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|
Stage Name |
Birth Name |
| Toni Basil
|
Antonia
Christina Basilotta |
| "The
Pavlova of Hollywood" |
Toni's dad was a band-leader
and her mom was a dancer and acrobat. Toni started dancing as
a child and while in High School in Las Vegas, Toni was a head
Cheerleader which would prove to be a very valuable asset to her
thru out her life as a dancer and choreographer. Toni started
her trek in dance as a Go-Go dancer in hit TV Shows such as Hullabaloo,
SHINDIG! and the T.A.M.I. Show in the early 1960's. Got her first
acting role in the 'Pajama Game' in 1964. In 1966 Toni danced
(and stripped) in Bruce Conner's classic film 'Breakaway' and
in 1969 played a starring role in the biker hit cult film "Easy
Rider" with Henry Fonda and Jack Nicholson.
Late in the 1970's she formed
and managed the Break dance group called the Lockers which featured
Fred "Re-Run" Berry of the TV Show 'What's Happenin'.
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| [More
Photos] |
| Toni
was also nominated for an Emmy Award in 1988 (Outstanding
Achievement in Choreography) for her "Four Swans"
number on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour."
As a singer her first song was
in the film Breakaway and by 1982 released her first album of
danceable songs called 'Word of Mouth' which became a gold record
and had the USA number one hit song Mickey (you remember:
Oh! Mickey, you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind...
Hey Mickey!.) The video single "Mickey"was the first
to incorporate synchronized dancing. Toni has been the choreographer
to many famous bands and singers for their MTV videos such as
David Bowie, Talking Heads and Bette Midler.
Today (2005) Toni is still very
much active in the entertainment industry and still Acting, doing
choreography for Hollywood and MTV Videos. In her spare time,
Toni is an avid dancer who loves to Salsa and West
Coast Swing. You can find her at many of the Los Angeles and
San Fernando Valley social dance spots around town. Toni is on
the modest side about her career and unless you knew her or was
told about her, you would think she is a normal, down to earth,
easy going, casual, friendly foxy lady ... who would talk about
and/or dance all night long, but normal she is not, she's a star. |
Films (*means Choreographer) |
Television |
1964 - Pajama Party (dancer) [VHS] |
1960's - Hullabaloo |
1965 - the T.A.M.I. Show (Go-Go dancer)
[VHS] |
1960's - Shindig! |
1965 - Village of the Giants (as Red)
* [VHS]
[DVD]
|
1974 - Mr. Novak (episode
# 1.26) |
1966 - Breakaway (dancer) |
1975 - Saturday Night Live (plus 2
times in 1976) |
1967 - the Cool Ones* |
1978 - La verne and Shirley (episode
# 4.10) |
1968 - Antonia Christina Basilotta (Herself) |
1981 - Three of a Kind (Herself -
episode # 1.1) |
1968 - Head (the Monkey's, dancer w/ Davy) * [VHS]
[DVD]
|
1982 - Word of Mouth Music Video (performer) |
1969 - Easy Rider (Mary - Prostitute) [VHS]
[DVD] |
1992 - Baywatch (episode # 2.22) |
1969 - Sweet Charity (rhythm of Life dancer) [VHS]
[DVD] |
1997 - Bette Midler: Diva, Las Vegas
(HBO) |
1970 - Five Easy Pieces (Terry Grouse) [VHS]
[DVD] |
1997 - Gap Commercial (Lindy version) |
1971 - the Last Movie (Rose) |
2004 - A&E Biography: Bette Midler |
1972 - Greaser's Palace (Indian Girl) |
2005 - 3rd Annual TV Land Awards (Choreographer) |
1973 - American Graffiti * [VHS]
[DVD] |
Retrosexual: The 80's |
1976 - Mother Jugs and Speed (addict) |
Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, the
(Four Winds) |
1979 - the Rose* |
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1980 - First Family * |
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1982 - Hey Good Lookin'* |
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1984 - Citizen Soldier |
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1986 - Peggy Sue Got Married * |
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1988 - Angel III (Hilary) |
Music
Video Choreography |
1988 - Slaughterhouse Rock |
Bette Midler &
Mick Jagger: Beast of Burden |
1990 - Rockula (Phoebe LaVie) |
David Bowie |
1990 - Catchfire |
Talking Heads |
1990 - Eating (Jackie) |
Toni Basil: Mickey! |
1990 - Pacific Palisades (Désirée) |
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1991 - Delirious * |
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1991 - Mobsters |
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1992 - Sinatra * |
Toni's
Albums |
1996 - That Thing You Do! * |
1981 - Word in Mouth
(w/ Devo) |
1997 - My Best Friends Wedding * |
Street Beat |
1999 - Muppets from Space * |
$
CD: Best of Toni Basil |
2000 - Sunset Strip * |
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2001 - Legally Blonde * |
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2004 - The Dream Studio Video |
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Ballrooms
