Tony Fields (December 28, 1958 – February 27, 1995[1]) was an American dancer, famous for his performances on the television show Solid Gold, several videos for Michael Jackson, and the film version of the American musical A Chorus Line.
Fields was born Anthony Dean Campos in Stafford, Kansas. After his parents separated when he was four, his mother remarried, and he took his stepfather's last name: Fields. He was raised in Davis, California, showed an early aptitude for gymnastics, then began dance training. He attended Davis High School, graduating in 1977.[2] Fields went to college at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts on scholarship and Roland Dupree Academy of Dance, but left when paid work began to materialize.[2]
He moved to Hollywood to pursue his career and started performing as a backup dancer in Debbie Reynolds' nightclub act.[2] He then found a job on the Solid Gold as a dancer in 1979.[2] Fields continued with Solid Gold until 1985.[2][3] During this time, he performed in the music video for Queen's "Body Language" at Freddie Mercury's request.[4]
Richard Attenborough was working on a film version of the Broadway musical A Chorus Line in 1984. After a casting call that attracted over 3,000 people, and auditions by anyone who previously performed in the musical, Tony Fields won the role of Al DeLuca.[2][6][7][8]
Fields' film work continued with roles in Trick or Treat (1986),[3]Body Beat (1987),[5][9]The Doctor (1991) and Across the Moon (1995) and television shows such as Murder, She Wrote (1992), L.A. Law (1991) and Monsters (1990).[2] He also performed in plays and musical theatre in California.
He gradually became ill and was no longer able to sustain the physical demands of dancing; he returned to Davis High School to mentor students in 1994.[2]
Fields is honored each year at Davis Senior High School with the showcase "A Tribute to Tony Fields" ,[10] celebrating the arts program of the school.[2] He was inducted into the high school's hall of fame in 2009, and a scholarship is available in his name.[2][10]
