Fred Astaire
Biography
Fred Astaire (May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American dancer, singer, actor and choreographer. He is widely regarded as the most influential dancer in the history of film. Born as Frederick Austerlitz in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 10, 1899, to Johanna (Geilus) and Fritz, a brewer, he entered show business at age 5. He was successful in vaudeville and on Broadway as well as in London's West End together with his sister Adele, a partnership that lasted 27 years. After Adele retired to marry in 1932, Astaire headed to Hollywood. Signed to RKO, he was loaned to MGM to appear in Dancing Lady (1933) before starting work on RKO's Flying Down to Rio (1933). In the latter film, he was teamed with Ginger Rogers, with whom he worked in 9 RKO pictures. Astaire later appeared opposite a number of partners, including Cyd Charisse, Rita Hayworth, Vera-Ellen and Barrie Chase. Astaire remained active well into old age, starring in musicals through 1968, and also performed a number of straight dramatic roles in film and TV. Throughout his career, he was also active in recording and radio. He died of pneumonia on June 22, 1987 in Los Angeles.
Known For
Jerry Travers
Top Hat
Lucky Garnett
Swing Time
Harlee Claiborne
The Towering Inferno
S.D. Kluger (narrator) (voice)
The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town
Petrov
Shall We Dance
Huck Haines
Roberta
Ricky Hawthorne
Ghost Story
Danny O'Neill
Second Chorus
Jervis Pendleton III
Daddy Long Legs
Narrator
Flashing Spikes
Dick Avery
Funny Face
S.D. Kluger (voice)
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
Ted Hanover
Holiday Inn
Bake Baker
Follow the Fleet
Fred Ayres
Flying Down to Rio
Guy Holden
The Gay Divorcee
Julian Osborn
On the Beach
Robert Curtis
You'll Never Get Rich
Tony Hunter
The Band Wagon
Don Hewes
Easter Parade
Tony Flagg
Carefree
Josh Barkley
The Barkleys of Broadway
Finian McLonergan
Finian's Rainbow
Bert Kalmar
Three Little Words
Steve Canfield
Silk Stockings
Charlie Hill
The Belle of New York
Fred Astaire / Raffles / Tai Long / Gentleman
Ziegfeld Follies
Johnny Parkson Riggs
Yolanda and the Thief
Fred Atwell (Fred Burton)
The Sky's the Limit
Robert Davis
You Were Never Lovelier
Johnny Brett
Broadway Melody of 1940
Fred Astaire
Dancing Lady
Jerry Halliday
A Damsel in Distress
Tom Bowen
Royal Wedding
Vernon Castle
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle
Franklyn Ambruster
The Notorious Landlady
(archive footage)
Showbiz Goes to War
Jed Potter
Blue Skies
Self
The World Premiere of 'Finian's Rainbow'
Self - Co-Host / Narrator
That's Entertainment, Part II
The Baltimore Kid
The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again
Dr. Seamus Scully
Un taxi mauve
Self (archive footage)
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
Biddeford 'Pogo' Poole
The Pleasure of His Company
Daniel Hughes
The Amazing Dobermans
Self
Doris Day: It's Magic
Donald Elwood
Let's Dance
Self
George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey
John Pedley
Midas Run
Santa Claus
The Man in the Santa Claus Suit
Self
Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)
Ted Long
A Family Upside Down
(archive footage)
Going Hollywood: The '30s
Self (archive footage)
You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story
Various Roles (archive footage)
Dance Crazy in Hollywood
Archive Footage
"All -Singing All-Dancing" Before And After
Self (archive footage)
The Men Who Made the Movies: Vincente Minnelli
Self (Archive Footage)
Easter Parade: On the Avenue
Cole Porter in Hollywood: Begin the Beguine
Self (archive footage)
Cole Porter in Hollywood: Satin and Silk
Self - Host / Narrator
That's Entertainment!
Self (archive footage)
Get Aboard! 'The Band Wagon'
Self (archive footage)
Audrey Hepburn: Remembered
Self (archive footage)
A Bing Crosby Christmas
(archive footage)
Perspectives: For the Love of Fred Astaire
Self (archive footage)
That's Dancing!
(archive footage)
That's Entertainment! III
Self (archive footage)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
Hollywood Musicals of the 40's
Self - Host
Astaire Time
Self
An Evening with Fred Astaire
Self - Host
The Fred Astaire Show
Self
Another Evening with Fred Astaire
Self (archive footage)
Complicated Women
(archive footage)
Twenty Years After
Self
Imagine
Self
The Lion Roars Again
Various Roles (archive footage)
La La La
Self (archive footage)
Stars of Cabaret
Various / Self (archive footage)
Astaire and Rogers: Partners in Rhythm
Self (archive footage)
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
Self (archive footage)
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
Self (archive footage)
Sid & Judy
Self (archive footage)
Fred Astaire donne le 'la'
Self (archive footage)
Darcey Bussell: Looking for Fred Astaire
Self (archive footage)
Reunited at MGM: Astaire and Rogers Together Again
Self (archive footage)
The Fred Astaire Songbook
Self (archive footage)
Astaire and Rogers Sing the Great American Songbook
Self
S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin
Self (archive footage)
Sem Título #1: Dance of Leitfossil
Self (archive footage)
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression
(archive footage)
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing
Self (archive footage)
Gene Kelly mène la danse
Self (archive footage)
Hooray for Hollywood
Self (archived footage)
Rain Man
Character in film clip from 'The Gay Divorcee' (archive footage) (uncredited)
Cocoon
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
96
Gender
Male
Birthday
1899-05-10
Place of Birth
Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Also Known As
Frederic Austerlitz Jr.