Michael Bennett

Michael Bennett DiFiglia was an American choreographer, director, dancer, and writer best known for his work on A Chorus Line, Promises, Promises, and Company. Born in Buffalo, New York, to a Jewish-Italian family, Bennett performed in several musicals at his local high school before dropping out at age 16. He toured with a production of West Side Story as Baby John across Europe and the USA. After working on Broadway in the musical Subways Are for Sleeping, Bennett became a featured dancer in the NBC pop music series Hullabaloo, where he met fellow dancer and his future wife, Donna McKechnie.

In his personal life, Bennett had a long personal and professional relationship with Donna McKechnie, who danced in his productions of Promises, Promises, Company, and A Chorus Line. They were married on December 4, 1976, but separated after a few months, before divorcing in 1979. Bennett struggled with an addiction to drugs and alcohol, which led to severe paranoia and impeded his ability to work. Bennett identified as bisexual and had many relationships throughout his life. His last partner was Gene Pruit, who stayed with Bennett while he was receiving treatment for AIDS-related lymphoma in 1986. Bennett passed away from the disease at the age of 44, leaving behind a portion of his estate to fund AIDS research.

Key Dates & Events

• 1962 - Bennett works as an assistant to the choreographer on the musical Nowhere To Go But Up.
• 1966 - Bennett makes his choreography debut was with A Joyful Noise.
• 1972 - Bennett wins his first Tony Awards for Follies.
• 1976 - Bennett marries fellow dancer Donna McKechnie, but they separate shortly after and divorce in 1979.
• 1976 - Bennett's production of A Chorus Line wins 9 Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
• 1979 - Bennett wins the Tony Award for Best Choreography for Ballroom.
• 1982 - Bennett wins the Tony Award for Best Choreography for Dreamgirls.
• 1985 - Bennett is diagnosed with AIDS.
• 1987 - Bennett passes away at the age of 44.