Miliza Elizabeth Korjus [militsa] (August 18, 1909 – August 26, 1980) was a Polish and Estonian coloratura soprano opera singer, who later appeared in Hollywood films. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1938 for her performance in The Great Waltz.

Biography

In 1952, she married Walter Shector, a physician, and retired from the concert stage, preferring to concentrate on making records. She died of heart failure in 1980 at Culver City, California, USA and was interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Korjus’ daughter Melissa F. Wells was born in Estonia in 1932 and for over forty years was a career officer of the US foreign service. Notably, she served as US Ambassador to Estonia between 1998-2001.

Best films