Who is Bob Fosse

Bob Fosse at a Glance 

He was born Robert Louis Fosse in Chicago, to a Norwegian father and Irish mother, the youngest of six children. After graduating from high school, he teamed up with Charles Grass, another young dancer, and began a collaboration under the name, The Riff Brothers. They toured theatres throughout the Chicago area.

Eventually Fosse was hired for the show Tough Situation, which toured military and naval bases in the Pacific. He later said that he had perfected his technique as a performer, choreographer, and director while serving his tour of duty.

Fosse moved to Hollywood with the ambition of being the next Fred Astaire. His early screen appearances included Give A Girl A Break, The Affairs of Dobie Gillis and Kiss Me, Kate, all released in 1953. It was a short sequence that he choreographed in the last that brought him to the attention of Broadway producers.

Although Fosse's career in film was cut short by premature balding, which limited the roles he could take, he was reluctant to move from Hollywood to theatre. In 1954, he choreographed his first musical, The Pajama Game, followed by Damn Yankees in 1955. It was while he was working on the latter show that he first met Gwen Verdon.

Fosse developed a jazz dance style that was immediately recognizable, exuding a stylized, cynical sexuality. Other notable distinctions of his style included the use of inward knees, rounded shoulders and body isolations.

With Fred Astaire as an influence, he used props such as bowler hats, canes and chairs. His trademark use of hats was influenced by his own self-consciousness. He used gloves in his performances because he did not like his hands. His dance routines were intense and specific, yet had a simplicity to them.

Some of his most popular numbers include "Steam Heat" from The Pajama Game and "Big Spender" from Sweet Charity. The "Rich Man's Frug" scene in "Sweet Charity" is another example of his genius. The filmed routines in Cabaret (1972) are particularly characteristic of his style, the vulgar energy of vaudeville and burlesque updated and coolly contained within a slick, conscious sophistication.

In 1986 he directed and choreographed the Broadway production, Big Deal, which he also wrote.

Fosse directed five feature films. His first, Sweet Charity in 1969, was an adaptation of his Broadway musical. His second film, Cabaret, won 8 Academy Awards, including Best Director. Fosse next directed Lenny in 1974, a biopic of the self-destructive comic Lenny Bruce. Lenny was nominated for Best Picture and Best Director Oscars. In 1979, Fosse co-wrote and directed the semi-autobiographical All That Jazz, which won four Academy Awards. All That Jazz also earned Fosse his third Oscar nomination for Best Director, and the film was also nominated for Best Picture. In addition, All That Jazz won the Grand Prize at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival. Fosse's final film, 1983's Star 80, was a controversial biopic of slain Playboy Playmate Dorothy Stratten. It evoked mixed critical reaction, although Richard Schickel of Time and Rex Reed gave it rave reviews, and it has acquired a strong cult following.

Fosse performed a memorable song and dance number in Stanley Donen's 1974 film version of The Little Prince. In 1977, Fosse had a small role in the romantic comedy Thieves.

Bob Fosse died from a heart attack at the age of 60.