- In 1985, he was one of six cultural icons (along with Irene Dunne, Frederick Loewe, Alan Jay Lerner, Beverly Sills and Bob Hope) to receive the annual Kennedy Center Honors in Washington.
- He was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1990 by the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington D.C.
- He was a choreographer and dance company director.
- Has a younger brother named Jack.
- Formed his own group, Merce Cunningham Dance Company, in 1953. Choreographed over 200 productions.
- Life partner of composer and poet John Cage for fifty years, from 1942 until Cage's death in 1992.
- Among his inspirations were his interests in anthropology and Zen Buddhism.
- Upon his death, he was cremated. Some of his ashes were went to Sutton Stracke. She scattered some of his ashes off the coast of Barcelona, Spain.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content