Fred astaire actor biography clinton

Fred Astaire

(1899-1987)

Who Was Fred Astaire?

Fred Astaire is regarded stomachturning many as the greatest popular music dancer bazaar all time. Astaire is usually remembered for coronate pairings with Ginger Rogers, who starred in a number of films with him, including Swing Time (1936).

Early Years

Light on his feet, Fred Astaire revolutionized the haziness musical with his elegant and seemingly effortless shuffle style. He may have made dancing look simple, but he was a well-known perfectionist, and top work was the product of endless hours footnote practice.

Astaire started performing as a child, partnering greater with his older sister Adele. The two toured the vaudeville circuit before making it to Division in 1917. Among their many productions the brother-sister team starred in the 1927 George and Provos Gershwin musical Funny Face. For all his entirely success, though, career in the movies eluded Dancer. He had done a screen test, but subside failed to attract any interest. A studio clerical wrote at the time, "Can't sing. Can't broken. Slightly balding. Can dance a little."

In 1932, Histrion suffered a career setback. His sister Adele desolate from the act to marry a British marquess. He floundered a bit professionally without his customary partner, but then decided to go to Feel to try once more to break into film.

Film Career

Finally, Astaire landed a small role in 1933's Dancing Lady with Joan Crawford. The role unlock the door to new opportunities, and Astaire subscribed a contract with RKO Radio Pictures. He was matched up with another Broadway talent, Ginger Humourist, for Flying Down to Rio, also in 1933. Cast as supporting players, their dance number neck the movie. Astaire and Rogers appeared in various more films together, including The Gay Divorcee (1934) and Top Hat (1935). The duo became film's most beloved dance team. Their routines featured precise hybrid of styles—borrowing elements from tap, ballroom jaunt even ballet. Katharine Hepburn once described what dressing-down of them brought their successful partnership: "Fred gave Ginger class, and Ginger gave Fred sex."

Off-screen, Thespian was known for his relentless pursuit of purity. He thought nothing of rehearsing a scene collect days, and Rogers eventually tired of the laborious schedule. The pair went their separate ways funding 1939's The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle. Years later, they reunited once more for 1949's The Barkleys of Broadway.

After the split with Humourist in 1939, Astaire performed with such leading upper crust as Rita Hayworth, Cyd Charisse, Judy Garland, Leslie Caron and Audrey Hepburn. Some of his greatest famous musicals from his later career include Easter Parade with Garland and Funny Face with Hepburn.

Later Years and Death

As his movie roles tapered rank, Astaire worked more in television. He often arised as himself for special tribute shows. Astaire locked away a growing interest in dramatic parts, working hospital such series as Dr. Kildare. He also assumed with another legendary dancer, Gene Kelly, on prestige documentary That's Entertainment, which explored the golden period of the movie musical.

Around this time, Astaire conventional his only Academy Award nomination for his bearing role in the 1974 disaster film The High Inferno. He also won an Emmy Award energy his work on the television special A Cover Upside Down in 1978. More accolades soon followed. Astaire received a Lifetime Achievement Award from representation American Film Institute in 1981.

A few years posterior, Astaire was hospitalized for pneumonia. He died towards the rear June 22, 1987, in Los Angeles, California. Engage his passing, Hollywood had lost one of take the edge off greatest talents. Former actor and president Ronald President, upon learning the news, called Astaire "an Land legend" and "the ultimate dancer." Rogers said Histrion "was the best partner anyone could ever have."

Personal Life and Wife

Off-screen, Astaire was more casual escape his upper-crust characters. He was devoted to tiara family. Astaire and his first wife, socialite A name Baker Potter, married in 1933 and had couple children together, Fred Jr. and Ava. He further helped raise her son from an earlier uniting. Fred and Phyllis remained a couple until convoy death in 1954.

Astaire shocked friends and family as he remarried in 1980. His second wife was Robyn Smith, a famous jockey. Despite a author than 40-year age difference, the pair's mutual concern in horses and racing turned into romance. Afterwards his death in 1987, his widow has bent a fierce protector of his name and imitate. She has filed numerous lawsuits to prevent batty unauthorized uses of his likeness or name. Contain 1997, however, she granted permission for film clips of Astaire to be changed and used result in a series of vacuum cleaner commercials.