Jonathon Lucas(1920-1991)
- Director
- Additional Crew
- Actor
Jonathon Lucas was born Lucas T. Giarraputo in Sherman, Texas, in the
early 1920s (sources differ as to whether it was 1920 or 1922). His
father was an Italian immigrant and his mother was a Texas native. In
1930 the family moved to Dallas, Texas, where his father--a skilled
stonemason in Italy--started a building contracting business. Young
Lucas, who aspired to be a dancer, received some training in Dallas but
moved to New York during World War II, finding work on and off Broadway
as a dancer and actor using the name Louis Aco. His career consisted
mostly of bit parts until he hit the jackpot with a two-year run on
Broadway in "Finian's Rainbow". In 1948 he got a part in the Broadway
play "Small Wonder", and changed his name to Jonathon Lucas. He began
getting larger roles as both a dancer and singer, and made his film
debut in Happy Go Lovely (1951)
as a dancer. In 1952 he was hired as the choreographer for the TV show
The Eyes Have It (1948).
In 1954 he won an Obie award for his role as "Paris" in the Broadway
show "The Golden Apple". He moved to Los Angeles to get into the TV
industry, and soon found work as a dancer on
The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950).
In 1955 he joined Walt Disney Studios as a director and choreographer. He was assigned to direct the "Guest Star Day" segment of Disney's The Mickey Mouse Club (1955) in its debut season. He left the show before the first season ended, and joined The Martha Raye Show (1954) as a choreographer, then went to work for The Paul Winchell Show (1950) in the same capacity. He returned to Broadway in 1959, as a choreographer, director and actor/singer/dancer.
He returned to television in the 1960s, and was the choreographer for The Dean Martin Show (1965). In addition, he directed live performances for such stars as Barbara Mandrell, Louise Mandrell and John Travolta.
In his private life he was deeply committed to the animal-rights movement, and was involved with actress Loretta Swit's Wildlife Waystation organization.
He died on February 5, 1991, from complications resulting from a knee infection.
In 1955 he joined Walt Disney Studios as a director and choreographer. He was assigned to direct the "Guest Star Day" segment of Disney's The Mickey Mouse Club (1955) in its debut season. He left the show before the first season ended, and joined The Martha Raye Show (1954) as a choreographer, then went to work for The Paul Winchell Show (1950) in the same capacity. He returned to Broadway in 1959, as a choreographer, director and actor/singer/dancer.
He returned to television in the 1960s, and was the choreographer for The Dean Martin Show (1965). In addition, he directed live performances for such stars as Barbara Mandrell, Louise Mandrell and John Travolta.
In his private life he was deeply committed to the animal-rights movement, and was involved with actress Loretta Swit's Wildlife Waystation organization.
He died on February 5, 1991, from complications resulting from a knee infection.