Tommy Tune
Biography
Tommy Tune is an American dancer, actor, singer, and theater director who also works as a producer and choreographer. Born in Wichita Falls, Texas, he studied dance in Houston and Boulder before earning a drama degree at the University of Texas at Austin and a directing degree at the University of Houston. After moving to New York, he made his Broadway debut in Baker Street in 1965 and later gained national attention as a specialty dancer and assistant choreographer on The Dean Martin Show. His first Broadway directing and choreography credits came with The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in 1978, and he won a Tony for directing Nine in 1982. He has earned ten Tony Awards, with a Lifetime Achievement Award among them in 2015, and is the only person to win Tonys in the same categories in consecutive years, 1990 and 1991. His films include Hello, Dolly! (1969) and The Boy Friend (1971).
87years old
Turns 88 on February 28in 119 days
- Born Wichita Falls
- Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
- Also credited as Thomas James Tune
Movie Career
- Films
- 3
- Career span
- 34 years1969 to 2003
Every film, newest first
- 2003Broadway's Lost TreasuresIMDb rating 7.8
- 1971The Boy FriendIMDb rating 6.8
- 1969Hello, Dolly!IMDb rating 7.1
Genres
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Behind the award
Tune won Tony Awards for Best Choreography and Best Direction of a Musical in back to back years, 1990 and 1991. He was also the first person to win in four categories.
Big break
In 1969, TV producer Greg Garrison hired Tune as an assistant choreographer and specialty dancer, which brought him national attention. He worked on The Dean Martin Show and its summer replacement series, Dean Martin Presents The Golddiggers.
First role
In 1978, Tommy Tune made his Broadway debut as both director and choreographer on the original production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
Behind the award
In 1982, Tune directed Maury Yeston's Nine, which took the Tony for Best Musical. That production brought Tune his first Tony for directing a musical.
A role that slipped away
In 1978, Tune joined the out-of-town tryout of Hellzapoppin three weeks before its Broadway bow. He reached Boston on a Saturday to perform in a dance number the next Monday, but the show closed under a week later.
Beyond film
In 1997, Tune put out his first record album, Slow Dancin', on the RCA label. It features a collection of his favorite romantic ballads.
Tommy Tune movies on Netflix
Worked with
Tommy Tune shares two films with Twiggy, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Twiggy's page
Angela Lansbury's page
Walter Matthau's page
Bob Gunton's page
Julie Andrews's page
Rutanya Alda's page
All films by Gene Kelly
All films by Ken Russell
Chris CohenDirector, 1 film, 2003
All films by Chris Cohen
Awards
Seven awards and honors from 1982 to 2012, four of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Awards | |||
| 1991 | Best Direction of a Musical | Won | |
| 1990 | Best Direction of a Musical | Won | |
| 1983 | Best Actor in a Musical | Won | |
| 1982 | Best Direction of a Musical | Won | |
| Other honors | |||
| 2012 | Capezio Dance Award | Won | |
| National Medal of Arts | Won | ||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.