Tommy Wonder (dancer)
Encyclopedia
Tommy Wonder was an American dancer, actor
, choreographer, and artist manager. He was a principal dancer
in the 1943 Ziegfeld Follies
.
As a child, Wonder suffered from an unspecified physical disability which hindered his ability to walk
; to help him, his mother used clothes and a broomstick to build a puppet
on which he could support himself. Wonder named the puppet "Suzanne", and with its help he was able not only to learn to walk, but to dance at a professional level; an upgraded version of "Suzanne", designed by members of the Westmore family
, with human hair, a Hubert Givenchy gown, and Wonder's mother's original broomstick, is in the Smithsonian Institution
.
, performing in vaudeville
; he subsequently appeared in the Our Gang
films. As an adult, Wonder performed in numerous musical comedies; he also appeared in more serious films, including the 1938 Gangster's Boy
. By 1946, his fame was such that his presence at social events was considered worth reporting.
In 1970, Wonder retired from performing and co-founded an artist management business with his former singing partner Don Dellair.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, choreographer, and artist manager. He was a principal dancer
Principal dancer
A principal dancer is a dancer at the highest rank within a professional dance company, particularly a ballet company....
in the 1943 Ziegfeld Follies
Ziegfeld Follies
The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 through 1931. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air....
.
As a child, Wonder suffered from an unspecified physical disability which hindered his ability to walk
WALK
WALK may refer to:*WALK , a radio station licensed to East Patchogue, New York, United States*WALK-FM, a radio station licensed to Patchogue, New York, United States...
; to help him, his mother used clothes and a broomstick to build a puppet
Puppet
A puppet is an inanimate object or representational figure animated or manipulated by an entertainer, who is called a puppeteer. It is used in puppetry, a play or a presentation that is a very ancient form of theatre....
on which he could support himself. Wonder named the puppet "Suzanne", and with its help he was able not only to learn to walk, but to dance at a professional level; an upgraded version of "Suzanne", designed by members of the Westmore family
Westmore family
The Westmore Family is a prominent family in Hollywood make-up. Led by their patriarch, George Westmore, the family has had four generations serve Hollywood as make-up artists in various capacities since George's establishment of Hollywood's first make-up department in 1917.-Careers:The English...
, with human hair, a Hubert Givenchy gown, and Wonder's mother's original broomstick, is in the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
.
Career
Wonder began as a child actorChild actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
, performing in vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
; he subsequently appeared in the Our Gang
Our Gang
Our Gang, also known as The Little Rascals or Hal Roach's Rascals, was a series of American comedy short films about a group of poor neighborhood children and the adventures they had together. Created by comedy producer Hal Roach, the series is noted for showing children behaving in a relatively...
films. As an adult, Wonder performed in numerous musical comedies; he also appeared in more serious films, including the 1938 Gangster's Boy
Gangster's Boy
- Cast :*Jackie Cooper as Larry Kelly*Robert Warwick as Tim 'Knuckles' Kelly*Lucy Gilman as Julie Davis*Louise Lorimer as Molly Kelly*Tommy Wonder as Bill Davis*Selmer Jackson as Judge Roger Davis*Betty Blythe as Mrs. Davis*Huntley Gordon as Principal Benson...
. By 1946, his fame was such that his presence at social events was considered worth reporting.
In 1970, Wonder retired from performing and co-founded an artist management business with his former singing partner Don Dellair.