Bob Fosse Essay

Born on June 23, 1927, Bob Fosse grew up in Chicago and was the second youngest in a family of six. His father, a traveling salesman for The Hershey Company, was also a known vaudeville entertainer. From a young age, Fosse took an interest in dancing and performing and was supported by his family. Considered a young prodigy, Fosse was taught dancing, specifically tap, early and, before even reaching high school, was performing professionally at local nightclubs. During his young teenage years, through his performances, Fosse was introduced to the style of vaudeville dancing, a popular entertainment style that mixed burlesque dancing, song, and comedy. At his dance school, he was the only male, which lead to a bit of teasing in the beginning.

He is the only director to ever win an Oscar, Emmy, and Tony in the same year and many of the films and shows he directed went on to win multiple awards as well. Although his works were mostly incredibly successful originally, his later works were not as widely received. Fosse also suffered from multiple health issues due to the stress and pressure of the stagelight. He was diagnosed with epilepsy when suffering a seizure on stage practicing for The Conquering Hero in 1961 and, a week into rehearsals for Chicago, suffered a heart attack and required bypass surgery. His health issues later translated into his works, most notably his semi-autobiographical film called All That Jazz, which told the story of a drug-addicted choreographer that struggles with relationships, success, and failure. Interestingly enough, the film ends with the man dying of a heart attack, which is how Fosse ultimately faced his own, actual death. Fosse died September 23, 1987, at the age of 60. Sweet Charity, Fosse’s last work, was just starting its opening show at the National Theatre in Washington D.C. when he collapsed on the street from his heart attack. His ashes are scattered in the Atlantic Ocean, as he previously requested.
After his death, he was posthumously inducted into the National Museum of Dance in April of 2007 and a scholarship called the Bob Fosse-Gwen