Fosse, Bob

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.

The Cambridge Dictionary of American Biography, by John S. Bowman. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995. Reproduced with permission.