Emile Ardolino (May 9, 1943 – November 20, 1993) was an American television and film director and producer, best known for his work on the films Dirty Dancing (1987) and Sister Act (1992). He has won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for his film He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin' (1983). Early life and career Ardolino was born in Maspeth, a neighborhood of Queens, the son of Italian immigrants Ester (nee Pesiri) and Emilio Ardolino. He began his career as an actor in Off-Broadway productions, and then moved to the production side of the business. In 1967, he founded Compton-Ardolino Films with Gardner Compton. In the 1970s and 1980s, Ardolino worked for PBS. He profiled dancers and choreographers for their Dance in America and Live from Lincoln Center series. Ardolino won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for the 1983 film He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin'. He found commercial success with the Academy Award-winning 1987 hit Dirty Dancing. Death Ardolino died in California on November 20, 1993 of complications from AIDS. His last films, The Nutcracker (based on George Balanchine's New York City Ballet adaption) and the television production of Gypsy starring Bette Midler, were released and shown posthumously. Ardolino is buried beside his parents at St. John Cemetery in New York. Personal life Ardolino was openly gay. Awards 1969 Obie Award for the Broadway production of Oh! Calcutta! 19 Emmy Award nominations, winning three 1983 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin'. Partial filmography He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin' (1983) Dirty Dancing (1987) Chances Are (1989) Three Men and a Little Lady (1990) Sister Act (1992) The Nutcracker (1993) Gypsy (1993, TV movie) References External links Obituary: Emile Ardolino at The Independent AllMovie 1943 births 1993 deaths AIDS-related deaths in California American people of Italian descent Directors of Best Documentary Feature Academy Award winners Film directors from New York City American gay men LGBT film directors LGBT people from New York (state) Obie Award recipients People from Maspeth, Queens Primetime Emmy Award winners 20th-century American LGBT people