Bill Robinson Picture
STARmeter
SEE RANK
Down 48 this week

Bill Robinson (I) (1878–1949)

Actor | Soundtrack | Miscellaneous Crew

According to one jazz dance source, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson was the chief instigator for getting tap dance "up on its toes." Early forms of tap, including the familiar "buck and wing", contained a flat-footed style, while Robinson performed on the balls of his feet with a shuffle-tap style that allowed him more improvisation. It obviously got him noticed and it certainly made him a legend... See full bio »

Born:

Luther Robinson
in Richmond, Virginia, USA

Died:

(age 71) in New York, USA
1 photo | 3 videos | 2 news articles »

Quick Links:

Related News

Actor and Dancer Gregory Hines Dies at 57
10 August 2003 | IMDb News
Actor and Dancer Gregory Hines Dies at 57
10 August 2003 | WENN
See all 2 related articles »
Oscar Nominations    Photos    more »
Create a list  »

Related Lists

image of name
So sorry that they're gone
a list of 102 people by misstheresa2009 created 5 months ago
 
image of name
Greatest Actors
a list of 588 people by Paul Hamell created 28 Sep 2010
 
image of name
AFI'S 100 YEARS...100 STARS (The Complete List of Actors)
a list of 250 people by scarecrow-moon created 9 months ago
 
See all 3 related lists »

Do you have a demo reel?

Add it to your IMDbPage

My Demo Reel -- No description provided.

My Demo Reel

Christopher Mann's Theatrical Demo Reel -- This reel contains Christopher performing in Film and Television. The clips included are from the following: "The Boundary", "The Wire", "Duplicity", "Law & Order(SVU)", "Michael Clayton", "Cost Of A Soul", "HEROES" and "Law & Order (CI)".

Christopher Mann's Theatrical Demo Reel

Melanie Molnar - Reel -- No description provided.

Melanie Molnar - Reel

David H. Lawrence, XVII - Drama -- On-camera drama reel featuring David H. Lawrence XVII, in scenes from Heroes, The Unit, LOST, and more

David H. Lawrence, XVII - Drama

Franklin Ojeda Smith - -- "...back in the day the 'barb wire' was more visible" and early on I chose baseball over acting; then academia and not baseball. Now,"...the kids are grown, the dog is dead and now that I may, I choose acting." Please take a look: 1)Boardwalk Empire - Deacon Cuffy 2)Murder Incorporated - Sam Christenson 3)Cayman Went - Aniston Turnkey 4)Letting Go -Therapist 5)Footsteps in the Sand - Jim. Thank You! Franklin

Franklin Ojeda Smith -


Find out more at IMDbPro »

Connect with IMDb

Known For


Show Show all  | 
Show by:
Edit

Filmography

Hide HideActor (13 titles)
1943 Stormy Weather
Bill Williamson
 
1938 Road Demon
Zephyr
 
1938 Up the River
Memphis Jones
 
1938 Just Around the Corner
Corporal Jones
 
1938 Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
Aloysius
 
1937 One Mile from Heaven
Officer Joe Dudley
 
1935 The Littlest Rebel
Uncle Billy
 
1935 In Old Kentucky
Wash Jackson
 
1935 The Big Broadcast of 1936
Specialty
 
1935 The Little Colonel
Walker
 
1934 King for a Day (short)
Bill Green
 
1932 Harlem Is Heaven
Bill
 
1930 Dixiana
Specialty Dancer
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (12 titles)
2008 Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1920s: The Dawn of the Hollywood Musical (video documentary) ("Mr. and Mrs. Sippi" - uncredited)
 
1985 That's Dancing! (documentary) (performer: "Organ Grinder's Swing", "The Old Folks at Home", "There Are Smiles")
 
1943 Stormy Weather (lyrics: "RANG TANG TANG" - uncredited / performer: "RANG TANG TANG" - uncredited, "AT A GEORGIA CAMP MEETING" - uncredited, "DE CAMPTOWN RACES" - uncredited, "LINDA BROWN" - uncredited, "I CAN'T GIVE YOU ANYTHING BUT LOVE", "MY, MY, AIN'T THAT SOMETHIN'" by nm0130572 / "THERE'S NO TWO WAYS ABOUT LOVE" - uncredited, "AFRICAN DANCE" - uncredited)
 
1942 Let's Scuffle (short) (performer: "Let's Scuffle")
 
1938 Just Around the Corner (performer: "This Is a Happy Little Ditty" - uncredited, "Brass Buttons and Epaulettes" - uncredited, "I Love to Walk in the Rain" - uncredited / "Brass Buttons and Epaulettes" - uncredited)
 
1938 Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (performer: "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers")
 
1935 The Littlest Rebel (performer: "Polly Wolly Doodle" - uncredited, "Turkey In The Straw" - uncredited)
 
1935 The Big Broadcast of 1936 (performer: "Miss Brown To You")
 
1935 Hooray for Love (performer: "I'm Livin' in a Great Big Way" / "I'm Livin' in a Great Big Way")
 
1935 The Little Colonel (performer: "My Old Kentucky Home")
 
1934 King for a Day (short) (performer: "Bill Robinson's Stomp" - uncredited, "Old Folks at Home" - uncredited, "Old Black Joe" - uncredited, "Love's Old Sweet Song Just a Song at Twilight" - uncredited, "Smiles" - uncredited)
 
1930 Dixiana ("Mr. and Mrs. Sippi")
 
Show ShowMiscellaneous Crew (1 title)
1936 Dimples (dance director)
 
Show ShowSelf (9 titles)
1948-1949 The Buick-Berle Show (TV series)
Himself - Dancer / Himself
– Episode #2.2 (1949) … Himself
– Episode #1.49 (1949) … Himself - Dancer
– Episode #1.2 (1948) … Himself - Dancer
 
1948 The R.C.A. Thanksgiving Show (TV movie)
Himself
 
1942 Let's Scuffle (short)
Himself
 
1942 By an Old Southern River
Himself
 
1940 Medicus Film of New York World's Fair (documentary)
Himself
 
1938 Cotton Club Revue (documentary)
 
1935 Hooray for Love
Himself
 
1933 The Big Benefit (short)
Himself (as Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson)
 
1929 Hello, Bill
Himself
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (11 titles)
2005 Follow the Fleet: The Origins of Those Dancing Feet (video short)
 
2004 Broadway: The American Musical (TV series documentary)
 
2000 Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxing (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1998 Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood (TV documentary)
Himself (as Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson)
 
1997 Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1993 Apollo Theatre Hall of Fame (TV special documentary)
Himself
 
1985 That's Dancing! (documentary)
Himself (clip from "The Little Colonel")
 
1975 M*A*S*H (TV series)
 
1974 Fred Astaire Salutes the Fox Musicals (TV movie)
Himself
 
1968 Black History: Lost Stolen, or Strayed (TV documentary)
Himself/Walker (uncredited)
 
1958 The Ed Sullivan Show (TV series)
 

Related Videos

The Littlest Rebel -- Clip: Slingshot The Little Colonel -- Clip: I wish you'd tell my mother that Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm -- Clip: When I grow up, will you marry me?
Edit

Personal Details

Other Works:

Blackbirds of 1928 (1928). Musical revue. Music by Jimmy McHugh. Lyrics by Dorothy Fields. Directed by Lew Leslie. Liberty Theatre: 9 May 1928= Apr 1929 (closing date unknown/518 performances). Cast: Baby Banks, George Cooper, Billie Cortez, Adelaide Hall, Marjorie Hubbard, Crawford Jackson, Ruth Johnson, Harry Lucas, Blue McAllister, Willard McLean, Lloyd Mitchell, Tim Moore, Mantan Moreland, Philip Patterson, Bill Robinson, Mamie Savoy, Earl Tucker, Eloise Uggams, Aida Ward, Elizabeth Welch. Produced by Lew Leslie. See more »

Publicity Listings:

2 Biographical Movies  | 3 Print Biographies  | 3 Articles  | See more »

Alternate Names:

Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson
Edit

Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

What success I achieved in the theater is due to the fact that I have always worked just as hard when there were ten people in the house as when there were thousands. Just as hard in Springfield, Illinois, as on Broadway. See more »

Trivia:

The 1932 all-black movie titled Harlem Is Heaven was supposedly based on Robinson's life. See more »

Trademark:

Used wooden taps on his shoes See more »

Nickname:

Bojangles See more »

Star Sign:

Gemini