Roland Dupree obit

Roland Dupree

September 20, 1925 — June 21, 2015

 He was not on the list.

ROLAND DUPREE, DANCER, ACTOR, CHOREOGRAPHER, AND DISNEY”S “PETER PAN,” DIES AT 89. 

Roland Dupree, the dancer, choreographer, actor, dance educator, and Live-Action Model for Disney’s animated Peter Pan, who was widely known for innovating a style of dance known as “West Coast Jazz,” and for his influential West Hollywood dance studio, Dupree Dance Academy, which for over two decades trained many of todays prominent choreographers and high profile dancers, actors, and other performers, passed away of natural causes after a brief illness on Sunday, June 21st, 2015, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was 89 years old.

Roland is survived by Judy Larson, his adopted sister, Cory Lindquist, his nephew, Joy Holland Cesca, his niece, and Bob Cesca, his nephew-in-law, and by many beloved close friends in L.A., as well as in New Mexico, and Hawaii, where he spent his retirement years and created a new life of social outreach and senior service. In New Mexico, Roland spent several years organizing, choreographing, and performing for seniors in retirement, care, and hospital facilities with his Albuquerque dance troop, the Sophisticated Ladies. In Kona, Hawaii, where he lived the last several years of his life, Roland stayed active in many clubs and social circles, including an orchid club and The Kailua Kona Senior club, which also performed dance on occasion. Roland inspired intense loyalty and friendships wherever he lived or worked, and was a dependable friend, elegant host, and fun-loving person. Roland’s sense of humor was witty and dry, and could be counted on for a laugh or smile anytime a loved one, or even a stranger needed one. Described by most who knew him as a “class act,” Roland built a large network of students, colleagues and friends who loved him intensely and credited his support and friendship for many landmark careers and achievements. Roland truly loved his adopted hometown and lived a very happy, independent life with his treasured dogs, Molly and Tiger all the way up to his passing.

Roland Dupree, an only child, was born, Roland Furtado on September 20, 1925 to father, Antone Furtado of Portuguese descent, and Mother Theresa Dupuis, of French Canadian descent in Fall River, Massachusetts, by a midwife. Roland’s first language was actually French, but he learned English and became an all-American talent and the family bread-winner at a very young age. After taking dance classes in his small town, and starting to stand out in local performances and venues, his family picked up and moved to Hollywood. There he quickly became a part of the “studio system” and was given contracts (and a new stage name, to sound like his mother’s maiden name) with Universal Studios and MGM.

Turner Classic Movies enthusiasts and dance fans will remember Roland for his roles in dozens of Hollywood feature films credited variously as actor, dancer, choreographer and assistant director.

Starring in roles opposite Shirley Temple, or standing out in featured roles in films with Jimmy Stewart, Donald O’Connor, Ann Miller, Dorothy Lamour, Bing Crosby and many others, Roland built a reputation as a professional with rare talent, particularly in tap dance. Roland was known by industry colleagues as a “dancer’s dancer,” with delicate, lightening fast, and rich-sounding taps which were on many occasions used as “stunt taps” in film audio for higher profile actors and dancers with less impressive tap technique.

Always innovating in style, and dance education and choreography, Roland became a teacher and choreographer for many other dancers themselves known for their outstanding technique, including dancer Juliette Prowse, ice skater and dancer Peggy Fleming, and 80’s dance-craze Flashdance dance double, Marine Jahan. Roland’s passion for teaching and choreography led him to develop a technique-driven national dance convention, Dupree Dance Expo (Now “Dupree Dance” http://www.dupreedance.com/), and brought him to a long and fruitful career of choreography and direction for television, stage, and screen. Some of his favorite choreography projects included the Rosemary Clooney Show, and staging his own trio for his Vegas stage show, The Dupree Trio. His greatest joy was teaching, however, and he maintained a sprightly and lively approach to his craft well into his 80’s. As the Live Action Model for Disney’s animated feature, Peter Pan, Roland found a role that he would be compared to over and over in his life: he was perpetually young at heart and never lost his wonder for life. He will be deeply missed.

His students included actresses Juliet Prowse, Barbara Eden, Lesley Ann Warren, Olympic figure-skating champion Peggy Fleming and Marine Jahan, who doubled for Jennifer Beals in Flashdance (1983).

Services will be held for Roland at the Daniels Family Funeral Home, Sara Road Chapel, 4310 Sara Road SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124, July 4th , 2015, at 11:00am celebrating his life and a truly iconic American Classic and true gentleman.

 

Actor

M.U.G.E.N (1999)

M.U.G.E.N

7.4

Video Game

1999

 

Dolly Parton in Dolly (1987)

Dolly

7.3

TV Series

Mr. Dupree

1988

1 episode

 

Mel Blanc, June Foray, Kathryn Beaumont, Tony Butala, Paul Collins, Hans Conried, Bobby Driscoll, Robert Ellis, Connie Hilton, Margaret Kerry, Tommy Luske, John Wilder, Jeffrey Silver, Stuffy Singer, and Anne Whitfield in Peter Pan (1953)

Peter Pan

7.3

(voice)

1953

 

Let There Be Stars

TV Series

1949

1 episode

 

Leon Errol, Eddie Gribbon, Marcel Journet, Joe Kirkwood Jr., Elyse Knox, and Sheila Ryan in Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch (1949)

Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch

5.8

Bellboy

1949

 

Benny Bartlett, William 'Billy' Benedict, Frankie Darro, Gabriel Dell, Evelyn Eaton, Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, and Lyle Talbot in Fighting Fools (1949)

Fighting Fools

6.4

Young Man in Sweetshop (uncredited)

1949

 

Elizabeth Taylor, Greer Garson, Peter Lawford, and Walter Pidgeon in Julia Misbehaves (1948)

Julia Misbehaves

6.8

French Messenger (uncredited)

1948

 

William Bendix and Claire Trevor in The Babe Ruth Story (1948)

The Babe Ruth Story

5.2

Newsboy (uncredited)

1948

 

Charles Arnt, Hillary Brooke, Stanley Clements, and Phillip Reed in Big Town Scandal (1948)

Big Town Scandal

5.4

John 'Pinky' Jones (as Roland de Pree)

1948

 

John Carroll, Robert Paige, and Vera Ralston in The Flame (1947)

The Flame

6.5

Bellboy (uncredited)

1947

 

Brian Donlevy, James Brown, Bill Edwards, Diana Lynn, and Gail Russell in Our Hearts Were Growing Up (1946)

Our Hearts Were Growing Up

6.8

Freshman (uncredited)

1946

 

The Sailor Takes a Wife (1945)

The Sailor Takes a Wife

6.0

Delivery Boy (uncredited)

1945

 

Boogie Woogie (1945)

Boogie Woogie

8.4

Short

1945

 

James Brown, Bill Edwards, Diana Lynn, and Gail Russell in Our Hearts Were Young and Gay (1944)

Our Hearts Were Young and Gay

6.7

Boy at Dance (uncredited)

1944

 

John Hodiak and Ann Sothern in Maisie Goes to Reno (1944)

Maisie Goes to Reno

6.1

Jerry

1944

 

Johnny Johnston and Betty Jane Rhodes in You Can't Ration Love (1944)

You Can't Ration Love

6.9

Pickles

1944

 

Betty Hutton, Mimi Chandler, Dorothy Lamour, Diana Lynn, and Fred MacMurray in And the Angels Sing (1944)

And the Angels Sing

6.2

Boy (uncredited)

1944

 

Pat O'Brien and Ruth Warrick in The Iron Major (1943)

The Iron Major

5.7

Boy (uncredited)

1943

 

Laverne Andrews, Maxene Andrews, Patty Andrews, Patric Knowles, Grace McDonald, and The Andrews Sisters in Always a Bridesmaid (1943)

Always a Bridesmaid

6.6

Member of The Jivin' Jacks and Jills (uncredited)

1943

 

Gloria Jean, Elyse Knox, Donald O'Connor, Robert Paige, and Peggy Ryan in Mister Big (1943)

Mister Big

7.9

'Jivin' Jacks and Jills' Member (uncredited)

1943

 

William Powell, Robert Taylor, Lana Turner, Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, and Virginia Weidler in The Youngest Profession (1943)

The Youngest Profession

6.0

Mail Room Boy with Fan Mail for Lana Turner (uncredited)

1943

 

Gloria Jean and Donald O'Connor in It Comes Up Love (1943)

It Comes Up Love

6.8

Breckinridge (uncredited)

1943

 

Carol Bruce, William Demarest, Dick Foran, Grace McDonald, Al Ritz, Harry Ritz, Jimmy Ritz, and The Ritz Brothers in Behind the Eight Ball (1942)

Behind the Eight Ball

5.8

Dancer (uncredited)

1942

 

Zedra Conde, Jane Frazee, and Allan Jones in Moonlight in Havana (1942)

Moonlight in Havana

5.1

A Jivin' Jack (uncredited)

1942

 

Give Out, Sisters (1942)

Give Out, Sisters

6.9

Member of the Jivin' Jacks and Jills

1942

 

Shirley Temple and Dickie Moore in Miss Annie Rooney (1942)

Miss Annie Rooney

6.2

Joey (as Roland Du Pree)

1942

 

Eddie Acuff, Laverne Andrews, Maxene Andrews, Patty Andrews, Dick Foran, Jennifer Holt, Harry James, Joe E. Lewis, The Jivin' Jacks and Jills, and The Andrews Sisters in Private Buckaroo (1942)

Private Buckaroo

5.9

Member of the Jivin' Jacks and Jills (uncredited)

1942

 

Jane Frazee, Robert Paige, and The Andrews Sisters in What's Cookin' (1942)

What's Cookin'

6.9

Member, The Jivin' Jacks and Jills (uncredited)

1942

 

Grace Hayes, Peter Lind Hayes, and Mary Healy in Zis Boom Bah (1941)

Zis Boom Bah

4.7

Pee Wee

1941

 

Bing Crosby in The Star Maker (1939)

The Star Maker

6.3

Frenchy (uncredited)

1939

 

James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore, and Edward Arnold in You Can't Take It with You (1938)

You Can't Take It with You

7.8

Child Dancer (uncredited)

1938

 

Additional Crew

Dean Martin Presents: The Bobby Darin Amusement Co. (1972)

Dean Martin Presents: The Bobby Darin Amusement Co.

TV Series

choreographer

1972

1 episode

 

Michael Callan, James Darren, and Deborah Walley in Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961)

Gidget Goes Hawaiian

5.7

choreographer

1961

 

Bob Hope in The Bob Hope Show (1950)

The Bob Hope Show

7.4

TV Series

choreographer

1961

1 episode

 

Elvis Presley in G.I. Blues (1960)

G.I. Blues

6.2

assistant stage director (uncredited)

1960

 

Hell to Eternity (1960)

Hell to Eternity

6.9

dance sequences staged by: Miss Owens' and Miss Sato's

1960

 

The Lux Show (1957)

The Lux Show

8.4

TV Series

choreographer

1958

1 episode

 

Panama Sal (1957)

Panama Sal

7.5

choreographer

1957

 

Mel Blanc, June Foray, Kathryn Beaumont, Tony Butala, Paul Collins, Hans Conried, Bobby Driscoll, Robert Ellis, Connie Hilton, Margaret Kerry, Tommy Luske, John Wilder, Jeffrey Silver, Stuffy Singer, and Anne Whitfield in Peter Pan (1953)

Peter Pan

7.3

live action model: Peter Pan (uncredited)

1953

 

Soundtrack

Grace Hayes, Peter Lind Hayes, and Mary Healy in Zis Boom Bah (1941)

Zis Boom Bah

4.7

performer: "Zis Boom Bah" (uncredited)

1941