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Donald McKayle(1930-2018)

  • Choreography
  • Actor
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Donald McKayle was born on 6 July 1930 in New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor and director, known for Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971), Good Times (1974) and The Great White Hope (1970). He was married to Lea Vivante and Esta Beck. He died on 6 April 2018 in Orange, California, USA.
BornJuly 6, 1930
DiedApril 6, 2018(87)
BornJuly 6, 1930
DiedApril 6, 2018(87)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Add photos, demo reels
  • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
    • 1 nomination total

Known for

Angela Lansbury, Dal McKennon, Bob Holt, Cindy O'Callaghan, Roy Snart, David Tomlinson, Ian Weighill, and Lennie Weinrib in Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
7.1
  • Choreography
  • 1971
John Amos, Ralph Carter, Ja'net DuBois, Esther Rolle, BernNadette Stanis, and Jimmie 'JJ' Walker in Good Times (1974)
Good Times
7.5
TV Series
  • Director
James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander in The Great White Hope (1970)
The Great White Hope
6.9
  • Choreography
  • 1970
Minstrel Man (1977)
Minstrel Man
8.4
TV Movie
  • Choreography
  • 1977

Credits

IMDbPro

Choreography

  • Private Debts (1989)
    Private Debts
    Short
    • choreographer
    • 1989
  • Sophisticated Ladies (1982)
    Sophisticated Ladies
    8.1
    TV Movie
    • choreographer
    • 1982
  • The Jazz Singer (1980)
    The Jazz Singer
    6.0
    • choreographer (as Don McKayle)
    • 1980
  • The 31st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1979)
    The 31st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
    7.1
    TV Special
    • choreographer
    • 1979
  • Charlayne Woodard in Cindy (1978)
    Cindy
    7.4
    TV Movie
    • choreographer
    • 1978
  • The Richard Pryor Special? (1977)
    The Richard Pryor Special?
    7.4
    TV Special
    • choreographer
    • 1977
  • The 49th Annual Academy Awards (1977)
    The 49th Annual Academy Awards
    5.9
    TV Special
    • choreographer
    • 1977
  • Minstrel Man (1977)
    Minstrel Man
    8.4
    TV Movie
    • choreographer
    • 1977
  • Free to Be... You & Me (1974)
    Free to Be... You & Me
    7.8
    TV Movie
    • choreographer
    • 1974
  • The New Bill Cosby Show (1972)
    The New Bill Cosby Show
    5.9
    TV Series
    • choreographer
    • 1972
  • Angela Lansbury, Dal McKennon, Bob Holt, Cindy O'Callaghan, Roy Snart, David Tomlinson, Ian Weighill, and Lennie Weinrib in Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
    Bedknobs and Broomsticks
    7.1
    • choreography by
    • 1971
  • James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander in The Great White Hope (1970)
    The Great White Hope
    6.9
    • choreographer
    • 1970
  • Dick Van Dyke and Douglas Denoff in Dick Van Dyke and the Other Woman (1969)
    Dick Van Dyke and the Other Woman
    8.0
    TV Special
    • choreography
    • 1969
  • The Second Bill Cosby Special
    TV Special
    • choreography
    • 1969
  • TCB
    8.6
    TV Special
    • choreographer
    • 1968

Actor

  • Roma Downey, John Dye, and Della Reese in Touched by an Angel (1994)
    Touched by an Angel
    6.2
    TV Series
    • Wilbur
    • 2000
  • Lisa Bonet, Bill Cosby, Tempestt Bledsoe, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Phylicia Rashad, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner in The Cosby Show (1984)
    The Cosby Show
    7.4
    TV Series
    • Ralph
    • 1985
  • On the Sound (1962)
    On the Sound
    Short
    • The boy
    • 1962
  • Natalie Wood and Jacques Sernas in Camera Three (1954)
    Camera Three
    6.3
    TV Series
    • Lover
    • 1960

Director

  • John Amos, Ralph Carter, Ja'net DuBois, Esther Rolle, BernNadette Stanis, and Jimmie 'JJ' Walker in Good Times (1974)
    Good Times
    7.5
    TV Series
    • Director
    • 1974

Personal details

  • Official site
    • Broadway org.
  • Alternative name
    • Don McKayle
  • Height
    • 6′ 2″ (1.88 m)
  • Born
    • July 6, 1930
    • New York City, New York, USA
  • Died
    • April 6, 2018
    • Orange, California, USA(pneumonia)
  • Spouses
      Lea Vivante1965 - April 6, 2018 (his death, 1 child)
  • Other works
    He choreographed the ballet, "Black New World," in a William Louther and Company production at the Strand Theatre in London, England.
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Article

Did you know

  • Trivia
    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.

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