Robert Louis ‘Bob’ Fosse was the only films-theater personality to win all the three major awards (Oscar, Emmy and Tony) in the same year. He choreographed his first film-dance in ‘Hold Everything! A Streamlined Extravaganza in Two Parts’ (1943).
Fosse then performed on TV-shows ‘Your Hit Parade’ (1950-1951) and ‘The Colgate Comedy Hour’ (1951). His first few film appearances came in 1953 in ‘The Affairs of Dobie Gillis,’ ‘Give a Girl a Break,’ and ‘Kiss Me Kate.’ He also appeared in the comedy-musical film ‘My Sister Eileen’ (1955).
Fosse was the choreographer for the film version of musicals ‘The Pajama Game’ (1957), and ‘Damn Yankees’ (1958), with a dance number in the latter.
Fosse made his feature-film directorial debut in the musical comedy-drama film ‘Sweet Charity’ (1969), a film version of the Broadway musical that he had successfully directed and choreographed.
Fosse’s next directorial venture was the film adaption of the musical ‘Cabaret’ (1972), which won high critical acclaim and also won 8 Academy Awards, including the ‘Best Director’ for Fosse. He received ‘Emmy Award for Best Director and Choreographer’ for the TV-special ‘Liza with a Z’ (1972).
Thereafter, Fosse directed comedian Lenny Bruce’s biopic, ‘Lenny’ (1974), which earned him several nominations. In the fantasy-musical film ‘The Little Prince’ (1974), Fosse appeared in a skillful dance, and played a small part in the comedy-film ‘Thieves’ (1977).
Fosse was the co-writer and director of the Academy Award-winning semi-autobiographical film ‘All That Jazz’ (1979), which fetched him his 3rd Oscar nomination for ‘Best Director.’ At the 1980 ‘Cannes Film Festival,’ the film earned the ‘Palme d’Or.’