051010-Lena-Horne-300.jpgMichael Ochs Archives/Getty
May 10, 2010 @ 12:59 pm

Legendary singer and civil rights activist Lena Horne died Sunday night in New York at the age of 92.  The first African-American to receive a major studio contract, Horne was relegated to bit parts in low-budget movies and was famously passed over for a role in Show Boat because of an industry ban on showing interracial relationships. The resourceful star moved on to a highly successful nightclub career, performing jazz standards like her signature number, “Stormy Weather.” Later in life, the seemingly-ageless star flirted with Cliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show and sang alongside Kermit on Sesame Street, earning herself a whole new generation of admirers. Click on to watch some of our favorite Lena Horne performances.

Betony Toht

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