Onna White's inspired choreography is one of the reasons the film OLIVER!
won the AA as Best Picture in 1969. The Academy at the time noted her
achievement and she received an honarary Oscar.
Bye Bye Oona and thanks for the memories.
Danny Steward / Seattle
April 11, 2005
Onna White, 83, Choreographer Who Won Oscar for 'Oliver!,' Dies
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif., April 10 (AP) - The choreographer Onna White, who
was awarded a special Oscar for the musical "Oliver!" and was nominated
eight times for Tonys but never won, died Friday at her apartment. She was
83.
Ms. White received the honorary Oscar at the 1969 Academy Awards
presentation, where "Oliver!" won the best picture award.
Choreography is not one of the regular Oscar categories and such honors are
rare.
Born on March 24, 1922, in Canada, Ms. White made her professional debut as
a dancer with the San Francisco Opera Ballet. She moved on to Broadway and
danced in the musicals "Finian's Rainbow," "Guys and Dolls" and "Silk
Stockings." After becoming assistant to the choreographer Michael Kidd, she
decided her future was in choreography.
Her first Tony nomination came in 1958 for her work in the Meredith Willson
hit "The Music Man," in which Robert Preston played the con man Harold Hill.
Her other Tony nominations were for "Whoop-Up," "Take Me Along," "Irma La
Douce," "Half a Sixpence," "Mame," "Ilya Darling" and "I Love My Wife." She
also choreographed the film versions of "The Music Man" and "Mame."
Her film credits included "Bye Bye Birdie," "1776" and "Pete's Dragon."
Twice married, she is survived by two children, Jeanie and Stuart, and two
grandchildren.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences included a dance direction
category for three years in the 1930's, but since then has only celebrated
choreography through honorary Oscars awarded by its board of governors.
In addition to Ms. White, the academy has given choreography honors to Gene
Kelly and Jerome Robbins. Mr. Kidd was honored for services to the art of
dance.
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