Biography

A Tony-winning choreographer who also created the role of Bobby in the original production of "A Chorus Line," Thommie was a dance-maker. Best known for his collaborations with Tommy Tune, the lanky performer, choreographer and director who was among Broadway's leading figures in the 1980's. He received his two Tony Awards for choreography for collaborating with Mr. Tune in 1980 on "A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine" and in 1983 on "My One and Only."

Thommie also shared a Tony nomination with Mr. Tune for directing "My One and Only" and received a Tony nomination for the choreography of "Nine."

Born on March 15, 1950, he was taking dancing classes by the age of 5 at the Irma Baker School of Dance in upstate New York. By 1973, he was dancing on Broadway as a member of the chorus, under the name Thomas J. Walsh, in "Seesaw," directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett.

After appearing in one of the more notorious flops of the 1970s, "Rachael Lily Rosenbloom and Don't You Ever Forget It," which closed before it opened on Broadway, Mr. Walsh won the role of Bobby in "A Chorus Line," the landmark musical directed and choreographed by Mr. Bennett, about the lives and loves of the gypsy dancers of Broadway.

Mr. Walsh's other Broadway credits were for musical staging on the shows "The 1940s Radio Hour" (1979), "Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?" (1982) and "My Favorite Year" (1993).

Mr. Walsh also directed the Off Broadway musical "Lucky Stiff" and provided staging and choreography for nightclub acts and solo spots for performers including Donna McKechnie and Priscilla Lopez as well as for Chita Rivera, Sandy Duncan and Barbara Cook. He also worked on regional theater productions and in 2001 directed and choreographed the national tour of "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," starring Ann-Margret and Gary Sandy.
- IMDb mini biography by: Frank Durant

Twice won Broadway's Tony Award as Best Choreographer with collaborator Tommy Tune: in 1980 for "A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine;" and in 1983 for "My One and Only." The two collaborators were also nominated together for the latter show as Best Director (Musical).

In later years, Thommie worked as a real estate agent in Manhattan, where he lived.

Helped set the record straight about the gestation of the show as a co-author, with Baayork Lee (a fellow original cast member) and the journalist Robert Viagas, of a book about the musical called "On the Line: The Creation of 'A Chorus Line,' " published by William Morrow in 1990.

"A Chorus Line" was his last Broadway appearance as a performer. He left the company after two years and embarked upon a career as a record promoter while also beginning to choreograph.