Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Herbert Ross

Highest Rated: 100% Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969)

Lowest Rated: 0% T.R. Baskin (1971)

Birthday: May 13, 1927

Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA

Choreographer-director-producer Herbert Ross was best known for elevating the role of dance in film and for his ability to elicit exceptional performances out of such leading ladies as Barbara Streisand, Shirley MacLaine, Anne Bancroft and Julia Roberts. Receiving his start as a Broadway performer and choreographer with the American Ballet Theater, Ross later staged dozens of musical sequences for such films as "Carmen Jones" (1954). Although he was one of Broadway's top choreographers - notably crafting Streisand's show-stopping number in 1963's "I Can Get It for You Wholesale" - Ross yearned to direct films, a goal he achieved with "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" (1969). He began to hit his stride as a director alongside rising megastars like Streisand in "The Owl and the Pussycat" (1970) and Woody Allen in "Play it Again, Sam" (1972). Shortly thereafter, he began his prolific working relationship with playwright Neil Simon on "The Sunshine Boys" (1975). At the height of his career, Ross utilized his knowledge of ballet for "The Turning Point" (1977) and reteamed with Simon on "The Goodbye Girl" (1977) to win both critical acclaim and box office gold. Less successful were risky endeavors like the Depression-era Steve Martin musical-fantasy "Pennies from Heaven" (1981). Ross still had a few more cards up his sleeve, though, as the hits "Footloose" (1984) and "Steel Magnolias" (1989) triumphantly capped off a remarkable career. Whether crafting a spectacular dance number or directing a heartfelt romance, Ross' sole ambition to entertain an audience was unwavering.

Show Less Show More

Highest-Rated Movies

100% 71% Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Watchlist
97% 89% Play It Again, Sam
Watchlist
90% 84% The Last of Sheila
Watchlist
83% 64% Pennies From Heaven
Watchlist
82% 64% The Owl and the Pussycat
Watchlist
80% 85% The Goodbye Girl
Watchlist
80% 43% I Ought to Be in Pictures
Watchlist
76% 68% The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
Watchlist
74% 63% Soapdish
Watchlist
73% 68% Boys on the Side
Watchlist
View All Herbert Ross photos

Herbert Ross

Herbert Ross FUNNY LADY, from left: director Herbert Ross, Barbra Streisand, on set, 1975 CALIFORNIA SUITE, director Herbert Ross, 1978, (c) Columbia Pictures PROTOCOL, director Herbert Ross on set, 1984, (c) Warner Brothers MY BLUE HEAVEN, director Herbert Ross, on-set, 1990, ©Warner Bros. / UNDERCOVER BLUES, director Herbert Ross, on set, 1993. ©United International Pictures CALIFORNIA SUITE, Jane Fonda, Herbert Ross, 1978, director and star at the beach THE SECRET OF MY SUCCESS, director Herbert Ross, on set, 1987. © Universal UNDERCOVER BLUES, Kathleen Turner, director Herbert Ross on set, 1993, (c) United International SUMMER HOLIDAY, choreographer Herbert Ross, Cliff Richard on set, 1963 View more photos

Filmography

Movies TV Shows
Sort By: Newest
Poster Boy 26% 47% 2004 Producer Boys on the Side 73% 68% 1995 Director, Producer Undercover Blues 37% 67% 1993 Director, Executive Producer Soapdish 74% 63% 1991 Executive Producer True Colors 44% 45% 1991 Director, Producer My Blue Heaven 71% 59% 1990 Director Steel Magnolias 73% 89% 1989 Director Dancers 33% 1987 Director The Secret of My Success 48% 58% 1987 Director Footloose 55% 71% 1984 Director Protocol 33% 38% 1984 Director Max Dugan Returns 71% 67% 1983 Director, Producer I Ought to Be in Pictures 80% 43% 1982 Director, Producer Pennies From Heaven 83% 64% 1981 Director, Producer Nijinsky 50% 29% 1980 Director California Suite 48% 45% 1978 Director The Turning Point 63% 66% 1977 Director, Producer The Goodbye Girl 80% 85% 1977 Director The Seven-Per-Cent Solution 76% 68% 1976 Director, Producer The Sunshine Boys 71% 72% 1975 Director Funny Lady 30% 55% 1975 Director The Last of Sheila 90% 84% 1973 Director, Producer Play It Again, Sam 97% 89% 1972 Director T.R. Baskin 0% 1971 Director The Owl and the Pussycat 82% 64% 1970 Director
Load More