Tommy Tune

In the title role of Doctor Dolittle at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in Houston, Texas. [January 2006]

His dream of playing Las Vegas finally came true in 1999 when he debuted as the star of EFX at the MGM Grand Hotel.

His autobiography, Footnotes (1997), details his personal relationships with stage manager David Wolfe, who died of AIDS in 1994, and actor/costumer Michel Stuart (1943-1997), with whom Tune lived for seven years.

In 1991, he was inducted by Gwen Verdon into the Theatre Hall of Fame in Broadway's Gershwin Theatre, and three years later was honored with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Recipient of eight Drama Desk Awards, two Obie Awards, Dance Magazine's Award for Lifetime Achievement; the 1990 American Dance Award (presented by the National Academy of Dance); the 1990 Drama League Musical Theatre Award for Direction and Choreography; the Astaire Award in both 1990 and 1991; the George Abbott Award for Lifetime Achievement, the University of Texas' Distinguished Alumnus Award; and the Jean Cocteau International Style Award. He was also named to the Top 10 International Best Dressed List of 1992.

Has won nine Tony Awards: in 1974, as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Musical), for Seesaw;" in 1980, as Best Choreographer (with collaborator Thommie Walsh) for "A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine;" in 1982, as Best Director (Musical) for "Nine;" in 1983, as Best Actor (Musical) and Best Choreographer (also shared with Walsh) for "My One and Only;" in 1990, as Best Director (Musical) and Best Choreographer, for "Grand Hotel, The Musical;" and in 1991 as Best Director (Musical) and Best Choreographer for "The Will Rogers Follies." He was also nominated five other times, for a total of 14 nominations: in 1979, as Best Director (Musical), shared with Peter Masterson, and Best Choreographer for "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas;" in 1980, as Best Director (Musical) for "A Day in Holywood/A Night in the Ukraine;" in 1982, as Best Choreographer for "Nine;"and in 1983, as Best Director (Musical), again shared with Walsh, for "My One and Only." His additional record of winning four Tonys in four different categories has recently been tied by Harvey Fierstein.

Once worked as assistant choreographer on TV's The Dean Martin Show (1965).

Despite the fact that he and Sandy Duncan had worked so well together on stage in "My One and Only," they failed to get a theatre adaptation of the Judy Garland and Fred Astaire film classic Easter Parade (1948) off the ground in the late 1990's. This was primarily because Irving Berlin's daughters (who control his estate) were unhappy with workshop productions.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Live Theatre at 1777 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.