- Fosse, Bob
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orig. Robert Louis Fossedied Sept. 23, 1987, Washington, D.C.U.S. theatre and film choreographer and director.Born into a vaudeville family, Fosse began dancing professionally at age 13. He won his first Tony Award for choreographing the Broadway musical The Pajama Game (1954) and went on to win six more Tonys for his choreography, which was known for its sensuality, precision, and jazz sensibility. His later hit shows included Damn Yankees (1955) and Sweet Charity (1966)both starring his wife, Gwen Verdon (19252000)as well as Pippin (1973) and Dancin' (1978). He directed the film musical Cabaret (1972, Academy Award); his film All That Jazz (1979) was a thinly disguised autobiography.
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▪ American choreographer and directorbyname of Robert Louis Fosseborn June 23, 1927, Chicago, Ill., U.S.died Sept. 23, 1987, Washington, D.C.American theatre and motion-picture choreographer and director of musical plays.The son of a vaudevillian, Fosse attended dance schools as a child and began dancing professionally at the age of 13. A chorus dancer in national tours and Broadway musicals between 1947 and 1953, he signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the latter year and danced and sang in three film musicals, including Kiss Me Kate. He returned the next year to Broadway, where he won his first Tony award for choreographing The Pajama Game (1954), becoming noted then and later for his clever, angular groupings of dancers and fresh, stylistically exaggerated staging. He then arranged the dances for several Broadway shows, winning Tony awards for Damn Yankees (1955), Redhead (1959), Little Me (1963), Sweet Charity (1966), Pippin (1972), and Dancin' (1978).Fosse choreographed and directed the successful motion-picture musicals Cabaret (1972) and All That Jazz (1979). He also directed the nonmusical films Lenny (1974), based on the life of comedian Lenny Bruce, and Star 80 (1983).* * *
Universalium. 2010.