Esther Williams

Esther Williams was an American competitive swimmer, actress and businesswoman who departed this life of natural causes in her sleep at the age of 91. Williams is known for her films in the 1940s and early 1950s known as "aquamusicals," which featured awesome performances with synchronized swimming and diving. As a young girl, Williams made several swimming records as part of the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team. Born 1921 in Inglewood, California, she won three US national championships in breaststroke and freestyle swimming in 1937. Three years later in 1940 Williams joined Billy Rose's Aquacade. That same year she planned on competing in the Olympics but that was cancelled due to the outbreak of WWII. The next year in 1941 she signed a contract with MGM and in 1942 she appeared with Mickey Rooney in the movie “Double Life.” In 1945 she appeared in the film “Ziegfeld Follies” as herself and a year later in the romance “This Time for Keeps.” In 1948 Williams became spokesperson for the swimwear li