Betty Comden, born Basya Cohen on May 3, 1917, in Brooklyn, New York, was a prominent American lyricist, playwright, and screenwriter. She was the daughter of Russian immigrants Leo and Rebecca Cohen and had an older brother named Nathaniel. Comden attended Erasmus Hall High School and graduated from New York University in 1938 with a degree in drama.

In 1938, Comden met Adolph Green, and together with Judy Holliday and Leonard Bernstein, they formed a performing troupe called the Revuers, which gained some success in New York. Comden and Green's first major Broadway success came with the musical "On the Town" in 1944, which they co-wrote with Bernstein and choreographer Jerome Robbins.

The duo moved to Hollywood, where they wrote screenplays for several successful films, including "Singin' in the Rain" and "The Band Wagon." Their collaboration with composers like Jule Styne and Leonard Bernstein led to numerous successful Broadway shows, such as "Wonderful Town," "Bells Are Ringing," and "Applause."

Comden and Green's partnership lasted six decades, making it the longest-running creative partnership in theater history. They won multiple Tony Awards and were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1980. Betty Comden passed away on November 23, 2006, in New York City.