Bobby Van

Ultimately, Van would devote most of his career to television and film, appearing in the 1953 film version of Cole Porter’s Kiss Me, Kate and starring that same year in the title role of The Affairs of Dobie Gillis and in the MGM musical, Because You’re Mine . Bobby Van returned to Broadway in 1971 to play the role of Billy Early in the celebrated revival of the 1925 musical comedy, No, No, Nanette , and earned a Tony Award® nomination for Best Actor for his performance. Clive Barnes in his New York Times review of the show said, “But for my money the best performance came from Bobby Van as the suave, debonair dancing lawyer (the man is a superb tap dancer ¬– the program says he has never had a lesson; where would he be now with lessons?).” In 1973, Van appeared in a musical film adaptation of the classic movie, Lost Horizon , featuring songs by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and starring an unlikely cast that included John Gielgud, Peter Finch, Sally Kellerman, Olivia Hussey and George Kennedy. Van returned to Broadway once more in 1975 to star in the ill-fated musical, Doctor Jazz , by Luther Henderson and Buster Davis. The show ran for only five performances. He returned to Hollywood, where he hosted television game shows and emceed The Mrs. America Pageant .