John F. Brascia (May 11, 1932 â€" February 19, 2013) was an American
actor and dancer, best known for his dancing partnerships on film with
Vera-Ellen in White Christmas (1954) and with Cyd Charisse and Liliane
Montevecchi in Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956).John Frank Brascia was born
on May 11, 1932 in California, to Italian immigrants Gaetano Brascia
and Caterina Napolitano. The Brascia clan including grandparents Mike
and Consetta Brascia moved from Brooklyn, New York, before John Frank
was born. He had two siblings, Cecilia and Vincent.Brascia was a
high-school basketball player beginning in his sophomore year at
Colton High School as co-captain. At 5’11" he took the position of
guard in his junior year; he was a starter for the Colton
Yellowjackets. He played for Colton on the football squad as the
starting quarterback in his junior and senior years.Brascia was a
featured dancer with Vera-Ellen in White Christmas (1954) and with Cyd
Charisse and Liliane Montevecchi in Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956). With
dancer and wife, Tybee Arfa (1932â€"1982), he formed the dance team
Brascia and Tybee, which, beginning in 1957, began appearing as the
opening act for artists like Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Tony Martin
and George Burns, among others. Married in 1958, the duo appeared
frequently on television's The Ed Sullivan Show (1958â€"66) and on The
Hollywood Palace (1967).
actor and dancer, best known for his dancing partnerships on film with
Vera-Ellen in White Christmas (1954) and with Cyd Charisse and Liliane
Montevecchi in Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956).John Frank Brascia was born
on May 11, 1932 in California, to Italian immigrants Gaetano Brascia
and Caterina Napolitano. The Brascia clan including grandparents Mike
and Consetta Brascia moved from Brooklyn, New York, before John Frank
was born. He had two siblings, Cecilia and Vincent.Brascia was a
high-school basketball player beginning in his sophomore year at
Colton High School as co-captain. At 5’11" he took the position of
guard in his junior year; he was a starter for the Colton
Yellowjackets. He played for Colton on the football squad as the
starting quarterback in his junior and senior years.Brascia was a
featured dancer with Vera-Ellen in White Christmas (1954) and with Cyd
Charisse and Liliane Montevecchi in Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956). With
dancer and wife, Tybee Arfa (1932â€"1982), he formed the dance team
Brascia and Tybee, which, beginning in 1957, began appearing as the
opening act for artists like Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Tony Martin
and George Burns, among others. Married in 1958, the duo appeared
frequently on television's The Ed Sullivan Show (1958â€"66) and on The
Hollywood Palace (1967).
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