Celebrating his birthday next week on December 27th, Tommy Rall is an unsung American artist – a consummate dancer, operatic singer, actor, and visual painter.  A fellow acrobatic dancer,  Donald O'Connor (who played Gene Kelly's pal in Singin' in the Rain), once described Rall as one of the "greatest dancers living...above Astaire and Kelly."

Born in Missouri, he moved to Seattle, Washington where his mother enrolled him in dancing lessons.  He performed in vaudeville as a child – dancing, acrobatics, and some acting.  In the early ’40’s his family moved to Los Angeles where he starting working on films.  He learned tap dancing and became part of the jitterbug Jivin’ Jack and Jills at Universal Studios. He later studied art at the Chouinard Art Institute and ballet with David Lichine, Carmelita Maracci, and Anatole Oboukhoff of the School of American Ballet.  At the age of fourteen, he joined Ballet Theatre (later known as ABT), became a soloist, and in 1946 was featured in Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free and Interplay.

Rall was known for his acrobatics in classic 1950's musical films such as Kiss Me, Kate and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and was also known for performances in Broadway musicals such as Juno (1959) and Milk and Honey (1961).

Enjoy these movie clips which feature Rall:

Alley Dance in My Sister Eileen (1955) -- YouTube (above)

number choreographed and performed by Bob Fosse with Tommy Rall

Invitation to Dance directed by Gene Kelly (1956) -- TCM

Stage Door in “Ring around the Rosy” segment, choreographed by Kelly

Kiss Me Kate - From this Moment On (1953) -- YouTube

with Ann Miller and Rall, Bob Fosse and Carol Haney

Seven Brides For Seven Brothers - Barn Dance (1954) -- TCM

choreographed by Michael Kidd

Rall as Frank, in the red shirt

For more information about Rall, see his biography in the NY Times.