John Brascia

John Frank Brascia (May 11, 1932 – February 19, 2013) was an American actor and dancer born in Fresno, California, to Italian immigrants Gaetano Brascia and Caterina Napolitano. His family, which included his uncle Mike and aunt Concetta Brascia, had relocated from Brooklyn, New York before his birth. He grew up with two siblings, Cecilia and Vincent. During his high school years at Colton High School, Brascia was a multi-sport athlete, serving as co-captain of the basketball team and playing guard as a starter for the Colton Yellowjackets. He also played football as the starting quarterback during his junior and senior years.

Brascia made his Broadway debut on February 11, 1953, in Hazel Flagg, a musical adaptation of the film Nothing Sacred featuring a score by Jule Styne and Bob Hilliard. The production was choreographed and supervised by Robert Alton, who would go on to choreograph White Christmas the following year, again with Brascia in the cast. Brascia received a Donaldson Award for his performance in the show.

His film career included featured dancing roles alongside Vera-Ellen in White Christmas (1954) and alongside Cyd Charisse and Liliane Montevecchi in Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956). In the latter film, Brascia played the role of Johnny in a finale ballet set to the "Frankie and Johnny" ballad, with lyrics by Sammy Cahn and off-screen vocals by Sammy Davis Jr. In 1955, Brascia appeared as a featured dancer in The Magic Carpet Revue, New York - Paris - Paradise, a production that opened at the Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas on May 23, 1955, and starred Vera-Ellen with a cast of 60.

With his dance partner and first wife, Tybee Arfa (1932–1982), Brascia formed the team Brascia and Tybee. Beginning in 1957, the duo served as the opening act for performers including Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Tony Martin, and George Burns. After marrying in 1958, the pair made frequent television appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show from 1958 to 1966 and on The Hollywood Palace in 1967. Brascia transitioned into non-dancing film roles starting in 1967, including two Matt Helm films featuring Dean Martin. His later film work culminated in The Baltimore Bullet (1980), which he produced and for which he received story and screenplay credits.

Brascia was married three times. His second marriage, to actress and model Sondra Scott, took place in 1970 with Tony Bennett serving as best man; the couple had a daughter before divorcing. In 1986 he married actress and model Jordan Michaels, with whom he had a second daughter. Brascia died in 2013 at the age of 80, survived by Jordan Michaels Brascia, his two daughters, and extended family. His son-in-law, through his older daughter, was football player Cade McNown.