Trivia

He died penniless. Ed Sullivan quietly paid for his funeral because he thought he deserved a dignified burial.

A native of Richmond, Virginia, Robinson once paid to have a traffic light installed at the corner of Adams and West Leigh Streets, so that the local children could cross the street safely on their way to school. In appreciation, the City of Richmond presented him with an engraved key to the City. Today, a statue of Robinson stands at the corner of Adams and West Leigh Streets.

He was very dedicated to the people of Harlem and often donated his time and money to the people, in an era when it was much needed. The people of Harlem showed their appreciation, to someone they saw as a great gentleman, when they lined the streets in their thousands on the day of his funeral. Having lived a generous and fun-loving lifestyle he died almost penniless and his funeral was paid for by a collection of his celebrity colleagues (including Frank Sinatra).

Widely credited with coining the adjective "copasetic," or at the very least popularizing the term.

Grandson of a slave.

Once set a world's record in the backwards 75-yard dash (in 8.2 seconds).

Founding member of the Negro Actors Guild of America (NAGA).

The 1932 all-black movie titled Harlem Is Heaven (1932) was supposedly based on Robinson's life.

Was the best man at the first wedding of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige. .

At one point in his career he made $6,500 a week in vaudeville billed as the "World's Greatest Tap Dancer" and headlined New York's Palace Theater, which was the top vaudeville house at the time.

One of the first blacks to act on Broadway, he also appeared in the first all-black motion picture called Harlem Is Heaven (1932) in which he played a mayor.

Though it borrowed his name, Jerry Jeff Walker's 1968 song "Mr. Bojangles" (covered by many other artists, including Sammy Davis Jr. in 1972) was about a fantasy character who had little in common with Robinson. Robinson did not drink, was never a down-and-outer and was always a fastidious dresser. His dancing style was always close to the ground, never "leap . . . and lightly touch down.".

He took his brother's name (William); his real name was Luther.

Inducted into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame in 2002 (inaugural class).

Ebbets Field, April 15, 1947: In celebration of Jackie Robinson's first appearance breaking the color barrier in professional baseball, was tapdancing on top of the Brooklyn Dodgers dugout.

His manager from 1908 until his death was Marty Forkins who eventually had him working in nightclubs for up to $3500 per week.

In 1982, a pair of his tap shoes were on display in the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute.

Appeared in 4 movies with Shirley Temple: The Little Colonel (1935), The Littlest Rebel (1935), Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1938) , and Just Around the Corner (1938).

During World War I, Robinson was the drum major of the 369th Infantry Regiment, the so-called "Harlem Hellfighters."

Portrayed by Gregory Hines in Bojangles (2001).

The world's preeminent tap dancer of his day, he is remembered for his appearances as trouper with the moppet Shirley Temple in four of her 1930s films.

His father was a machine-shop worker and mother a choir singer/director. Both died while he was an infant.

Two scenes featuring Bill Robinson were cut from the final version of 'Café Metropole (1937)': a solo tap dance performance in black tie by the dancing legend and a Danse Apache duet with Geneva Sawyer. Both scenes are included in a DVD released by Fox as part of "Tyrone Power, Matinee Idol".

Married three times. Second wife, Fanny Clay, was his business manager. Third wife, Elaine Plaines, was a dancer.

A one-time honorary mayor of Harlem and mascot of the New York Giants baseball team.

Often credited white dancer James Barton as an influence in his dancing style.

Became a member of the Screen Actors Guild in late 1935.

Fred Astaire paid homage to him in the movie Swing Time (1936) by dancing one of his routines in a song called "Bojangles of Harlem" in black-face.