The grandson of a slave, as a child Bill Robinson first performed on street corners for nickels and dimes. Developing into one of the world's foremost tap-dancers, he became a vaudeville star and later played such big theaters as the Roxy and the Palace; he also appeared in a number of major stage musicals. In the early '30s he broke into movies, usually playing the stereotypical happy-go-lucky blacks that populated Hollywood films. He became famous and popular for the four films in which he co-starred with Shirley Temple (1935-38). Well-liked by the black community, he was called "the Honorary Mayor of Harlem." He also coined the word "copacetic" and it soon came into general use. He was the subject of the hit Sammy Davis Jr. song "Mr. Bojangles." In 1989, Congress declared his birthday to be National Tap-Dancing Day.
| Title | Year | Editors' Rating | User Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Tap Dance History: From Vaudville to Film
Participant |
2011 | |||
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Music Classics, Vol. 9
Archival Appearance |
1998 | |||
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Baby Laurence: Jazz Hoofer
Archival Appearance |
1995 | |||
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At the Jazz Band Ball: Early Hot Jazz, Song and Dance
Archival Appearance |
1993 | |||
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Soundies, Vol. 4: Harlem Highlights
Archival Appearance |
1990 | |||
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Harlem Roots, Vol. 4: Jivin' Time
Archival Appearance |
1988 | |||
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Stormy Weather
Actor |
1943 | |||
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Just Around the Corner
Actor |
1938 | |||
| 1938 | ||||
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Road Demon
Actor |
1938 | |||
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Up the River
Actor |
1938 | |||
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One Mile from Heaven
Actor |
1937 | |||
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Dimples
Choreography |
1936 | |||
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Great Jazz Bands of the 30's
Performance |
1935 | |||
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Hooray for Love
Actor |
1935 | |||
|
In Old Kentucky
Actor |
1935 | |||
| 1935 | ||||
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The Little Colonel
Actor |
1935 | |||
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The Littlest Rebel
Actor |
1935 | |||
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Harlem Is Heaven
Actor |
1932 | |||
|
Dixiana
Actor |
1930 |