Legendary film and television dancer Bobby Banas passed away on July 29 at the age of 90, his son announced. Instagram.
“Today is the day Bobby Banas chose to step into the infinite light of Heaven. A son, brother, father, grandfather and a true legend of stage and screen. You performed with the best,” the post read. “You inspired and taught so many and gave with your talent and generosity, always with a laugh and a sense of humor. Thank you for being the best dad a child could ask for. Love you forever… The dance party in Heaven is going to be amazing!!!”
Banas was re-famous 11 years ago when a forgotten clip of the 1964 “Judy Garland Show” went viral on social media, garnering tens of millions of views. In it, Peter Lawford, Martha Raye and Garland lead the troupe through a dance called “Nity Gritti,” while Banas delivers the transcendent performance of her life. Please see here.
Born in New York City on September 22, 1933, Banas began dancing as a child, taking ballroom dancing lessons in 1942 and eventually partnering with child star Natalie Wood in the Michael Panayev Children’s Ballet.
Banas worked steadily as a hoofer, appearing in a breathtaking selection of pop-iconic films and television shows, including dancing to live music with Bill Haley and His Comets in Don’t Knock the Rock (1956), Carousel (1956), The Girl Most Likely (1958) with Jane Powell, Li’l Abner (1959), Babes in Toyland (1961), 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, and Billy (1965) with Patty Duke. He performed beatnik dancing to “The Leopard” in Elvis’s film “Girl Happy” (1965) and in “Get Smart” (1966), co-starring with Geraldine Brooks.
Along with his 80-year-old meme-ified numbers from “The Judy Garland Show,” he’s perhaps best known for his roles as Joy Boy in “West Side Story” (1959) and as the lucky guy who receives a big kiss from Marilyn Monroe in the 1960 film “Love Is War.”
Banas proudly posted an autographed photo of Monroe’s face, likely worth thousands of dollars today, to his Instagram.
Her subsequent acting roles were sporadic, including TV movies and “Cagney & Lacey” (1982). Her final film was “Odd Jobs” in 1986, after which she continued to work as a dance coach and choreographer in Los Angeles.
Banas was divorced in the 1960s and is survived by a son.
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