Marc Platt (dancer)


Marcel Emile Gaston LePlat, known professionally as Marc Platt, was an 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.

Career

Born Marcel LePlat to a French immigrant father 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, set to music by Richard Rodgers.
Platt danced the role of Chalmers/Dream Curly in the original 1943 Broadway production of Oklahoma!. Platt was also 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'.
Another notable role for Platt was as Bill Calhoun / Lucent in the Cole Porter musical, KISS ME, KATE, which opened on Broadway on December 30, 1948, though Platt did not join the cast until
1949.
After he stopped dancing, Platt served as the director of 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.

Personal life

Platt was married twice and has three children. Ted Le Plat, 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.

Filmography