Happy Birthday, Bob Fosse! Born today in 1927 as Robert Louis Fosse, this American musical-theatre choreographer, dancer, actor and theatre and film director had directed and choreographed musical works on stage and screen.
In 1953, Fosse was signed to an MGM contract. His early screen appearances was as a dancer.
This included the 1953 American Technicolor musical/drama comedy film 'Give a Girl a Break', the 1953 American black and white musical/comedy film 'The Affairs of Dobie Gillis' and the 1953 American Ansco Color musical/comedy film 'Kiss Me Kate'. These three films were all released that same year.
Fosse's choreography of a short dance sequence in 'Kiss Me Kate' and dance with American dancer and actress Carol Haney brought him to the attention of Broadway producers.
He had directed and choreographed musical works on stage and screen, including the American stage musical The Pajama Game (choreography) in 1954.
For her work in 'Damn Yankees', American actress and dancer Gwen Verdon won her first Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 1956.
The following year, Fosse choreographed the cinematic version of the 1957 American WarnerColor musical/comedy film 'The Pajama Game'', starring Doris Day.
The next year, Fosse appeared in and choreographed the cinematic version of the 1958 American Technicolor musical/comedy film 'Damn Yankees'. The book had been written by American theater producer and director, playwright, screenwriter, and film director and producer George Abbott.
In the film, Verdon reprised her stage triumph as the character Lola. Fosse and Verdon were also partners in the mambo number "Who's Got the Pain".
It was while working on 'Damn Yankees' that Fosse first met rising star Verdon, whom he married in 1960.
Later in 1960, Fosse directed and choreographed the American musical Redhead. For his work on the production, Fosse won the Tony Award for Best Choreography while Verdon won her third Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Redhead won the Tony Award for best musical.
The following year, Fosse choreographed the 1961 American musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. The production later became a hit. In 1967, it was made into a film.
During rehearsals for The Conquering Hero in 1961, Fosse was revealed to have epilepsy when he suffered a seizure onstage.
Fosse had directed five feature films. His first, the 1969 American Technicolor musical/comedy-drama romance film (full title: 'Sweet Charity: The Adventures of a Girl Who Wanted to Be Loved').
The film, starring Shirley MacLaine, is an adaptation of the eponymous 1966 Broadway musical that Fosse had also directed and choreographed.
Of his features, Fosse is best known for co-choreographing and directing the 1972 American musical/drama film 'Cabaret'. The film was released in late February.
The film version of 'Cabaret' had been based on American composer John Kander's eponymous 1966 American musical, English playwright and theatre director John Van Druten's 1951 Broadway play I Am a Camera.
It had also been based on Anglo-American novelist, playwright, screenwriter, autobiographer, and diarist Christopher Isherwood's 1939 fiction novel Goodbye to Berlin.
In late October, Fosse directed and choreographed the 1972 American musical Pippin. It premiered at the Imperial Theatre in New York City, New York. For the production, Fosse won a Tony award for his choreography.
For the production, this music and lyrics were written by American musical theatre lyricist and composer Stephen Schwartz.
The following year, Fosse had won the Best Director Oscar for 'Cabaret' over Francis Ford Coppola, who had been nominated Best Director for 'The Godfather'.
Other Oscars included Best Actress (Liza Minnelli), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Joel Grey), Best Cinematographer, Best Editing, Best Original Score Song, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, and Best Sound.
'Cabaret' also had two nominations. These included Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. However, the film didn't win. This occurred at the 45th Academy Awards in late March 1973.
That same year, Fosse was the only person ever to have won an Oscar, Emmy and Tony awards in the same year. His distinctive style of choreography included turned-in knees and "jazz hands."
The following year, Fosse is known for directing the 1974 American black and white biographical drama/comedy film 'Lenny'. The film was based off of American stand-up comedian, social critic, and satirist Lenny Bruce.
One year later, Fosse directed and choreographed the 1975 American musical Chicago, which also starred Verdon.
It was two years after Chicago that Pippin had run for 1,944 performances before closing in mid-June 1977.
Two years later, Fosse co-choreographed, co-wrote and directed his second best known film. This was the 1979 American musical/drama film 'All That Jazz'.
The following year, the film won four Oscars. These included Best Original Song Score, Best Editing, Best Costume Design and Best Original Song Score.
'All That Jazz' also had five Oscar nominations. These included Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Roy Scheider), Best Original Screenplay and Best Cinematography. However, the film didn't win. This occurred at the 53nd Academy Awards in mid-April, 1980.
The following month,Fosse won the Palm d'Or for 'All That Jazz'. However, this was tied with Akira Kurosawa's three-hour 1980 Japanese drama/war film 'Kagemusha'. This occurred at the 33rd Cannes Film Festival in May 1980.
In the late 1980s, Fosse wrote, choreographed and directed the Broadway production of the 1986 American musical Big Deal, which was nominated for five Tony awards, winning for Best Choreography.
Fosse passed from of a heart attack as a revival of his musical Sweet Charity was opening at the nearby National Theater. He had collapsed in Verdon's arms near the Willard Hotel on September 23, 1987. Fosse was 60.
In 1995, 'Cabaret' was the ninth live-action lmusical film selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
In 2001, 'All That Jazz' was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.
According to his personal life, Fosse had been married three times.
These were to Mary Ann Niles (m. 1947; div.1951), American actress, dance and comedian Joan McCraken (m. 1952; div. 1959) and Gwen Verdon (m. 1960; sep. 1971). His partner was American actress, dancer and choreographer Ann Reinking (1972–1978).
Fosse has one daughter. This is American actress, dancer and producer Nicole Fosse. She is the only daughter of Verdon and Fosse.
Fosse had been active from 1947–1987.
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