American ballet dancer, musical theatre performer, and actor. He was best known for his portrayal of Daniel Pontipee, one of the seven brothers in the film Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954). It was a huge success and made MGM over $3 million in profit. It also starred Howard Keel, Jane Powell, Jeff Richards, Julie Newmar (Newmeyer), Matt Mattox, Ruta Lee (Kilmonis), Norma Doggett, Jacques d'Amboise, Virginia Gibson, Tommy Rall, Betty Carr, Russ Tamblyn, Nancy Kilgas.
Born Marcel LePlat to a French immigrant father Maurice LePlat and his wife, Henrietta Lekmuth (she was born in the US) in Pasadena, California, he was one of the original members of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, performing under the name Platoff. While with the company, Platt choreographed Ghost Town (1939), set to music by Richard Rodgers.
Platt danced the role of Chalmers/Dream Curly in the original 1943 Broadway production of Oklahoma!.
Platt appeared in the 1955 film version of Oklahoma! in a dancing/speaking role as one of Curly's cowboy friends. He is the cowboy friend who buys Curly's saddle for $10 at the auction - and who also comments that, the previous year, Ado Annie's sweet potato pie gave him a 'three day bellyache' (Platt is credited in the cast list of the film as a dancer).[citation needed] After he stopped dancing, Platt ran the Radio City Music Hall Ballet for several years, then transitioned to full-time teaching. In 2000, Platt was presented with the Nijinsky Award at the Ballets Russes Reunion. He appeared in the 2005 documentary Ballets Russes.
Platt was married twice and has three children. Ted Leplat, from his first marriage, is an actor and musician living in Los Angeles. In 1951, Platt married dancer Jean Goodall who died in 1994; the couple had two children, Michael and Donna.
Platt died of pneumonia at a hospice in San Rafael, California on March 29, 2014, aged 100.
L > LePlat > Marcel Emile Gaston LePlat
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