The son of a vaudevillian and an experienced choreographer and performer in burlesque shows by his early teens, Bob Fosse (1927–87) was destined for a career in show business. Ultimately, Fosse became one of the great theater artists of his time, directing and choreographing legendary Broadway productions such as Pippin (1972) and Chicago (1975). His talents as a dancer and choreographer on the stage caught the attention of Hollywood, and his film career began with choreography and performances in several films in the 1950s that were based on Broadway hits, most notably Damn Yankees (1958). Fosse went on to direct five feature films, all informed by his experiences in performance and collectively displaying both the allures and the underbelly of the theatrical lifestyle.