Fosse, Bob (1927-1987)

US dancer, choreographer, and director. He danced in films such as Kiss Me Kate (1953), choreographed the stage musicals The Pajama Game (1956) and Damn Yankees (1957), directed the musical film Cabaret (1972), and created the concept of the Broadway director/choreographer.

He was born in Chicago and began his career in vaudeville as a child, performing as one of the ‘Riff Brothers’ at the age of 13. He won Tony awards for his choreography and, as director/choreographer, for Redhead (1958) and Sweet Charity (1966). He also won a Best Director Academy Award for Cabaret (1972). Subsequent Broadway shows, most notably Dancin' (1978), and films such as the semi-autobiographical All That Jazz (1979), secured his reputation as one of the most innovative and influential director/choreographers in musical theatre and film.