Charmoli was born in 1921 in Mountain Iron, Minnesota as the youngest of nine siblings. His parents had immigrated from Italy. When he was 16 years old, he traveled alone by bus to Jacob's Pillow in Becket, Massachusetts in order to intern as a dancer for the summer. The next year, on Valentine's Day, he met Wilford Saunders, who was to become his life partner and business manager.[1][2]
Charmoli and Saunders each enlisted in the military during World War II. Charmoli was an operations officer in the 43rd Fighter Squadron in the U.S. Air Force in Panama and organized entertainment shows for them, while Saunders was sent to Europe and became a secretary to Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower.[1]
Career
In 1947, he performed on Broadway for the first time, in the production Dear Judas. He also choreographed Eddie Fisher at the Winter Garden in 1962, as well as Shirley MacLaine's Broadway revue in 1976. In 1948, Charmoli danced in Make Mine Manhattan, but gave the part to Bob Fosse when the show toured nationally. Charmoli found Fosse work as a dancer on the TV shows he was working on when Fosse returned from the tour.[1]
Charmoli worked in 1949 as choreographer on ABC television's Stop the Music. He then joined NBC-TV's Your Hit Parade in 1950, and in 1956 won his first Emmy, for his work on the show. He subsequently moved to Los Angeles to take a position on Dinah Shore's television variety program.[1]
At that time, Charmoli continued to work on directing for television, where he directed programs as the famous 1977 production of The Nutcracker starring Mikhail Baryshnikov,[3] which was nominated for two Emmys (neither nomination was for Charmoli, however). He directed and choreographed nearly all of Mitzi Gaynor's television specials in the 1970s as well as two of Shirley MacLaine's. He also worked many times with Sid and Marty Krofft, directing all seventeen episodes of Lidsville and The Bugaloos, respectively,[4] as well as their TV special Fol-de-Rol.[5] He directed the first two years of Star Search (1984–85), and several years of Circus of the Stars, as well as John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together (1979),[6] winning the Directors Guild Award.
Charmoli also directed several Bob Hope specials, more than twenty televised beauty pageants,[7] and the short-lived summer replacement series The Keane Brothers Show (1977).
He was the recipient of three Emmy Awards, plus twelve other Emmy nominations. His second win was in 1974 for "Mitzi ... A Tribute to the American Housewife" starring Mitzi Gaynor; the final one was for Shirley McLaine's 1976 show "Gypsy In My Soul" (for which he also won the Directors Guild of America award).[1]
Other performers he collaborated with included Beyoncé, LeAnn Rimes, and Justin Timberlake.
In 2016, he teamed with Paul Manchester to compose his biography called Stars in My Eyes.
Charmoli died in August 2020 at his home in the Hollywood Hills at the age of 99.[8] His partner Saunders died in 1999.
Charmoli is considered one of the top television choreographers in history.[1] He felt the television cameras needed to be just as involved with choreography as the dancers, so he always took time to block those as well.[8]
References
^ abcdefgBarnes, Mike (2020-08-10). "Tony Charmoli, Emmy-Winning Choreographer for Mitzi Gaynor and Shirley MacLaine, Dies at 99". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
^"Lawrence Leritz Pens Personal Remembrance About Tony Charmoli". BroadwayWorld. 2020-08-11. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
^Der Nussknacker Ballett von Tschaikowsky (1977), YouTube
^Hurwitz, Matt (2020-02-13). "The Craft of the Kroffts: Sid & Marty's Road to Hollywood's Walk of Fame". Variety. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
tony, charmoli, june, 1921, august, 2020, american, dancer, choreographer, director, began, dancing, broadway, such, shows, make, mine, manhattan, soon, began, choreographing, television, with, stop, music, 1949, charmoli, then, choreographed, dance, sequences. Tony Charmoli June 11 1921 August 7 2020 was an American dancer choreographer and director He began dancing on Broadway in such shows as Make Mine Manhattan but soon began choreographing for television with Stop the Music in 1949 Charmoli then choreographed dance sequences for the popular Your Hit Parade winning his first Emmy Award in 1956 He went on to direct and choreograph for some of the biggest stars including Dinah Shore Lily Tomlin Danny Kaye Julie Andrews Cyd Charisse Shirley MacLaine Mitzi Gaynor Lucille Ball and others On Broadway Tony choreographed Ankles Aweigh 1955 and Woman of the Year 1981 with Lauren Bacall Over his career he was nominated for fifteen Emmy awards and won three 1 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 References 4 External linksEarly life EditCharmoli was born in 1921 in Mountain Iron Minnesota as the youngest of nine siblings His parents had immigrated from Italy When he was 16 years old he traveled alone by bus to Jacob s Pillow in Becket Massachusetts in order to intern as a dancer for the summer The next year on Valentine s Day he met Wilford Saunders who was to become his life partner and business manager 1 2 Charmoli and Saunders each enlisted in the military during World War II Charmoli was an operations officer in the 43rd Fighter Squadron in the U S Air Force in Panama and organized entertainment shows for them while Saunders was sent to Europe and became a secretary to Gen Dwight D Eisenhower 1 Career EditIn 1947 he performed on Broadway for the first time in the production Dear Judas He also choreographed Eddie Fisher at the Winter Garden in 1962 as well as Shirley MacLaine s Broadway revue in 1976 In 1948 Charmoli danced in Make Mine Manhattan but gave the part to Bob Fosse when the show toured nationally Charmoli found Fosse work as a dancer on the TV shows he was working on when Fosse returned from the tour 1 Charmoli worked in 1949 as choreographer on ABC television s Stop the Music He then joined NBC TV s Your Hit Parade in 1950 and in 1956 won his first Emmy for his work on the show He subsequently moved to Los Angeles to take a position on Dinah Shore s television variety program 1 At that time Charmoli continued to work on directing for television where he directed programs as the famous 1977 production of The Nutcracker starring Mikhail Baryshnikov 3 which was nominated for two Emmys neither nomination was for Charmoli however He directed and choreographed nearly all of Mitzi Gaynor s television specials in the 1970s as well as two of Shirley MacLaine s He also worked many times with Sid and Marty Krofft directing all seventeen episodes of Lidsville and The Bugaloos respectively 4 as well as their TV special Fol de Rol 5 He directed the first two years of Star Search 1984 85 and several years of Circus of the Stars as well as John Denver and the Muppets A Christmas Together 1979 6 winning the Directors Guild Award Charmoli also directed several Bob Hope specials more than twenty televised beauty pageants 7 and the short lived summer replacement series The Keane Brothers Show 1977 He was the recipient of three Emmy Awards plus twelve other Emmy nominations His second win was in 1974 for Mitzi A Tribute to the American Housewife starring Mitzi Gaynor the final one was for Shirley McLaine s 1976 show Gypsy In My Soul for which he also won the Directors Guild of America award 1 Other performers he collaborated with included Beyonce LeAnn Rimes and Justin Timberlake In 2016 he teamed with Paul Manchester to compose his biography called Stars in My Eyes Charmoli died in August 2020 at his home in the Hollywood Hills at the age of 99 8 His partner Saunders died in 1999 Charmoli is considered one of the top television choreographers in history 1 He felt the television cameras needed to be just as involved with choreography as the dancers so he always took time to block those as well 8 References Edit a b c d e f g Barnes Mike 2020 08 10 Tony Charmoli Emmy Winning Choreographer for Mitzi Gaynor and Shirley MacLaine Dies at 99 The Hollywood Reporter Retrieved 2020 08 11 Lawrence Leritz Pens Personal Remembrance About Tony Charmoli BroadwayWorld 2020 08 11 Retrieved 2020 08 20 Der Nussknacker Ballett von Tschaikowsky 1977 YouTube Hurwitz Matt 2020 02 13 The Craft of the Kroffts Sid amp Marty s Road to Hollywood s Walk of Fame Variety Retrieved 2020 08 28 Sid amp Marty Krofft present Fol de Rol 1971 Unsold TV Pilot YouTube John Denver and The Muppets A Christmas Together 1979 YouTube http www inbaseline com person aspx view TVCredits amp person id 257976 permanent dead link a b Award Winning Director and Choreographer Tony Charmoli Dies at Age 99 BroadwayWorld 2020 08 20 Retrieved 2020 08 28 External links EditTony Charmoli at IMDb Tony Charmoli at The Interviews An Oral History of Television Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tony Charmoli amp oldid 1116709600, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
