Tommy Tune - Biography

Last Editor: jvargo				Tommy Tune Biography -   Name : Tommy Tune Profession : actor, dancer, singer, and choreographer Birth Details : born February 28, 1939 Birth name : Thomas James Tune Height : 6' 6½" (1.99 m) Personal quotes : "My idea of gambling was walking through Central Park, whistling show tunes."

Tommy Tune Trivia -

Recipient of a (USA) National Medal of Arts, 2003. Has won more Tony Awards than anyone else. His nine Tonys are: in 1974, as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Musical), for Seesaw;" in 1980, as Best Choreographer (with collaborator Thommie Walsh) for "A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine;" in 1982, as Best Director (Musical) for "Nine;" in 1983, as Best Actor (Musical) and Best Choreographer (also shared with Walsh) for "My One and Only;" in 1990, as Best Director (Musical) and Best Choreographer, for "Grand Hotel, The Musical;" and in 1991 as Best Director (Musical) and Best Choreographer for "The Will Rogers Follies." He was also nominated five other times, for a total of 14 nominations: in 1979, as Best Director (Musical), shared with Peter Masterson, and Best Choreographer for "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas;" in 1980, as Best Director (Musical) for "A Day in Holywood/A Night in the Ukraine;" in 1982, as Best Choreographer for "Nine;"and in 1983, as Best Director (Musical), again shared with Walsh, for "My One and Only." His additional record of winning four Tonys in four different categories has recently been tied by Harvey Fierstein. Despite the fact that he and Sandy Duncan had worked so well together on stage in "My One and Only," they failed to get a theatre adaptation of the Judy Garland and Fred Astaire film classic Easter Parade (1948) off the ground in the late 1990's. This was primarily because Irving Berlin's daughters (who control his estate) were unhappy with workshop productions. He majored in drama at the University of Texas (BFA) and the University of Houston (MFA). Recipient of eight Drama Desk Awards, two Obie Awards, Dance Magazine's Award for Lifetime Achievement; the 1990 American Dance Award (presented by the National Academy of Dance); the 1990 Drama League Musical Theatre Award for Direction and Choreography; the Astaire Award in both 1990 and 1991; the George Abbott Award for Lifetime Achievement, the University of Texas' Distinguished Alumnus Award; and the Jean Cocteau International Style Award. He was also named to the Top 10 International Best Dressed List of 1992. In 1991, he was inducted by Gwen Verdon into the Theatre Hall of Fame in Broadway's Gershwin Theatre, and three years later was honored with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His dream of playing Las Vegas finally came true in 1999 when he debuted as the star of EFX at the MGM Grand Hotel. Once worked as assistant choreographer on TV's "The Dean Martin Show" (1965). In Houston, Texas, the Tommy Tune Award recognizes excellence in high school musical theater. His autobiography, Footnotes (1997), details his personal relationships with stage manager David Wolfe, who died of AIDS in 1994, and actor/costumer Michael Stuart (1943-1997), with whom Tune lived for seven years. Tommy and Sandy Duncan tried to put a musical version of the classic MGM film Easter Parade (1948) together but it never got off the ground. What they did do is star in "Two for the Show" in 1998. They presented a double bill of their musical touring acts into a single evening. Tommy took the first act and Sandy Duncan most of the second act. They then joined for the big finale which showed some of their numbers from the abandoned "Easter Parade". Tune worked with Duncan before -- in "My One and Only" in 1985 and, before that, as a 19-year-old dance partner to the 12 year old Duncan in Texas. Attended Lamar High School in Houston, Texas.

Tommy Tune Detailed Biography -

Thomas James Tune (born February 28, 1939) is a famous actor, dancer, singer, and choreographer. He was born in Wichita Falls, Texas and attended Lamar High School in Houston, Texas. At 6' 6½" (1.99 m) tall, he is unusual for a dancer. He won nine Tony Awards, and was the only person in theatrical history to win the same two awards in two years, and to win in four categories. He had starred in several plays, including the movie version of Hello, Dolly!. He is currently staring in the national tour of Dr. Doolitle as of Jan. 2006.