Dorothy Sarnoff was born on May 25, 1919 in New York City, New York, USA. She was married to Milton H. Raymond and Dr. Shepard G. Aronson. She died on December 20, 2008 in Manhattan, New York City.

She studied English and Public Speaking at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York where she was a member of the Cornell Glee Club. She graduated in 1935.

She founded the Speech Dynamics, an image consulting company, in New York City.

Actress, singer, author and lecturer who first appeared on the musical stage starring in the operetta "Rosalinda" (more than 500 performances), and the operas "Tosca" and Faust" in the early to mid 1940s.

Originated the role of Lady Thiang, the king's head wife who sings the lovely song "Something Wonderful", in the Broadway production of "The King and I" starring Yul Brynner and Gertrude Lawrence. Brynner reportedly taught her how to tense her abdominal muscles as a means of dealing with nervousness. She was reluctant in taking on the part because she felt it was beneath her.

Appeared several times as a singing performer on "The Ed Sullivan Show".

A noted speech teacher, she counted President Jimmy Carter, Bob Dole, Danielle Steel and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin among her clients. She initially started a program called "Speech Cosmetics", charging $25 for a sequence of six classes at the Alexander's department store in which women could learn to become better public speakers. Sweaty palms, nervous laughter, a Brooklyn accent, panic-induced silences -- these were just a few of the image blemishes Dorothy could help to improve.

Sang in the Cornell University glee club and later traveled to France for vocal training after receiving her Bachelor's Degree in 1935.

Sang the role of Miss Pinkerton in the 1939 world premiere at New York City's Radio City Music Hall of the one-act radio opera The Old Maid and the Thief by Gian Carlo Menotti.

Appearing in "My Darlin' Aida," a 1952 Broadway musical based on the Giuseppe Verdi opera, the production closed after 89 performances.

Her father, Jacob Sarnoff, was a pioneering plastic surgeon who helped found the Maimonides Medical Center.

Noted for her charm, elegance, energy and strong will, her first book, "Speech Can Change Your Life" (1970), became a best seller; it was followed by "Make the Most of Your Best" (1981) and "Never be Nervous Again" (1987).

Personal Quotes (1)

A woman has to be lovable at "first listen" as well as attractive at "first glance".