Tony Winning Choreographer Donald Saddler Dies at 94

Tony Award winning choreographer Donald Saddler passed away at The Actors Home in New Jersey on Sunday, Nov. 2, BroadwayWorld has confirmed. He was 94.

Saddler began his career in 1937. He was a founding member of the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) and a contemporary of Duke Ellington who eventually became the mentor of Duke's granddaughter, Mercedes.

Saddler is a Tony Award-winner for the original production of Wonderful Town, the 1971 revival of No, No Nanette, and a Tony Award-nominee for On Your Toes and 'Much Ado About Nothing.

Saddler's other Broadway credits include the 1993 revival of My Fair Lady, Teddy & Alice, The Grand Tour, The Robber Bridegroom, A Doll's House, Good News, Shangri-La, and Call Me Madam (for which he was assistant choreographer).

No stranger to the spotlight, Saddler also performed in the original production of High Button Shoes, and at the age of 81, he stunned Broadway audiences by performing the adagio in the revival of Follies with fellow dance veteran and lifelong friend Marge Champion. The revival also starred Blythe Danner, Gregory Harrison, and Judith Ivey.

The subject of several documentaries and TV specials, Donald's love of dance was the theme of the highly regarded 2010 film Keep Dancing.

In honor of Saddler's passing, BroadwayWorld brings you a brief highlight of the theatre veteran's career.