Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire (May 10, 1899 โ 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
Credits
- 2025 ยทGene Kelly - An American in Hollywoodas Self (archive footage)
- 2024 ยทThe Rudolph, Frosty & Friends Sing Alongas
- 2022 ยทA Life in Technicoloras
- 2019 ยทSid & Judyas Self (archive footage)
- 2019 ยทIn Full Swingas Self (Archive Footage)
- 2018 ยทLa La Laas Various Roles (archive footage)
- 2017 ยทFred Astaire donne le 'la'as Self (archive footage)
- 2017 ยทDarcey Bussell: Looking for Fred Astaireas Self (archive footage)
- 2016 ยทMichael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wallas Self (archive footage)
- 2015 ยทPerspectives: For the Love of Fred Astaireas (archive footage)
- 2014 ยทBing Crosby: Rediscoveredas Self (archive footage)
- 2014 ยทSem Tรญtulo #1: Dance of Leitfossilas Self (archive footage)
- 2014 ยทAnd the Oscar Goes To...as Self (archive footage)
- 2013 ยทTalking Picturesas Self (archive footage)
- 2012 ยทBad 25as Tony Hunter (archive footage)
- 2010 ยทAstaire and Rogers Sing the Great American Songbookas Self (archive footage)
- 2009 ยทHollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singingas (archive footage)
- 2009 ยท1939: Hollywood's Greatest Yearas Self (archive footage)
- 2009 ยทHollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depressionas Self (archive)
- 2006 ยทAstaire and Rogers: Partners in Rhythmas Various / Self (archive footage)
- 2006 ยท"All -Singing All-Dancing" Before And Afteras Archive Footage
- 2005 ยทReunited at MGM: Astaire and Rogers Together Againas Self (archive footage)
- 2005 ยทEaster Parade: On the Avenueas Self (Archive Footage)
- 2005 ยทGet Aboard! 'The Band Wagon'as Self (archive footage)
- 2003 ยทComplicated Womenas Self (archive footage)
- 2003 ยทCole Porter in Hollywood: Satin and Silkas Self (Archive Footage)
- 2003 ยทCole Porter in Hollywood: Begin the Beguineas
- 2000 ยทHollywood Musicals of the 40'sas Self (archive footage)
- 1998 ยทDoris Day: It's Magicas Self
- 1998 ยทA Bing Crosby Christmasas Self (archive footage)
- 1994 ยทThat's Entertainment! IIIas (archive footage)
- 1993 ยทAudrey Hepburn: Rememberedas Self (archive footage)
- 1991 ยทThe Fred Astaire Songbookas Self (archive footage)
- 1990 ยทStar Lifeas Self (archive footage)
- 1990 ยทYou're the Top: The Cole Porter Storyas Self (archive footage)
- 1990 ยทDance Crazy in Hollywoodas Various Roles (archive footage)
- 1987 ยทThe RKO Story: Tales From Hollywoodas Self
- 1985 ยทGeorge Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journeyas Self
- 1985 ยทThe Purple Rose of Cairoas Jerry Travers (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1985 ยทThat's Dancing!as Self (archive footage)
- 1984 ยทGoing Hollywood: The '30sas (archive footage)
- 1982 ยทShowbiz Goes to Waras (archive footage)
- 1981 ยทGhost Storyas Ricky Hawthorne
- 1980 ยทFred Astaireas Self
- 1979 ยทThe Man in the Santa Claus Suitas Santa Claus
- 1978 ยทThe Kennedy Center Honorsas Self
- 1978 ยทBattlestar Galacticaas Chameleon / Captain Dimitri
- 1978 ยทA Family Upside Downas Ted Long
- 1977 ยทThe Purple Taxias Dr. Seamus Scully
- 1977 ยทThe Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Townas S.D. Kluger (narrator) (voice)
- 1976 ยทThe Amazing Dobermansas Daniel Hughes
- 1976 ยทThat's Entertainment, Part IIas Self - Co-Host / Narrator
- 1975 ยทBrother, Can You Spare a Dime?as Self (archive footage)
- 1975 ยทThe Lion Roars Againas Self
- 1974 ยทThe Towering Infernoas Harlee Claiborne
- 1974 ยทDinah!as Self
- 1974 ยทThat's Entertainment!as Self - Host / Narrator
- 1973 ยทThe American Film Institute Salute to ...as Self
- 1973 ยทThe Men Who Made the Movies: Vincente Minnellias Self (archive footage)
- 1972 ยทImagineas Self
- 1972 ยทS Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwinas Self
- 1972 ยทHollywood: The Dream Factoryas Self (archive footage)
- 1970 ยทSanta Claus Is Comin' to Townas S.D. Kluger (voice)
- 1970 ยทThe Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Againas The Baltimore Kid
- 1969 ยทMidas Runas John Pedley
- 1968 ยทFinian's Rainbowas Finian McLonergan
- 1968 ยทThe Dick Cavett Showas Self - Guest
- 1968 ยทThe Fred Astaire Showas Self - Host
- 1968 ยทThe World Premiere of 'Finian's Rainbow'as Self
- 1963 ยทHollywood and the Starsas Self (archive footage)
- 1962 ยทFlashing Spikesas Narrator
- 1962 ยทThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas Self
- 1962 ยทThe Notorious Landladyas Franklyn Ambruster
- 1961 ยทHollywood: The Selznick Yearsas 'Dancing Lady' (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1961 ยทThe Mike Douglas Showas Self
- 1961 ยทThe Mike Douglas Showas Self - Co-Host
- 1961 ยทAlcoa Premiereas Self - Host
- 1961 ยทDr. Kildareas Joe Quinlan
- 1961 ยทThe Pleasure of His Companyas Biddeford 'Pogo' Poole
- 1960 ยทAstaire Timeas Self - Host
- 1959 ยทOn the Beachas Julian Osborn
- 1959 ยทAnother Evening with Fred Astaireas Self
- 1958 ยทAn Evening with Fred Astaireas Self
- 1957 ยทSilk Stockingsas Steve Canfield
- 1957 ยทFunny Faceas Dick Avery
- 1956 ยทThe Steve Allen Showas Self - Recipient
- 1956 ยทCinรฉpanoramaas Self
- 1956 ยทStars of Cabaretas Self (archive footage)
- 1955 ยทMGM Paradeas Performer in 'Ziegfeld Follies'
- 1955 ยทMGM Paradeas actor 'Broadway Melody of 1940' (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1955 ยทDaddy Long Legsas Jervis Pendleton III
- 1953 ยทThe Band Wagonas Tony Hunter
- 1953 ยทThe Oscarsas Self
- 1953 ยทGeneral Electric Theateras J. Willingham Bardley
- 1953 ยทGeneral Electric Theateras Paul Ashcroft
- 1952 ยทThe Belle of New Yorkas Charlie Hill
- 1951 ยทRoyal Weddingas Tom Bowen
- 1950 ยทLet's Danceas Donald Elwood
- 1950 ยทThree Little Wordsas Bert Kalmar
- 1950 ยทWhat's My Line?as Self - Mystery Guest
- 1949 ยทThe Barkleys of Broadwayas Josh Barkley
- 1949 ยทThe Emmy Awardsas Self
- 1948 ยทEaster Paradeas Don Hewes
- 1948 ยทThe Ed Sullivan Showas Self
- 1946 ยทBlue Skiesas Jed Potter
- 1945 ยทYolanda and the Thiefas Johnny Parkson Riggs
- 1945 ยทZiegfeld Folliesas Fred Astaire / Raffles / Tai Long / Gentleman
- 1944 ยทTwenty Years Afteras (archive footage)
- 1943 ยทThe Sky's the Limitas Fred Atwell (Fred Burton)
- 1942 ยทYou Were Never Lovelieras Robert Davis
- 1942 ยทHoliday Innas Ted Hanover
- 1942 ยทScreen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)as Self
- 1941 ยทYou'll Never Get Richas Robert Curtis
- 1941 ยทSecond Chorusas Danny O'Neill
- 1940 ยทBroadway Melody of 1940as Johnny Brett
- 1939 ยทThe Story of Vernon and Irene Castleas Vernon Castle
- 1938 ยทCarefreeas Tony Flagg
- 1937 ยทA Damsel in Distressas Jerry Halliday
- 1937 ยทShall We Danceas Petrov
- 1936 ยทSwing Timeas Lucky Garnett
- 1936 ยทFollow the Fleetas Bake Baker
- 1935 ยทTop Hatas Jerry Travers
- 1935 ยทRobertaas Huck Haines
- 1934 ยทThe Gay Divorceeas Guy Holden
- 1933 ยทFlying Down to Rioas Fred Ayres
- 1933 ยทDancing Ladyas Fred Astaire