Nick Vanoff
Nick Vanoff | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 25, 1929 Greece |
| Died | March 20, 1991 (aged 61) Los Angeles, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Dancer, producer, philanthropist |
| Spouse | Felisa Vanoff |
| Children | 2 |
Nick Vanoff (October 25, 1929 – March 20, 1991) was a dancer, producer and philanthropist.
Early life
Vanoff was born in the village of Banitsa, Greece.[1][2] He grew up in Buffalo, New York.[1] He served in the United States Marine Corps,[1] and, shortly after, studied directing with Theodore Komisarjevsky in New York City.[1]
Career
Vanoff started his career as a dancer in Charles Weidman's Dance Theatre. Later, he was a lead dancer for the New York City Opera.[1][2][3] He was also a dance in the Kiss Me, Kate Broadway musical.[1][2]
Vanoff was a cue card holder on The Perry Como Show and later became its associate producer.[1][2] Together with William O. Harbach, he co-produced The Tonight Show, when Steve Allen was the host.[1][2] Additionally, he created and produced the Kennedy Center Honors.[3] In the 1960s, he produced more than ten hours of television every week, including shows with Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, Don Knotts, Milton Berle and Sonny and Cher.[1][2] A few decades later, in 1985, he produced the film Eleni.[1][2]
Vanoff won a Tony Award for Best Musical in 1990 for his production of the City of Angels musical on Broadway.[1][2] Additionally, he won five Emmy Awards as a producer for: The Julie Andrews Hour in 1973, The Kennedy Center Honors in 1984, 1987 and 1989, and Julie Andrews's special, The Sound of Christmas, in 1988.[1][2] In 1990, he was named Showman of the Year by the Publicists Guild of America (which later merged into the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees).[1][2]
Vanoff was a founding director of the Foundation for the Joffrey Ballet.[1][2] He also sat on the Board of Directors of the Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles.[2]
Personal life
Vanoff was married to Felisa Vanoff (1925-2014).[2][3] They had two sons, Nicholas and Flavio.[1][2][3] They resided in Beverly Hills, California.[3]
Death
Vanoff died of cardiac arrest at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.[1][2][4] He was sixty-one.[1] His funeral was held at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, California.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Eleanor Blau, Nick Vanoff, 61, Former Dancer Who Became Successful Producer, The New York Times, March 22, 1991
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Myrna Oliver, Nick Vanoff, 61; Producer Won Tony, Five Emmys, The Los Angeles Times, March 22, 1991
- ^ a b c d e Felisa Vanoff, Former Dancer and Choreographer, Dies at 89, The Hollywood Reporter, 6/9/2014
- ^ imdb biography
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- 1929 births
- 1991 deaths
- Greek emigrants to the United States
- People from Beverly Hills, California
- United States Marines
- American male dancers
- American theatre managers and producers
- Philanthropists from New York (state)
- Tony Award winners
- Emmy Award winners
- American people of Bulgarian descent
- 20th-century American businesspeople
- 20th-century American dancers
- 20th-century philanthropists
- People from Meliti (municipal unit)