Patti LuPone Pays Heartwarming Tribute To Late Brother Robert The 'Unparalleled' Dancer

Broadway legend Patti LuPone opened up about her late brother Robert LuPone in a tribute emphasizing his immense talent, "unparalleled" dancing skills and great contribution to Broadway and theatre.

Patti and Robert were born to library administrator Angela Louise and English teacher Orlando Joseph LuPone. Both were drawn to the arts at a young age, and they later enrolled in Juilliard School, one of the world's top conservatories of music, dance, and theater.

While Patti stuck to a career of acting and stage performance in which she also incorporates singing, Robert would first start as a dancer before venturing into the world of theatre. Following the Broadway icon's recent death, Patti has shared some recollections from their time together, particularly her brother's love of dancing.'

In an interview with Page Six, Patti paid tribute to her brother, who passed her on after a three-year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. The actress gushed about their time together and her brother's first love, dancing, adding that his skills were "unparalleled."

"My brother Bobby was a dancer unparalleled," the 73 – year – old told the publication.

She added that his passion for the dance art began from an early and jokingly hinted that she might have helped influence it.

"And it all started when he saw me in a dance recital wearing a hula skirt. I was 4, he was 7," Patti said.

Robert attended dance class from an early age to pursue his passion for dancing. He also enrolled as a teen in the Martha Graham Studio, where he was tutored about the arts by Antony Tudor, Jose Limon, and Martha Graham. He would later attend Juilliard School and graduate with a bachelor's degree in dance from the institution in 1968.

Like Robert, Patti had attended Julliard to pursue her passion for drama. Elsewhere in the interview, she revealed that the famous school's photo gallery had a "life-sized picture" of her brother performing in Jose Limon's modern ballet, "There is a Time."

Having to see such a huge memento of her brother as she walked the hallways was not only a great inspiration to Patti but felt like a proud moment and a reminder of how much talent her brother possessed.

Indeed, Robert had remarkable success after earning his Julliard degree. He featured in numerous Broadway productions during his lifetime, including the original of "A Chorus Line," which earned him a Tony Award nomination. He also appeared in "Minnie's Boys," "The Rothschilds," "The Magic Show," "A View from the Bridge," "True West," and "A Thousand Clowns."

Patti's recent interview is among the many times she has spoken about her brother's dancing abilities and passion for the arts. In 1998, the actress also reminisced the first time she saw Robert dancing and gushed about how much she was in awe of his talents.

"When I first saw Bobby dance at Juilliard, it was just mind-blowing," Patti said in an interview with Playbill, per Page Six. "Bobby was a phenomenal, phenomenal dancer."

The burden of parenting prevented Patti and Robert from continuing their long-standing close relationship formed from an early age. However, they eventually got back in touch and dealt with their difficulties.

"I'm happy to say that we've truly worked through [any problems], and it's so interesting to be so close again as we once were," Robert said in the same interview. "What happened is a result of [Patti having] her own family and being a mother herself and both of us maturing and wanting to reconnect."

Following his demise, MCC Theater, a Broadway production house Robert formed alongside Will Cantler and Bernie Telsey, paid tribute to the icon in a touching announcement.

"The MCC Theater community mourns the loss of our much loved and uniquely inspiring partner, colleague, and dear friend, Bob LuPone, who lived fearlessly and with great curiosity, good humor, a boundless passion for connection, and a whole lot of heart," the statement read, per Page Six.

Both cofounders also wrote an emotional eulogy posted on MCC Theater's official website, which contained several impactful details about their time together.

The letter read, "Bob was a force, an advocate, complex in the richest ways, overflowing with a youthful enthusiasm, and deeply wise as he looked into our souls. He was our best friend. It is hard to believe that we will never sit down with him again and say, let's talk."