Charles Laskey

Charles Laskey (September 20, 1908 – December 13, 1998) was an American ballet dancer and musical theatre performer whose Broadway career spanned from 1930 to 1945. He is particularly noted for his long professional association with choreographer George Balanchine.

Laskey's work in ballet encompassed several major companies and collaborators. He performed with Balanchine's American Ballet, Ballet Caravan, and the New York City Ballet, and also danced with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet and Eleanor King's Little Group. Among his most significant contributions to the ballet repertoire was originating roles in Balanchine's works, including Serenade in 1935. He additionally performed in pieces choreographed by Eugene Loring and Lew Christensen.

His Broadway career began with a production of Lysistrata in 1930. Laskey subsequently served as principal dancer in two Balanchine-choreographed musicals, I Married an Angel and Louisiana Purchase. His other Broadway credits include Alma Mater and Oklahoma!, in which he toured as Dream Curly, a role Agnes de Mille was initially dissatisfied with his interpretation of.

Beyond the stage, Laskey followed Balanchine to Hollywood, where he appeared in the films On Your Toes (1939), I Was an Adventuress (1940), and Louisiana Purchase (1941). He is survived by his sons Charles Jr. and Dr. Richard A. Laskey.