Biography
Known very best for his socially-themed contemporary dance works from the 1950s and ’60s, this Emmy and Tony Award-nominated dancer and choreographer going the Inner Town Repertory Dance Business through the 1970s and founded the Donald McKayle and Dancers company in 1951. During his teenage years, he gained a scholarship to teach at New York’s New Dance Group. His initial choreographic function, a homelessness-themed piece entitled Saturday’s Kid, premiered in 1948, when he was eighteen years of age. He received Tony Prize nominations for his choreography focus on the 1970s and early 1980s Broadway productions of Golden Boy, Raisin, Doctor Jazz, and Advanced Ladies. He was raised in East Harlem, NY, as the boy of Jamaican immigrants. He educated with renowned contemporary dancer and choreographer Martha Graham.
Quick Facts
Full Name Donald McKayle
Date Of Birth July 6, 1930
Place Of Birth New York
Profession Dancer
Nationality American
Spouse Lea Vivante
Awards Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Choreographer
Nominations Tony Award for Best Choreography, Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography
Star Sign Cancer
- Facts
- Filmography
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- Salaries
- Quotes
- Trademarks
- Pictures
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Has been nominated for Broadway's Tony Award five times: four times as Best Choreographer: in 1965 for "Golden Boy," in 1974 for "Raisin," in 1975 for "Doctor Jazz" and in 1981, shared with 'Henry le Tan' and Michael Smuin, for "Sophisticated Ladies;" and as Best Director (Musical) in 1974 for "Raisin." He has yet to win. |
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|
| Private Debts |
1989 |
Short choreographer |
|
| The Jazz Singer |
1980 |
choreographer - as Don McKayle |
|
| The 31st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards |
1979 |
TV Special choreographer |
|
| Cindy |
1978 |
TV Movie choreographer |
|
| The Richard Pryor Special? |
1977 |
TV Special choreographer |
|
| The 49th Annual Academy Awards |
1977 |
TV Special choreographer |
|
| Minstrel Man |
1977 |
TV Movie choreographer |
|
| Free to Be... You & Me |
1974 |
TV Movie choreographer |
|
| The New Bill Cosby Show |
1972 |
TV Series choreographer |
|
| Bedknobs and Broomsticks |
1971 |
choreographer |
|
| The Great White Hope |
1970 |
choreographer |
|
| Dick Van Dyke and the Other Woman |
1969 |
TV Special choreography |
|
| TCB |
1968 |
TV Movie choreographer |
|
| Soul |
1968 |
TV Movie choreographer |
|
| Ten Blocks on the Camino Real |
1966 |
TV Movie choreographer |
|
Actor
Actor
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|
| Touched by an Angel |
2000 |
TV Series |
Wilbur |
| The Cosby Show |
1985 |
TV Series |
Ralph |
| ...And Beautiful |
1969 |
TV Movie |
Leader - Dance Troupe |
| On the Sound |
1962 |
Short |
The boy |
Director
Director
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|
| Good Times |
1974 |
TV Series 3 episodes |
|
Self
Self
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|
| The New Dance Group Gala Historical Concert: Retrospectives 1930s - 1970s |
2008 |
Video |
Himself |
| Great Performances: Dance in America |
2001 |
TV Series |
Himself |
| The Hollywood Palace |
1969 |
TV Series |
Himself |
Nominated awards
Nominated awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie | Award shared with |
|---|
| 1977 |
Primetime Emmy |
Primetime Emmy Awards |
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography |
Minstrel Man (1977) |
|
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