Broadway legend Patti LuPone opened up about her late brother Robert LuPone in a tribute that highlighted his extraordinary talent, “unmatched” dancing skills and immense contributions to Broadway and theater.
Patti and Robert were born to library administrator Angela Louise and English teacher Orlando Joseph LuPone. Both were drawn to the arts at a young age, and they later enrolled at the Juilliard School, one of the world’s leading music, dance and theater conservatories.
While Patti stuck to her acting career and stage performances where she also combined singing, Robert would first start out as a dancer before venturing into the world of theatre. Following the Broadway icon’s recent death, Patti has shared some memories of their time together, particularly her brother’s love of dancing.’
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‘Bobby Is An Incomparable Dancer’
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In an interview with Page Six, Patti paid tribute to her brother, who passed her down after a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer. The actress talked about their time together and her brother’s first love, dancing, adding that her skills were “unmatched.”
“My brother Bobby was a dancer like no other,” the 73-year-old told the publication.
He added that his interest in the art of dance started early and jokingly hinted that he may have helped influence it.
“And it all started when she saw me in a dance performance wearing a hula skirt. I was 4 years old, she was 7 years old,” Patti said.
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Robert attended dance classes from an early age to pursue his passion for dancing. He also enrolled as a teenager at the Martha Graham Studio, where he was mentored about art by Antony Tudor, Jose Limon, and Martha Graham. She would later attend the Juilliard School and graduate with a bachelor’s degree in dance from the institution in 1968.
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Robert LuPone Has A Successful Career
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Like Robert, Patti attended Julliard to pursue her passion for drama. Elsewhere in the interview, he revealed that the school’s famous photo gallery has a “life-size picture” of his brother performing in Jose Limon’s modern ballet, “Ada Masa.”
Getting to see her brother’s big keepsake as he walked down the aisle was not only a great inspiration for Patti but felt like a proud moment and a reminder of how much talent her brother had.
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Indeed, Robert had incredible success after earning his Julliard degree. He appeared in many Broadway productions during his lifetime, including the original “A Chorus Line,” which earned him a Tony Award nomination. He also appeared in “Minnie’s Boys,” “The Rothschilds,” “The Magic Show,” “A View from the Bridge,” “True West,” and “A Thousand Clowns.”
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Patti And Robert Relationship
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Patti’s recent interview was among the many times she talked about her brother’s dancing ability and passion for the arts. In 1998, the actress also recalled the first time she saw Robert dance and told how impressed she was by his talent.
“When I first saw Bobby dance at Juilliard, it was just amazing,” Patti said in an interview with Playbill, per Page Six. “Bobby is a phenomenal, incredible dancer.”
The burdens of parenthood prevented Patti and Robert from continuing their close relationship that had been forged since childhood. However, they eventually reconnect and work through their difficulties.
“I’m happy to say that we really succeeded [any problems]and it’s exciting to be so close again,” said Robert in the same interview. “What happened was a result of [Patti having] own family and being a mother ourselves and we’re both maturing and wanting to reconnect.”
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Remembering Robert LuPone
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After his death, MCC Theatre, a Broadway production company that Robert founded with Will Cantler and Bernie Telsey, paid tribute to the icon in a touching announcement.
“The MCC Theater community mourns the loss of a beloved and uniquely inspiring partner, colleague and friend, Bob LuPone, who lived fearlessly and with great curiosity, good humor, boundless passion for connection, and wholeheartedly,” the statement read, per Page Six.
The two co-founders also wrote an emotional eulogy posted on the MCC Theatre’s official website, which contains some poignant details about their time together.
The letter read, “Bob was a strong man, an advocate, complex in the richest way, overflowing with youthful spirit, and very wise as he looked into our souls. He was our best friend. It’s hard to believe that we didn’t would ever sit down with him again and say, let’s talk.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
