Choreographer. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, he was dance director responsible for choreographing some of Hollywood’s most memorable movie musicals. He was the principal choreographer for such stars as Betty Grable, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse and Rita Hayworth. He received Academy Award nominations for “Top Hat” (1935), “Bo jangles of Harlem” (1936) and was awarded the Oscar for Best Dance Direction for “Damsel in Distress” (1937). He also won an Emmy Award for the 1958 television special “An Evening with Fred Astaire” and was recognized with a National Film Award in 1980. He died at age 80 in Beverly Hills, California.