Biographie
Hal Le Roy began his professional career in 1928 with "Hoboken Heroes" at the Lyric Theater in Hoboken, New Jersey. Young, tall, and slender, he was known for his distinctive, dazzling, and eccentric style that captivated both audiences and fellow dancers. By 1931, Broadway producers took notice, casting him in the short-lived show "The Gang's All Here." That same year, performing alongside partner Mitzi Mayfair, he outshone stars like Harry Richman and Ruth Etting in the "Ziegfeld Follies of 1931." His unique style also made him a popular figure in numerous film shorts produced at the Brooklyn Vitaphone studios. His Broadway credits included "The Gang's All Here" (1931, with Eunice Healy), "Ziegfeld Follies of 1931" (with Mitzi Mayfair), "Thumbs Up" (1935, again with Healy), and Rodgers & Hart's "Too Many Girls" (1939, with Mildred Law). His most prominent feature film role was in Warner Bros.' "Harold Teen" (1934), where he performed an extended solo to the song "Collegiate Wedding" in the final reel.
In July 1935, Le Roy made headlines when he sued his father for $70,000, alleging that after marrying his dance partner Ruth Dodd, his father withdrew funds from a joint account held in four banks, originally set up by Le Roy's late mother to remain intact until he turned 21. Throughout the 1930s, he secured occasional featured spots in films, notably the memorable college dance sequence in "Start Cheering" (1938).
During the 1930s and 1940s, Le Roy performed in vaudeville at venues like Radio City Music Hall, the Capitol Theatre (with the Woody Herman band), the State Theatre (with Smith & Dale), and Philadelphia’s Earle Theatre with Clyde McCoy's band. His career extended to television and summer stock productions, including Guy Lombardo's 1956 staging of "Show Boat" at Marine Stadium, Jones Beach, New York. In 1966, he directed the off-Broadway production "Summer's Here." Hal Le Roy passed away in 1985 following heart surgery.
