Carol Channing, the legendary stage actress who also starred in films like "Thoroughly Modern Millie," has died at the age of 97.

The three-time Tony winner was best known for starring in the Broadway musicals "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and "Hello, Dolly!"

Channing died early Tuesday of natural causes at home in Rancho Mirage, California, according to her publicist B. Harlan Boll. She had reportedly suffered strokes twice in the last year.

Her unique, husky voice and shiny, saucer-like eyes made her one of the most recognizable actresses in the world. She played the lead role in "Hello, Dolly" than 5,000 times on Broadway (she also starred in revivals that opened in 1978 and 1995) and on tour — and only missed half a performance in Kalamazoo, Mich., because of food poisoning.

Channing was devastated when she was passed over for the 1969 film version of the musical, which starred Barbra Streisand. She also lost out on the lead role in the 1953 film "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" to Marilyn Monroe.

She did make it to the big screen in 1967's "Thoroughly Modern Millie," for which she won a Golden Globe and was nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar.

Channing received a Lifetime Achievement Tony in 1995 and continued to perform well into her 90s.

She was married four times and leaves behind a son, the editorial cartoonist Chan Lowe.