Post by North Dakota Film Society

Born in Brooklyn, but raised in Miami, Herbert Ross dropped out of high school to study dance in New York. As a choreographer, Ross spent much of his early career performing on and choreographing for Broadway, including a stint as a choreographer with the American Ballet Theatre. Choreography soon introduced Ross to TV and film, with work including films like 1954's "Carmen Jones," 1966's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?," and 1968's "Funny Girl." Ross enjoyed a storied directing career. 1975's "The Sunshine Boys," 1977's "The Goodbye Girl," and 1978's "California Suite" are some of his most memorable collaborations with Neil Simon. 1977's "The Turning Point" brought his two loves, dance and film, together. The drama focuses on the world of ballet in New York City and features a cast that includes Shirley MacLaine, Anne Bancroft, and dancing great, Mikhail Baryshnikov. The film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. In the 1980s, Ross was married to Lee Radziwiłł, the younger sister of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and directed box office hits like 1984's "Footloose" and 1989's "Steel Magnolias." His final film was the 1995 drama "Boys on the Side." Born on May 13, 1927, Herbert Ross would have turned 93 today.