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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 Cheerleaderwhich 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 dancerin
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'. Toni was also nominated for an Emmy Awardin 1988 (Outstanding Achievement
in Choreography) for her "Four Swans" number on "The Smothers Brothers
Comedy Hour."
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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]
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1974 - Mr. Novak (episode # 1.26)
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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]
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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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