Morton DaCosta

Morton DaCosta (March 7, 1914 - January 26, 1989) was an American theatre and film director, film producer, writer, and actor. Born Morton Tecosky in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, DaCosta began his career as an actor in Thornton Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth in 1942. A decade later he made his directing debut with The Grey-Eyed People. Additional Broadway directing credits include Plain and Fancy, No Time for Sergeants, Auntie Mame, The Music Man,... more

Morton DaCosta (March 7, 1914 - January 26, 1989) was an American theatre and film director, film producer, writer, and actor. Born Morton Tecosky in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, DaCosta began his career as an actor in Thornton Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth in 1942. A decade later he made his directing debut with The Grey-Eyed People. Additional Broadway directing credits include Plain and Fancy, No Time for Sergeants, Auntie Mame, The Music Man, Sherry!, The Women, Saratoga, and Maggie Flynn. He also wrote the book for the latter two productions. DaCosta produced and directed the films Auntie Mame (1958), The Music Man (1962), and Island of Love (1963). The Music Man earned DaCosta Tony and Directors Guild of America Award nominations for Best Director and an Oscar nod for Best Picture. DaCosta, who was always known by his nickname Tec, died of heart failure in Redding, Connecticut. less