James J. Starbuck

By VARIETY STAFF

Choreographer and dancer James J. Starbuck, who earned two Emmy Awards and worked on Broadway, died Aug. 13 of pancreatic cancer at his home in Beverly Hills. He was 85.

Starbuck choreographed a handful of series from TV's Golden Age, including "Your Show of Shows" from 1950 to 1954, "Frankie Laine Time" in 1955, "Sing Along with Mitch" from 1961 to 1964 and "The Andy Williams Show" from 1966 to 1967.

He won his first Emmy as director/choreographer of "Arthur Murray's Dance Party" and his second as director of "The Andy Williams Show."

Born in Denver in 1912, he and his parents relocated to Oakland when he was 12.

Starbuck later began his career with the San Francisco Opera Ballet, with whom he danced until joining the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.

He spent 30 years as a resident of New York City, where he performed on Broadway in "Song of Norway" and "Sleepy Hollow." He created the original choreography for "Michael Todd's Peep Show" and "Fanny."

Starbuck directed and choreographed early TV appearances of such stars as Ethel Merman, Bob Hope, Ginger Rogers and Maurice Chevalier.