Menace,” which starred Liza Minnelli. That same year, she auditioned for the role of Gower Champion in the national tour of “Hello, Dolly!” and was hired as the standby for Mary Martin. She joined the touring company in Cleveland and performed the title role multiple times during the two-year tour, which included stops at major U.S. cities as well as international performances in Tokyo, Vietnam, and Korea. Over her career, she appeared in 10 different productions of “Hello, Dolly!”

Russell also had a significant association with the musical “Mame.” Initially an understudy for both Mame Dennis and the character Vera Charles, she later took over the full-time role of Sally Cato. In 1983, she replaced Fran Warren as the lead in a New York production of “Mame,” receiving critical acclaim.

In 1989, Russell toured with Debbie Reynolds in John Bowab’s production of “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.” Her film work included a role in “These Old Broads,” a project written by Carrie Fisher that starred Reynolds, Shirley MacLaine, Joan Collins, and Elizabeth Taylor.

Throughout her career, Russell was recognized for her versatility and enduring presence in the world of musical theatre, leaving behind a legacy that spanned several decades on stage and screen.