Fosse, Bob (Robert Louis Fosse) (fô`sē, fŏs`ē), 1927–87, American choreographer and director, b. Chicago. Fosse first appeared on Broadway in Dance Me a Song (1950). He choreographed dances for The Pajama Game (1954), Damn Yankees (1955), and Pippin (1972). He also directed and choreographed the film Sweet Charity (1966) and the supposedly autobiographical All That Jazz (1979). In 1972, he became the only director to win an Academy Award (Cabaret), a Tony Award (Pippin) and an Emmy Award ("Liza with a Z") in the same year.

Fosse, Bob

orig. Robert Louis Fosse

(born June 23, 1927, Chicago, Ill., U.S.—died 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 (1925—2000)—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.

Fosse, (Robert Louis) Bob (1927–87) choreographer, dancer, director; born in Chicago. He began his career in vaudeville as a child, performing as one of the "Riff Brothers" at age 13. After dancing in films, such as Kiss Me Kate (1953), he won Tony Awards for choreography of The Pajama Game (1956) and Damn Yankees (1957). He created a new title on Broadway, director/choreographer, winning Tony Awards for Redhead (1958) and Sweet Charity (1966). Directing musical films as well, he won an Oscar for Cabaret (1972). Subsequent Broadway shows, most notably Dancin' (1978), and films such as the semiautobiographical All That Jazz (1979), secured his reputation as one of the most innovative and influential director/choreographers in musical theater and film.