Herbert Ross

Herbert David Ross (May 13, 1927 - October 9, 2001) was an American actor, choreographer, director and producer who worked predominantly in the stage and film. Ross was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Martha Grundfast and Louis Chester Ross, a postal clerk. At the age of 9, his mother died and his father moved the family to Miami and opened a luncheonette. In 1942, Ross' stage debut came as "Third Witch" in a touring company of Macbeth. The next year brought his first Broadway performance credits with Something for the Boys. By 1950, he was a choreographer with the American Ballet Theatre and choreographed his first Broadway production, the Arthur Schwartz-Dorothy Fields musical adaptation of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Ross's first film assignment came as an uncredited choreographer on Carmen Jones (1954). In the UK, he choreographed The Young Ones (1961) and Summer Holiday (1963), both starring Cliff Richard. Later, he worked with Barbra Streisand as choreographer and director of musical numbers for Funny Girl (1968). His film directorial debut came with the musical version of Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969), made by MGM-British, with Peter O'Toole and Petula Clark. He went on to direct films involving ballet, such as The Turning Point (1977), Nijinsky (1980) and Dancers (1987). Other movies of critical acclaim followed in the 1970s and 1980s such as Neil Simon's adaptations of his own plays and film adaptations of Broadway productions through his last project, Boys on the Side (1995).

Filmography 24

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Steel Magnolias 1989Movie Director

Footloose 1984Movie Director

Boys on the Side 1995Movie Director, Producer

The Secret of My Success 1987Movie Director, Producer

Nijinsky 1980Movie Director

The Last of Sheila 1973Movie Director, Producer

Play It Again, Sam 1972Movie Director

The Goodbye Girl 1977Movie Director

My Blue Heaven 1990Movie Director, Producer

Funny Lady 1975Movie Director

The Owl and the Pussycat 1970Movie Director

California Suite 1978Movie Director

Goodbye, Mr. Chips 1969Movie Director

Protocol 1984Movie Director

The Seven-Per-Cent Solution 1976Movie Director, Producer

Pennies from Heaven 1981Movie Director, Producer

Max Dugan Returns 1983Movie Director, Producer

True Colors 1991Movie Director, Producer

Shirley Maclaine: Kicking Up Her Heels 1996Movie as Self

The Sunshine Boys 1975Movie Director

Poster Boy 2004Movie Producer

T.R. Baskin 1971Movie Director

Dancers 1987Movie Director

Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough 1997Movie as Self