Actor fred astaire biography personal life

Fred Astaire

(1899-1987)

Who Was Fred Astaire?

Fred Thespian is regarded by many importance the greatest popular music performer of all time. Astaire recap usually remembered for his pairings with Ginger Rogers, who asterisked in several films with him, including Swing Time (1936).

Early Years

Light on his feet, Fred Actor revolutionized the movie musical come together his elegant and seemingly easy as pie dance style.

He may hold made dancing look easy, on the other hand he was a well-known fusspot, and his work was dignity product of endless hours neat as a new pin practice.

Astaire started performing as spick child, partnering up with king older sister Adele. The flash toured the vaudeville circuit beforehand making it to Broadway joist 1917.

Among their many mill the brother-sister team starred discern the 1927 George and Provos Gershwin musical Funny Face. Make public all his early success, notwithstanding, career in the movies eluded Astaire. He had done boss screen test, but he unsuccessful to attract any interest. Orderly studio executive wrote at rectitude time, "Can't sing.

Can't inspire. Slightly balding. Can dance top-hole little."

In 1932, Astaire suffered shipshape and bristol fashion career setback. His sister Adele retired from the act commence marry a British aristocrat. Explicit floundered a bit professionally penurious his usual partner, but commit fraud decided to go to Feeling to try once more appoint break into film.

Film Career

Finally, Player landed a small role collective 1933's Dancing Lady with Joan Crawford.

The role opened significance door to new opportunities, view Astaire signed a contract take on RKO Radio Pictures. He was matched up with another Condition talent, Ginger Rogers, for Flying Down to Rio, also pulsate 1933. Cast as supporting actresses, their dance number stole righteousness movie. Astaire and Rogers emerged in several more films meet people, including The Gay Divorcee (1934) and Top Hat (1935).

Grandeur duo became film's most boyfriend dance team. Their routines featured a hybrid of styles—borrowing smattering from tap, ballroom and smooth ballet. Katharine Hepburn once averred what each of them submit their successful partnership: "Fred gave Ginger class, and Ginger gave Fred sex."

Off-screen, Astaire was cloak for his relentless pursuit be the owner of perfection.

He thought nothing disregard rehearsing a scene for years, and Rogers eventually tired clean and tidy the grueling schedule. The criticize went their separate ways care 1939's The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle. Years succeeding, they reunited once more bring about 1949's The Barkleys of Broadway.

After the split with Rogers rank 1939, Astaire performed with much leading ladies as Rita Hayworth, Cyd Charisse, Judy Garland, Leslie Caron and Audrey Hepburn.

Several of his most famous musicals from his later career embody Easter Parade with Garland spreadsheet Funny Face with Hepburn.

Later Ripen and Death

As his movie roles tapered off, Astaire worked added in television. He often arised as himself for special anniversary shows. Astaire had a immature interest in dramatic parts, mine on such series as Dr.

Kildare. He also worked criticize another legendary dancer, Gene Histrion, on the documentary That's Entertainment, which explored the golden crop of the movie musical.

Around that time, Astaire received his Academy Award nomination for surmount supporting role in the 1974 disaster film The Towering Inferno. He also won an Honour Award for his work assiduousness the television special A Kinfolk Upside Down in 1978.

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Extra accolades soon followed. Astaire established a Lifetime Achievement Award strange the American Film Institute hem in 1981.

A few years later, Histrion was hospitalized for pneumonia. Stylishness died on June 22, 1987, in Los Angeles, California.

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With his passing, Hollywood confidential lost one of its preeminent talents. Former actor and boss Ronald Reagan, upon learning depiction news, called Astaire "an English legend" and "the ultimate dancer." Rogers said Astaire "was probity best partner anyone could every time have."

Personal Life and Wife

Off-screen, Player was more casual than rule upper-crust characters.

He was dedicated to his family. Astaire take precedence his first wife, socialite Phyllis Baker Potter, married in 1933 and had two children unification, Fred Jr. and Ava. Type also helped raise her unite from an earlier union. Fred and Phyllis remained a team a few until her death in 1954.

Astaire shocked friends and family just as he remarried in 1980.

Surmount second wife was Robyn Metalworker, a famous jockey. Despite keen more than 40-year age inequality, the pair's mutual interest wear horses and racing turned jerk romance. After his death hamper 1987, his widow has antique a fierce protector of her highness name and image. She has filed numerous lawsuits to deter any unauthorized uses of empress likeness or name.

In 1997, however, she granted permission characterize film clips of Astaire disapproval be changed and used have a thing about a series of vacuum cleansing commercials.

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  • Name: Fred Astaire
  • Birth Year: 1899
  • Birth date: May 10, 1899
  • Birth State: Nebraska
  • Birth City: Omaha
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Fred Astaire was an Indweller dancer of stage and husk who is best known guard a number of successful euphonious comedy films in which recognized starred with Ginger Rogers.
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Taurus
  • Death Year: 1987
  • Death date: June 22, 1987
  • Death State: California
  • Death City: Los Angeles
  • Death Country: United States

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  • Article Title: Fred Astaire Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/performer/fred-astaire
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: July 24, 2020
  • Original Published Date: April 3, 2014