Robert Banas obit

Bobby Banas, Dancer in 'West Side Story' & Viral 'Nitty Gritty' Video, Dies at 90

 

He was not on the list.

Legendary movie and TV dancer Bobby Banas died July 29 at 90, according to an announcement from his son on Instagram.

"Today was the day that Bobby Banas chose to sore up into the infinite light of the heavens above. A son, brother, father, grandfather and a true legend of stage & screen. You played with the best of them," it read. "You touched and taught so many, gave of your talents and generosity always with a laugh and funny sense of humor. Thanks for being the best pop a kid could ask for. I will love you forever and ever... I know the dance party up above is going to be amazing!!!"

Banas had enjoyed renewed celebrity 11 years ago when a long-forgotten 1964 clip from "The Judy Garland Show" circulated on social media, racking up tens of millions of views. In it, Peter Lawford, Martha Raye and Garland make way for a troupe to interpret the dance called "the Nitty Gritty," with Banas giving the supecharged performance of a lifetime. Watch it here.

Born September 22, 1933, in NYC, Banas began dancing as a child. In 1942, he took ballroom dancing lessons, eventually partnering with child star Natalie Wood in the Michael Panaieff Children's Ballet Company.

Banas worked steadily as a hoofer, appearing in a breathtaking array of pop-iconic films and TV shows, including dancing with live accompaniment from Bill Hailey and His Comets in "Don't Knock the Rock" (1956); "Carousel" (1956); "The Girl Most Likely" (1958) with Jane Powell; "L'il Abner" (1959); "Babes in Toyland" (1961); both "Bye Bye Birdie" (1963) and "Made in Paris" (1966) with Ann-Margret; "The Unsinkable Bobby Brown" (1964) with Debbie Reynolds; "Mary Poppins" (1964) as a chimney sweep in the rooftop scene with Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews; "Billie" (1965) with Patty Duke; the Elvis flick "Girl Happy" (1965); and serving beatnik dance moves to "the Leopard" on a 1966 episode of "Get Smart" opposite Geraldine Brooks.

Along with his "Judy Garland Show" number — which made him a meme at 80 — he is perhaps best remembered as Joyboy in "West Side Story" (1959) and as a lucky guy who receives a big kiss from Marilyn Monroe in the 1960 film "Let's Make Love."

Banas proudly displayed a signed head shot from Monroe on his Instagram that is now likely worth many thousands of dollars.

His later credits were sporadic, including acting in TV movies and on the series "Cagney & Lacey" (1982). His last credit was for "Odd Jobs" in 1986, after which he continued to work as a dance coach and choreographer in L.A.

Banas was divorced since the '60s. He is survived by his son.

 

Additional Crew

West Side Memories

7.7

Video

behind the scenes footage (as Bob Banas)

2003

 

Kirk Cameron in The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1995)

The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes

5.0

TV Movie

dance coach

1995

 

Richard Dreyfuss, John Goodman, and Holly Hunter in Always (1989)

Always

6.4

choreographer (as Bob Banas)

1989

 

Robyn Lively in Teen Witch (1989)

Teen Witch

6.0

choreographer (as Bob Banas)

1989

 

Keith Coogan, Steve Monarque, Richard Joseph Paul, Danielle von Zerneck, and Roxana Zal in Under the Boardwalk (1988)

Under the Boardwalk

5.4

choreographer

1988

 

Richard Dreyfuss, Bette Midler, and Nick Nolte in Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986)

Down and Out in Beverly Hills

6.2

choreographer (as Bob Banas)

1986

 

James Spader, Kim Richards, and Paul Mones in Tuff Turf (1985)

Tuff Turf

6.0

choreographer (as Bob Banas)

1985

 

Susan Clark, Alex Karras, and Emmanuel Lewis in Webster (1983)

Webster

5.8

TV Series

choreographer

1983

1 episode

 

Heart Like a Wheel (1983)

Heart Like a Wheel

6.7

choreographer (as Bob Banas)

1983

 

Robin Williams and Pam Dawber in Mork & Mindy (1978)

Mork & Mindy

7.1

TV Series

choreographer

1981–1982

3 episodes

 

The Day the Bubble Burst (1982)

The Day the Bubble Burst

7.2

TV Movie

choreographer

1982

 

Greg Bradford and Katherine Kelly Lang in Skatetown U.S.A. (1979)

Skatetown U.S.A.

4.9

choreographer (as Bob Banas)

1979

 

Corey Feldman, Shane Butterworth, Tricia Cast, Billy Jayne, Sparky Marcus, Meeno Peluce, and Kristoff St. John in The Bad News Bears (1979)

The Bad News Bears

6.8

TV Series

choreographer (as Bob Banas)

1979

1 episode

 

Buddy Ebsen in Barnaby Jones (1973)

Barnaby Jones

6.9

TV Series

choreographer (uncredited)

1978

1 episode

 

Lindsay Wagner in Lindsay Wagner: Another Side of Me (1977)

Lindsay Wagner: Another Side of Me

8.1

TV Special

choreographer

1977

 

Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years (1977)

Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years

7.9

TV Movie

dance sequences staged by (as Bob Banas)

1977

 

James Drury, Doug McClure, and John McIntire in The Virginian (1962)

The Virginian

7.6

TV Series

choreographer

1969

1 episode

 

The Jonathan Winters Show (1967)

The Jonathan Winters Show

8.2

TV Series

choreography

1967–1968

6 episodes

 

Malibu U. (1967)

Malibu U.

8.1

TV Series

choreographer (as Bob Banas)

1967

 

Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music Part II (1966)

Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music Part II

8.3

TV Special

choreographer

1966

 

The Kraft Summer Music Hall (1966)

The Kraft Summer Music Hall

TV Series

choreographer

1966

12 episodes

 

Shivaree (1965)

Shivaree

8.7

TV Series

choreographer

choreography

1965–1966

9 episodes

 

Judy Garland and Peggy Lee in The Judy Garland Show (1963)

The Judy Garland Show

8.9

TV Series

choreographer

1964

1 episode

 

The Skydivers (1963)

The Skydivers

1.9

choreographer (as Bob Banas)

1963

 

Let's Make Love (1960)

Let's Make Love

6.4

dancer (uncredited)

1960

 

Actor

Paul Reiser, Scott McGinnis, Rick Overton, Paul Provenza, and Robert Townsend in Odd Jobs (1986)

Odd Jobs

4.5

Choreographer (as Bob Banas)

1986

 

My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn (1985)

My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn

6.4

TV Movie

Russian Choreographer (uncredited)

1985

 

Tyne Daly and Sharon Gless in Cagney & Lacey (1981)

Cagney & Lacey

6.8

TV Series

(as Bob Banas)

1982

1 episode

 

Buddy Hackett and Harvey Korman in Bud and Lou (1978)

Bud and Lou

5.5

TV Movie

Dance Director (as Bob Banas)

1978

 

Don Adams and Barbara Feldon in Get Smart (1965)

Get Smart

8.2

TV Series

Little Joe (as Bob Banas)

1966

1 episode

 

Ann-Margret in Made in Paris (1966)

Made in Paris

5.4

Dance Partner (uncredited)

1966

 

Patty Duke in Billie (1965)

Billie

5.7

Dancer (uncredited)

1965

 

Elvis Presley and Shelley Fabares in Girl Happy (1965)

Girl Happy

6.3

Dancer (uncredited)

1965

 

The Nut House!! (1964)

The Nut House!!

7.3

TV Movie

Nureyev (uncredited)

1964

 

Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins (1964)

Mary Poppins

7.8

Chimney Sweep (uncredited)

1964

 

The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964)

The Unsinkable Molly Brown

6.6

Dancer (uncredited)

1964

 

Ann-Margret, Janet Leigh, Dick Van Dyke, Jesse Pearson, and Bobby Rydell in Bye Bye Birdie (1963)

Bye Bye Birdie

6.6

Teenager (uncredited)

1963

 

How the West Was Won (1962)

How the West Was Won

7.1

Dance Hall Dancer (uncredited)

1962

 

Chubby Checker in Don't Knock the Twist (1962)

Don't Knock the Twist

5.2

Dancer (uncredited)

1962

 

Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke in The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961)

The Dick Van Dyke Show

8.4

TV Series

Twizzle Dancer (uncredited)

1962

1 episode

 

Chubby Checker, Clay Cole, Dion DiMucci, Vicki Spencer, and The Marcels in Twist Around the Clock (1961)

Twist Around the Clock

4.9

Dancer (uncredited)

1961

 

Ray Bolger, Annette Funicello, Tommy Sands, and Ed Wynn in Babes in Toyland (1961)

Babes in Toyland

6.1

Russian Dancer (uncredited)

1961

 

"West Side Story" (Saul Bass Poster) 1961

West Side Story

7.6

Joyboy

1961

 

Let's Make Love (1960)

Let's Make Love

6.4

Chorus Boy (uncredited)

1960

 

Angela Cartwright, Rusty Hamer, Sherry Jackson, Marjorie Lord, and Danny Thomas in The Danny Thomas Show (1953)

The Danny Thomas Show

7.1

TV Series

David (as Bob Banas)

1960

1 episode

 

Li'l Abner (1959)

Li'l Abner

6.7

Town Sharpie (uncredited)

1959

 

Bing Crosby, Debbie Reynolds, and Robert Wagner in Say One for Me (1959)

Say One for Me

5.5

Altar Boy (uncredited)

1959

 

Virginia Aldridge, Scott Marlowe, and Dorothy Provine in Riot in Juvenile Prison (1959)

Riot in Juvenile Prison

4.9

Inmate (uncredited)

1959

 

Jack Jones and Jo Morrow in Juke Box Rhythm (1959)

Juke Box Rhythm

5.3

Dancer (uncredited)

1959

 

Paul Newman, Joan Collins, Jack Carson, and Joanne Woodward in Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys! (1958)

Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!

5.9

Delinquent (uncredited)

1958

 

Tab Hunter and Gwen Verdon in Damn Yankees (1958)

Damn Yankees

7.0

Baseball Player (uncredited)

1958

 

Shirley Temple in Shirley Temple's Storybook (1958)

Shirley Temple's Storybook

7.4

TV Series

Brother (as Bob Banas)

1958

1 episode

 

Daddy-O (1958)

Daddy-O

2.8

Sonny DiMarco (as Bob Banas)

1958

 

Annie Get Your Gun (1957)

Annie Get Your Gun

7.5

TV Movie

Indian dancer

1957

 

Jane Powell, Keith Andes, Tommy Noonan, and Cliff Robertson in The Girl Most Likely (1957)

The Girl Most Likely

5.9

Dancer (uncredited)

1957

 

Calypso Heat Wave (1957)

Calypso Heat Wave

5.7

Calypso Dancer (uncredited)

1957

 

Mamie Van Doren in Untamed Youth (1957)

Untamed Youth

4.2

Work Farm Inmate (uncredited)

1957

 

Little Richard, Bill Haley, Dave Appell, Alan Dale, Alan Freed, Bill Haley and the Comets, The Treniers, and Applejacks in Don't Knock the Rock (1956)

Don't Knock the Rock

5.7

Dancer (uncredited)

1956

 

Ernest Borgnine, Dan Dailey, Gordon MacRae, and Sheree North in The Best Things in Life Are Free (1956)

The Best Things in Life Are Free

6.0

Newsboy (uncredited)

1956

 

Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner in The King and I (1956)

The King and I

7.4

Keeper of the Dogs - in Play (uncredited)

1956

 

Rock Around the Clock (1956)

Rock Around the Clock

6.1

Dancer (uncredited)

1956

 

Carousel (1956)

Carousel

6.6

Ruffian in Louise's Ballet (uncredited)

1956

 

Producers' Showcase (1954)

Producers' Showcase

7.3

TV Series

Indian

1955–1956

2 episodes

 

Rock Hudson, Piper Laurie, and Charles Coburn in Has Anybody Seen My Gal (1952)

Has Anybody Seen My Gal

7.1

Charleston Dancer (uncredited)

1952

 

Producer

Swingin' Country

TV Series

associate producer (uncredited)

1966

5 episodes