- Born
- Died
- Birth nameThomas Edward Rall
- Tommy Rall, dynamic actor/dancer of many 1950s musicals, was born in 1929 and studied dancing with the American Ballet Theater. He first appeared on film as a child in 1942. After a series of great dancing roles on screen (Kiss Me Kate (1953), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954), My Sister Eileen (1955)), he performed in a variety of character roles in films. He then returned to the American Ballet Theater. He appeared on Broadway in "Miss Liberty" (1949) and "Milk and Honey" (1960), as well as in several less successful shows. He died at age 90 in 2020.
- IMDb mini biography by: Carole Shmurak <cshmurak@comcast.net>
- SpousesKarel J. Shimoff(February 15, 1967 - October 6, 2020) (his death)Monte Amundsen(October 1958 - ?) (divorced)
- ChildrenNo Children
- ParentsEdward Melvin RallMargaret Elizabeth Patterson
- Had a crossed eye as a child and relied on the advice of a doctor who suggested visual exercises. Since Tommy couldn't read very well, his mother decided on dance lessons to correct it, which relies heavily on spotting and focusing.
- Made a cameo in Funny Girl (1968) as Barbra Streisand's exasperated ballet partner in the "Swan Lake" spoof.
- Studied tap dancing, acrobatic dance, and ballet from an early age.
- Tommy played Lucentio in the musical film Kiss Me Kate (1953) opposite Ann Miller's Bianca. The Cole Porter song and dance number, From This Moment On, was not in the original Broadway show but was added to the movie to highlight the incredible dancing skills of not only Rall and Miller, but Bobby Van, Bob Fosse, Jeanne Coyne, and Carol Haney. It remains one of MGM's most thrilling dance sequences.
- Later worked in the Trust Department in a bank and also took commissions as a painter.
- I think you have to love music and dance because this business is so difficult. If you don't love the art and just want to be a star then I think you're a dead duck. I don't think you could stand it otherwise.
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