Esther Williams was a swimming star from her youth who transformed herself to a Hollywood celebrity and created a new entertainment genre that suited her athletic skill. Her series of films in the 1940s and early 1950s was known as aquamusicals.

Williams performed graceful, but taxing, performances of synchronized swimming, diving and open water swimming.

In the movie trailer shown below, Willimas set out to swim the English Channel in the musical Dangerous When Wet – where in one scene, she is aided by some of the best-dressed support crew in the history of marathon swimming.

But she passed away today at the age of 91. From her competitive swimming days as a 3-time national champion to Hollywood stardom, she was a personable and memorable individual who leaves a long and marvelous legacy. She starred in Bathing Beauty, Hollywood’s first swimming movie as well as created and continued aquamusicals that were well-suited to her athletic pedigree.