Betty Comden, born Basya Cohen on May 3, 1917, in Brooklyn, New York, was a celebrated American lyricist, playwright, and screenwriter. She was best known for her long-standing creative partnership with Adolph Green, which lasted over six decades and became the longest-running collaboration in Broadway history. Comden studied dramatics at New York University, graduating in 1938, and soon after met Green. Together, they formed a comedic troupe called The Revuers, which included Judy Holliday and performed at the Village Vanguard in Greenwich Village.

Comden and Green's first major success came with the Broadway musical "On the Town" in 1944, created in collaboration with Leonard Bernstein and Jerome Robbins. This marked the beginning of their fruitful career in both theater and film. They wrote scripts and lyrics for numerous Broadway shows, including "Wonderful Town," "Bells Are Ringing," and "Applause," winning multiple Tony Awards. Their work in Hollywood included writing the screenplay for the classic film "Singin' in the Rain," which was later voted the best film musical of all time by the American Film Institute.

Throughout their career, Comden and Green collaborated with notable composers such as Jule Styne and Leonard Bernstein, creating memorable songs like "Just in Time" and "The Party’s Over." Comden's contributions to the arts were recognized with her induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1980. Her memoirs, "Off Stage," were published in 1995. Betty Comden passed away on November 23, 2006, in Manhattan, New York, leaving behind a legacy of influential work in musical theater and film.