Robert Banas facts for kids

Robert "Bobby" Banas (born September 22, 1933 – died July 29, 2024) was a talented American dancer and actor. He appeared in many famous movies like West Side Story (1961) and Mary Poppins. Bobby Banas also became well-known on YouTube in the 2010s. A dance he created and performed for the song "The Nitty Gritty" became super popular, getting over 25 million views by 2023!

Bobby's Early Life

Bobby Banas started dancing when he was just five years old. He loved to move to the music of big bands like Tommy Dorsey and Count Basie. He would pretend a doorway was a stage and dance until he fell over, then get right back up!

During World War II, his parents worked to help the war effort. His father inspected steel, and his mother inspected airplane parts.

In 1942, Bobby's dad arranged ballroom dance lessons for him and his sister, Faith. They had a lot of fun trying out different dance moves. Bobby also received a scholarship to the Michael Panaieff Children’s’ Ballet Company. There, he danced with Natalie Wood, who later became a famous actress. Other future stars like Jill St. John and Stefanie Powers were also part of the company. Bobby went to the Hollywood Professional School too.

He performed in many stage shows, including Carousel, Kiss Me Kate, and Peter Pan.

Bobby's Amazing Career

Bobby Banas appeared in several well-known films. He was in Bye Bye Birdie and The Unsinkable Molly Brown. In Mary Poppins, he played a chimney sweep! He even shared a scene with Marilyn Monroe in the movie Let's ... Love.

Bobby also made many appearances on television, including an episode of the show Get Smart. Later in his life, he became a choreographer, which means he created dances for others. He also taught dance classes in the Los Angeles area.

Later Years

Bobby Banas passed away on July 29, 2024, at the age of 90.