Larry Billman

Known for ActingBorn 1938-10-23Died 2017-05-03Hollywood, California, USA

Larry Billman began his life as a musical performer on stage (Hollywood, Broadway, Las Vegas), TV and film, but his writing skills soon led him to Disney live entertainment. From 1969 to the present, he has written, directed and/or produced hundreds of live shows at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, as well as creating touring shows for the Disney Company. As creative director, he opened 7 non-Disney theme parks in Japan but returned as Creative Director for the creation of Tokyo DisneySea in 2001. He also has directed 6 editions of Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus, Disney on Ice and for the legitimate theater in the U.S., Germany and Japan. Author of Film Choreographers and Dance Directors (McFarland) and two Bio-Bibliographies for Greenwood Press about Fred Astaire and Betty Grable. In 1998, he founded the Academy of Dance in Film, a non-profit foundation dedicated to honor the art of film dance and choreography and has been an Associate Professor at Cal State Long Beach, USC and other universities in California on the subject. He recently did the audio commentary for "Top Hat" in the newly released WB "Astaire and Rogers" DVD set.Read more

Movies & web series

Reunited at MGM: Astaire and Rogers Together Again

The Swing of Things: Swing Time Step by Step

(buz'be bur'kle) n. A Study in Style

"Follow the Fleet": The Origins of Those Dancing Feet

Kismet

Carnival Nights

Sweet Charity

The Americanization of Emily

42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

Live a Little, Love a Little

Gold Diggers: FDR'S New Deal... Broadway Bound

Intimate Portrait

The Sidehackers

Making the Team: The Talent of 'Pigskin Parade'

A Portrait of Danny Kaye

Footlight Parade: Music for the Decades

Busby Berkeley's Kaleidoscopic Eyes

They Can't Take That Away from Me: The Music of 'Shall We Dance'

Ann-Margret: From Hollywood with Love