Bob Fosse

Robert Louis Fosse (June 23, 1927 – September 23, 1987) was an American choreographer, dancer, actor, filmmaker, and stage director whose work on stage and screen made him perhaps the most significant figure in twentieth-century jazz dance. His career earned him an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, three Primetime Emmy Awards, nine Tony Awards, and the Palme d'Or.

Born in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, Fosse was the fifth of six children. His father, Cyril Kingsley Fosse, was a Norwegian-American traveling salesman for Hershey; his mother, Sarah Alice “Sadie” Stanton Fosse, was Irish-American. He was named after the Scottish novelist Robert Louis Stevenson. At age eight, his parents enrolled him in formal dance lessons at the Chicago Academy of Theatre Arts under Marguerite Comerford. By thirteen, he was performing professionally in Chicago with Charles Grass as “The Riff Brothers,” touring vaudeville and movie houses, as well as USO theaters and Eagles Clubs. Many shows were at burlesque clubs like the Silver Cloud and Cave of Winds. Fosse later said, “I was sixteen years old, and I played the whole burlesque wheel.” The erotica he witnessed there would later influence his work. At fifteen, in 1943, he choreographed his first dance number and earned his first full choreography credit for *Hold Evry’thing! A Streamlined Extravaganza in Two Parts*, featuring showgirls in strapless dresses performing a fan dance inspired by his burlesque experience.

After graduating from Amundsen High School in 1945, Fosse was recruited into the U.S. Navy near the end of World War II and sent to Naval Station Great Lakes for combat preparation. After his own failed attempts to join the Special Services Entertainment Division, his manager Frederick Weaver advocated on his behalf. Fosse was then placed in the variety show *Tough Situation*, which toured military and naval bases in the Pacific.

Following his discharge, Fosse moved to New York City in 1947, aiming to become the new Fred Astaire. He studied acting at the American Theatre Wing, where he met his first wife and dance partner, Mary Ann Niles (1923–1987). His first stage role was in *Call Me Mister* alongside Niles. In 1948, Tony Charmoli danced in *Make Mine Manhattan* but gave the part to Fosse when the show toured nationally; Charmoli also found Fosse TV dancing work after the tour. Fosse and Niles were regulars on *Your Hit Parade* during its 1950–1951 season. Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis saw their act at New York’s Pierre Hotel and booked them for *The Colgate Comedy Hour* in 1951.

Fosse signed an MGM contract in 1953. His early film dance appearances included *Give a Girl a Break*, *The Affairs of Dobie Gillis*, and *Kiss Me Kate*—all released that year. In *Kiss Me Kate*, he played Hortensio in *The Taming of the Shrew* dance sequences, and his choreography of a short sequence for “From This Moment On,” along with his dance with Carol Haney, caught Broadway producers’ attention. He also starred alongside Howard Keel, Kathryn Grayson, and Ann Miller in that film.

During the late 1940s and early 1950s, Fosse moved from film to theatre. He credited Jerome Robbins with starting his choreography career: “Jerry started me doing choreography. He gave me my first job as a choreographer [*Pajama Game*] and I'm grateful for that.” In 1954, Fosse choreographed his first stage musical, *The Pajama Game*, followed by *My Sister Eileen* and George Abbott’s *Damn Yankees* in 1955. On *Damn Yankees*, he met rising star Gwen Verdon, whom he married in 1960. Verdon won her first Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for *Damn Yankees* in 1956 (she had previously won a Tony for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for *Can-Can* in 1954). In 1957, Fosse choreographed *New Girl in Town*, also directed by Abbott, and Verdon won her second Tony for Best Actress in a Musical in 1958. That same year, Fosse choreographed the film version of *The Pajama Game* starring Doris Day. The next year, he appeared in and choreographed the film version of *Damn Yankees*.

Fosse’s stage work earned him Tony Awards for choreographing *The Pajama Game* (1954), *Damn Yankees* (1955), *Redhead* (1959), *Little Me* (1963), *Sweet Charity* (1966), *Pippin* (1972), *Dancin’* (1978), and *Big Deal* (1986), and for directing *Pippin*. He also worked on *Bells Are Ringing* (1956), *New Girl in Town* (1958), *How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying* (1961), and *Chicago* (1975). His film directorial debut was *Sweet Charity* (1969). He won the Academy Award for Best Director for *Cabaret* (1972) and was Oscar-nominated for directing *Lenny* (1974) and *All That Jazz* (1979), the latter winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes. He directed the concert film *Liza with a Z* (1972), earning a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special. His final film was *Star 80* (1983).

Fosse developed an uncompromising modern style marked by finger-snapping, tilted bowler hats, fishnet stockings, splayed gloved fingers, turned-in knees and toes, shoulder rolls, and jazz hands. His third wife was actor-dancer Gwen Verdon, with whom he collaborated on numerous theater and film projects.