DIRECTOR
Bob Fosse
- Known for
- Cabaret (1972), All That Jazz (1979), The Little Prince (1974)
41 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
Bob Fosse is a director and screenwriter best known for Cabaret, All That Jazz and The Little Prince.
All facts (41)
- #001
In 1973, Bob Fosse won an Oscar for directing Cabaret (1972), a Tony Award for directing "Pippin" and an Emmy Award for directing Liza with a Z (1972). He is the only director to have won all three of the industry's major awards in a single year.
- #002
Throughout his career, Bob Fosse was always listed in the Manhattan telephone directory.
- #003
In 1973, Bob Fosse won three Emmy Awards for Producing, Directing and Choreography for the television program Liza with a Z (1972), which starred Liza Minnelli.
- #004
In most of his choreographed works, Bob Fosse (or those dancing his choreography) generally wore a hat and gloves. Fosse always wore a hat because he began going bald at 17, and he used gloves heavily because he disliked his hands.
- #005
Bob Fosse was born in Chicago in 1927, the year and setting of his famous 1975 musical "Chicago", which starred Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera and Jerry Orbach.
- #006
In the 1970s, Bob Fosse separated from Gwen Verdon but remained married to her until his death. During this time he had a romantic relationship with Ann Reinking and Jessica Lange.
- #007
Bob Fosse died at 14th Street NW in Washington, D.C., at the corner closest to J. W., of a heart attack at the Marriott Hotel. He was walking to the National Theatre, a block away from the Willard Hotel across the street, to direct one of his stage plays.
- #008
The son of a vaudeville performer, Bob Fosse performed burlesque on stage as a teenager.
- #009
Bob Fosse directed five actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey, Dustin Hoffman, Valerie Perrine and Roy Scheider. Minnelli and Grey won for their performances in Cabaret (1972).
- #010
Bob Fosse's idol was Fred Astaire.
- #011
Bob Fosse planned to make a film version of the Broadway hit "Chicago" with Madonna. It eventually emerged in 2002 as Chicago (2002), directed by Rob Marshall and starring Renée Zellweger instead of Madonna. He was also planning a film about the life of Walter Winchell.
- #012
Bob Fosse insisted that the hair of the Joe Gideon character in All That Jazz, which was inspired by him, be full. Fosse was quite insecure about his own hair loss.
- #013
Bob Fosse unintentionally competed with Francis Ford Coppola several times. Both were nominated for the 1972 Best Director Oscar (Coppola for The Godfather (1972) and Fosse for Cabaret (1972); Fosse won). Both were nominated for the 1974 Best Director Oscar (Coppola for The Godfather Part II (1974) and Fosse for Lenny (1974); Coppola won). Both were nominated for the 1979 Best Director Oscar (Coppola for Apocalypse Now (1979) and Fosse for All That Jazz (1979); neither won). Fosse's film also tied at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Palme d'Or (Coppola had won the previous year with Apocalypse Now (1979)), with Akira Kurosawa's Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior (1980), which was executive produced by two Americans: George Lucas and Coppola.
- #014
Despite separating in 1971, Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon remained close and continued to work together. His muse Ann Reinking would eventually become good friends with Verdon.
- #015
After 1945, Bob Fosse formed a dance partnership with his then-wife Mary Ann Niles, performing in nightclubs and stage musicals (mixing ballet with tap).
- #016
Bob Fosse was portrayed by Sam Rockwell in Fosse/Verdon (2019).
- #017
In 2001 (the 2000 season), Bob Fosse was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Theatre Choreographer and worked with Ann Reinking on "Fosse" at the Prince of Wales Theatre.
- #018
Bob Fosse was one of screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky's best friends.
- #019
Bob Fosse was depicted on one of a set of four US "forever" commemorative postage stamps featuring innovative choreographers, issued on July 28, 2012. The others honored in the set were Isadora Duncan, José Limón and Katherine Dunham. On the day of issue, the price was 45¢.
- #020
In 1979, Bob Fosse was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.
- #021
Bob Fosse wanted to be taken seriously as a director and decided to stay away from musicals after working on Lenny. He was eventually persuaded by Gwen Verdon to work on Chicago.
- #022
Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon were good friends with Neil Simon and his first wife, Joan Baim.
- #023
Bob Fosse was a mentor to actress Melanie Griffith.
- #024
In his youth, Bob Fosse would go to watch all of Fred Astaire's films and would try to imitate the dances on his way home.
- #025
Bob Fosse and Ann Reinking were honored with the 1999 Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Award for the choreography of "Fosse" at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
- #026
Bob Fosse was the father of Nicole Fosse (with Gwen Verdon).
- #027
Bob Fosse at times took on the choreography and direction of many Broadway hits, including "Funny Girl" and "Promises, Promises."
- #028
"Fosse" on Broadway in New York City was nominated for the 1999 Antoinette Perry (Tony) Award for Best Musical. (Richard Maltby Jr., Chet Walker and Ann Reinking.)
- #029
Bob Fosse was the son of Sara Alice (Stanton) and Cyril Kingsley Fosse, a traveling salesman for The Hershey Company. His father's grandparents were Norwegian, and his mother was of Irish descent.
- #030
Fosse began working on a biographical film based on the American gossip columnist Walter Winchell, with Robert De Niro taking on the role of Winchell. Fosse died before he could finish it more formally.
- #031
Before becoming a choreographer and director, Bob Fosse was an actor/dancer who appeared in shows such as My Sister Eileen.
- #032
Bob Fosse was a choreographer and screenwriter (as well as director).
- #033
The stage version of Sweet Charity had a cast of 29 people, some of whom played about 6 roles, while the film had a cast of about 500 people. The stage garage scene featured 2 half-cars, 2 or 3 tires, a few empty oil cans and 3 or 4 dancers, while the film had about 50 cars and 50 dancers, including Sammy Davis.
- #034
Bob Fosse is the only director to win the Triple Crown awards (Oscar, Tony and Emmy) in the same calendar year. In 1973, Bob received 2 Tonys (Director and Choreographer) for "Pippin," 1 Oscar (Director) for "Cabaret" and 3 Emmys (Director, Choreographer and Producer) for the "Liza with a Z" TV special.
- #035
"Chicago" at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California, was honored with the 1998 Back Stage Garland Award for Outstanding Production.
- #036
"Chicago" at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California, was honored with the 1998 Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Award for Musical (Large Theatre).
- #037
The cast of "Fosse" at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California, was honored with the 1998 Back Stage Garland Award for Best Ensemble.
- #038
Bob Fosse was the youngest of a family of 5, consisting of 2 brothers and 2 sisters.
- #039
"Fosse" at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California, was honored with the 1998 Back Stage Garland Award for Outstanding Production.
- #040
Bob Fosse directed three films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Cabaret (1972), Lenny (1974) and All That Jazz (1979).
- #041
Bob Fosse dated Dyan Cannon.
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