Theodore Kosloff facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Theodore Kosloff
Kosloff, 1920s
Born	Fyodor Mikhailovich Kozlov January 22, 1882 Moscow, Russian Empire
Died	November 22, 1956(1956-11-22) (aged 74) Los Angeles, U.S.
Burial place	Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
Other names	Theodor Kosloff
Occupation	Ballet dancer, choreographer, actor

Theodore Kosloff was a famous ballet dancer, choreographer, and actor from Russia. He was born Fyodor Mikhailovich Kozlov on January 22, 1882, and passed away on November 22, 1956. Sometimes, people called him Theodor Kosloff. He became well-known for his dancing and acting in movies and on stage.

Early Life and Dance Career

Theodore Kosloff was born in Moscow, Russia, in 1882. He started his ballet training at the famous Bolshoi Theatre. After finishing his studies in 1901, he joined the Diaghilev Ballet Company in 1909. He traveled the world performing and was a favorite dance partner of Tamara Karsavina.

Moving to America

When Theodore came to the United States in 1909, he met a very important movie director named Cecil B. DeMille. An actress and writer, Jeanie MacPherson, introduced them. DeMille's young niece, Agnes de Mille, was a big fan of Kosloff's dancing and encouraged her uncle to hire him. DeMille was impressed by Theodore and quickly gave him acting roles.

First Movie Roles

Kosloff's first movie was The Woman God Forgot in 1917, directed by DeMille. He acted alongside the popular American singer and actress, Geraldine Farrar. Theodore also danced on stage in vaudeville shows.

Choreography and Broadway

Besides acting, Kosloff also worked as a choreographer. This means he created dance routines for performances. Between 1912 and 1916, he choreographed several Broadway musicals. These included The Passing Show of 1915, A World of Pleasure, and See America First. He also acted on stage in a play called The Awakening from 1918 to 1919.

Kosloff in 1912

A King's Offer?

In 1923, a newspaper reported that Theodore Kosloff had been offered the chance to become the king of the Tatars. The Tatars are a group of people from a region in Russia. He met with representatives from a political group in Kazan, Russia. However, Kosloff decided not to accept the offer. He famously said he would rather be a "live motion-picture actor than a dead king!"

Film Acting Career

Theodore Kosloff's career as a movie actor lasted through the 1920s. He often played the main male character opposite famous actresses like Nita Naldi, Gloria Swanson, Bebe Daniels, and Anna Q. Nilsson.

Playing Different Characters

Because of his dark hair and looks, Kosloff often played "exotic" roles. He was often cast as a "Latin lover" type, an Eastern European prince, or an Arabic sheik. Many of his movie roles were in films directed by Cecil B. DeMille.

The End of His Acting Career

When movies started to have sound, Kosloff's acting career slowed down. Movie studios were hesitant to cast him because of his strong Russian accent. His last big role was a dance part in DeMille's musical movie Madam Satan in 1930. His very last movie role was a small, uncredited part as a dance instructor in Stage Door in 1937.

He also worked as a consultant for movie producers like Cecil B. DeMille. One of the last movies he helped with, before he passed away, was The Ten Commandments.

Later Years and Passing

After he stopped acting, Kosloff continued to work as a choreographer. He opened a successful ballet school in Los Angeles. A well-known choreographer named Flower Hujer was one of his students.

Theodore Kosloff passed away on November 22, 1956, at the age of 74. He was buried at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood.

Legacy

Theodore Kosloff has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It is located at 1617 Vine Street in Hollywood, California. This star honors his important contributions to the movie industry.

Partial Filmography

See also

• List of Russian ballet dancers