David Warren Gibson

David Warren Gibson
Born	David Warren Gibson December 31 Royal Oak, Michigan, United States
Occupation(s)	Actor, dancer, choreographer, director and fine artist
Years active	1978–present
Spouse(s)	Bettina Spier (m. 1989–1994; divorced)
Parent(s)	Samuel Warren Gibson Sonja Würfel

David Warren Gibson is an American actor, dancer, choreographer, director, and fine artist. He has been performing professionally on Broadway, in films, television and other performances since 1978. He is also a world-known fine artist.

Early life

David Warren Gibson was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, the son of German-born Sonja Würfel, a ballerina from Leipzig, and Samuel Warren Gibson, an American diplomat for the U.S. Embassy in Berlin and the Hague. He has one brother, Stephan, who is an airline captain. His family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota when he was 3 years old. David attended Westwood Jr. High School and studied art at the Minneapolis Art Institute. He had his first solo show of paintings when he was 13 at the Theater in the Round. At the same time, he started work at the Eleanor Moore Agency as a model for print ads. His family then moved to Dallas, Texas, where he attended Richardson High School. David acted in school plays and continued painting. He also studied dance in the evenings at S.M.U. After graduating from High School, his family moved to Houston, Texas, where David attended the University of St. Thomas and the University of Houston. He was also signed with a local male modeling agency doing print ads and runway work for fashion shows. The Wilhelmina Modeling Agency invited him to come to N.Y. city to sign with them. David took the opportunity and moved to N.Y. where he studied acting with Susan Batson from the Actors Studio, dance at the Joffrey Ballet School (New York City), and attended the Otis-Parsons School of Design.

Performing career

David's first audition as a dancer was in N.Y. for Bob Fosse (1978) who cast him in the Broadway show Dancin' , in which he performed for 17 months. He then performed with the Contemporary Ballet Company (1980) for one season at City Center, N.Y. Additional Broadway credits include Dreamgirls (1981), Sweet Charity (as Charley Dark Glasses) (1986), and Chicago (as Aaron)(1996–2003). David traveled with Liza Minnelli in the production By Myself (1983) where he sang and danced in a two-man act directed by Fred Ebb. This show traveled throughout the U.S. and also appeared at the Apollo in London. Off-Broadway, David played Starbuck in The Rainmaker (1982) and Edmund in Long Day's Journey into Night (1982). He toured in Busker Alley (1994) as a cover to Tommy Tune.

He has played small roles, usually uncredited, in several movies. Films include The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas credited as "Aggie" (member of Aggie choir) (1982), Annie (uncredited)(1982), The Last Dragon" (uncredited) (1985), A Chorus Line (uncredited dancer) (1985), Postcards from the Edge" (uncredited)(1990), Havana (Sailor) (1990), In Search of Dr Seuss (turtle choir member) (1994), and Bugsy (uncredited) (1991).

Television specials include Julie Andrews' Invitation to the Dance in which he performed with Ann Reinking (1980), and with Diana Ross in her legendary concert in Central Park. (1983). He has performed numerous times on the Tony, Emmy, and Academy Awards shows as well as for Broadway on Broadway, in Times Square, and at The Kennedy Center Honors, performing with Bebe Neuwirth and Chita Rivera.

In 2006, David ran rehearsals on the L.A. Opera Manon under the music direction of Plácido Domingo, with Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon.

In 2011, David was associate director and choreographer for Fifty*Four*Forever with director Tommy Tune at the University of Miami.

Since 2006, he has worked with Ann Marie DeAngelo on the annual Career Transition for Dancers Gala at New York City Center and since 2009 has been associate director for the Gala.

Fine artist

David Warren Gibson had his first solo show of paintings at age 13 at the Theater in the Round in Minneapolis. His paintings have been purchased by art collectors around the world. A book of Gibson's most recent work was published by Left Coast Galleries in 2009.

Personal life

David now lives between Los Angeles, Houston, and New York City. David was married to Bettina Spier, daughter of German theater director Wolfgang Spier from 1989 to 1994.