Jerome Wilson Rabbin (October 11, 1918 – July 29, 1998), professionally known as Jerome Robbins, was an American choreographer, director, producer, and dancer. He is regarded as one of the most influential figures in American musical theatre and ballet. Robbins created the choreography for landmark productions including On the Town (1944), The King and I (1951), Peter Pan (1954), Gypsy (1959), Fiddler on the Roof (1964), and West Side Story (1957), which he also co-directed for the 1961 film adaptation, winning the Academy Award for Best Director. His work with the New York City Ballet and Broadway left a lasting impact on both dance and musical theatre.