Born in New York, USA. An amateur dancer from age nine, he began appearing as a professional in vaudeville at 15 and later became one of Broadway's leading dance directors, working on major musicals, including several Al Jolson productions. He went to Hollywood during the switch to sound and choreographed a number of lively musicals through the early 50s, including KID MILLIONS (1934), THE GIRL FRIEND (1935), THE GREAT ZIEGFELD and AFTER THE THIN MAN (both 1936), ON THE AVENUE and VOGUES OF 1938 (both 1938), EVERYBODY SING and ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND (both 1938), BROADWAY SERENADE and ROSE OF WASHINGTON SQUARE (both 1939), LILLIAN RUSSELL and TIN PAN ALLEY (both 1940), NAVY BLUES (1941), YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (co-choreographer, 1942), DIXIE (1943), COVER GIRL, ATLANTIC CITY and GREENWICH VILLAGE (all 1944), THE DOLLY SISTERS (1945), DO YOU LOVE ME and THREE LITTLE GIRLS IN BLUE (both 1946), MOTHER WORE TIGHTS (1947), GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADWAY and WHEN MY BABY SMILES AT ME (both 1948), OH, YOU BEAUTIFUL DOLL and DANCING IN THE DARK (both 1949), MY BLUE HEAVEN (1950 - "Island" routine), GOLDEN GIRL (1951) and THE I DON'T CARE GIRL and DOWN AMONG THE SHELTERING PALMS (both 1953). He also directed two low-budget films: GIRLS DEMAND EXCITEMENT (1931) and STEPPING SISTERS (1932).  Dance Direction 1936: "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody" from THE GREAT ZIEGFELD 1 nomination, 1 Award