Sammy Lee (May 26, 1890 – March 30, 1968), born Samuel Levy, was an American choreographer, dancer, and producer who worked mainly on Broadway and for 20th Century Fox film corporation in Hollywood.
[1] Lee got his start on the Broadway stage as a dancer and choreographer, along with Signor Albertiera, in the Arthur Hammerstein produced Friml operetta, The Firefly.
As his popularity grew in Manhattan, Lee drew the attention of famed Broadway producer, Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., who employed him to choreograph his Follies of 1927.
[2] His most famous work for the stage was when he teamed up with Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II, and his friend Florenz Ziegfeld to create the musical Show Boat.
[4] Lee's work in film was not as prolific as it was in the theater, however, he was nominated for two Academy Awards during his career, both in the dance direction category.