American film and stage choreographer Michael Kidd passed away on Sunday, December 23, 2007. Kidd had an Oscar and five Tony awards to his credit for his toil of five decades. Kidd’s nephew, Robert Greenwald confirmed that Kidd died after a long battle with cancer, in his Los Angeles home.
Kidd, 92, began his film work in 1952 with ‘Where’s Charley’ that starred Ray Bolger. He is best known for his work in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, a ballet dance in which few real dancers played as wood choppers and his sensational dance direction for ‘Danny Kaye in Knock on Wood’.
He was bestowed with an Oscar by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1997 that was given to him for his lifetime achievements in Hollywood and on Broadway.
He was honored with Tony awards for ‘Finian’s Rainbow’ (1947), ‘Guys and Dolls’ (1951), ‘Can-Can’ (1954), ‘Li’l Abner’ (1957) and ‘Destry Rides Again’ (1960).
He choreographed Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse in the renowned Girl Hunt Ballet for 1953 film ‘The Band Wagon’. His other theatrical work can be seen in Love Life, Arms and the Girl, Wildcat (with Lucille Ball), Ben Franklin in Paris (Robert Preston) and The Rothchilds (Hal Linden).
Son of a barber, Kidd grew up and studied chemical engineering at City College however ended up in a scholarship to the American Ballet school. In 1940 he wedded Mary Heater and had two daughters, Kristine and Susan with her.
Kidd is survived by his second wife Shelah Hackett and their children, Amy Kidd and Matthew Kidd.
Source:Fairproxy
