Fred Astaire - An American Dancer, Choreographer, Actor, And Singer
American dancer, choreographer, musician, singer, and actor Fred Astaire had a $10 million fortune at the time of his death. In May 1899, Fred Astaire was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and he died in June 1987. His 76-year career included 31 musical films, several award-winning television programs, and albums.
Quick Facts About Fred Astaire
| Full Name | Fred Astaire |
| Net Worth | $10 Million |
| Date Of Birth | May 10, 1899, Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Died | June 22, 1987 (aged 88) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Height | 1.75 m |
| Profession | Dancer, singer, actor, choreographer, television presenter |
| Education | Alviene Master School of the Theatre, Academy of Cultural Arts |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Robyn Smith (m. 1980–1987), Phyllis Potter (m. 1933–1954) |
Early Life Of Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire was born on May 10, 1899, in Omaha, Nebraska. His father, Johan, was born in Austria but immigrated to the United States as a young kid. His mother, Ann, was a German immigrant. Fred was the second of three boys; his younger brother, William, became a writer and producer, while his elder brother, Adolph, subsequently achieved renown as the stage and movie actor Adolph Menjou.
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When Fred was four years old, his family relocated to New York City, where he started learning to dance. Fred completed his education as an adolescent under the tutelage of notable instructors like Catherine Littlefield and Marie Dressler.
He also began appearing in nearby vaudeville performances. In 1917, he was cast as the lead in the Broadway production Over the Top by producer Charles Frohman. The start of Astaire's professional career came with this.
The Career Of Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire with a partner performed as "Juvenile Artists Presenting an Electric Musical Toe-Dancing Novelty" for their New Jersey premiere. The local newspapers expressed their pleasure at the performance. Following their performances at the Orpheum Circuit and a few other US venues, they became even more well-known.
After that, they had to take a two-year hiatus to comply with child labor rules. The couple split up after Adele married Lord Charles Arthur Francis Cavendish in 1932, and Fred suffered anguish.
However, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise because he now had a wider range and could perform amorous actions. His first audition, which was unsuccessful, was for RKO Radio Pictures. He made his Hollywood debut in the 1933 movie "Dancing Lady," which was produced by MGM and starred Joan Crawford.
In the movie "Flying Down to Rio," he joined RKO once again (1933). In this movie, he was teamed with Ginger Rogers for the first time, and although he was in a supporting role, the two of them were the stars of the show. Following this, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers gained enormous popularity as a movie duo.
In his musicals, Fred Astaire introduced two novelties. First, he asked that the dancers be constantly in full view and that the complete dance routine be captured in a single shot. And second, rather than using dance as a show, he wanted to incorporate the dance routines into the storylines of the movie.
He appeared in two movies with Rita Hayworth, the Cansinos' daughter, who was his vaudeville dancing hero. Fred Astaire got uneasy and made his retirement announcement after the failure of the Vincente Minelli-directed movie "Yolanda and the Thief" (1945). In 1947, he established the Fred Astaire Dance Studio with a concentration on horse racing.
He made a comeback to Hollywood in the 1948 movie Easter Parade, filling in for Kelly, and then he made one more appearance with Rogers in the 1949 movie The Barkleys of Broadway. Due to the passing of his wife, Fred Astaire stopped production of Daddy Long Legs (1955) in the middle.
But the film's composer and studio officials persuaded him that the best way to deal with bereavement was to create. The movie ended up becoming a passable success. He stopped working on movies when the 1957 Paramount and MGM productions of "Funny Face" and "Silk Stockings," respectively, failed to recover their production expenses.
His last significant musical film was Francis Ford Coppola's "Finian's Rainbow," which was released in 1968. He appeared in the movie with Petula Clark, but he did not do well at the box office.
Personal Life Of Fred Astaire
Astaire was more laid-back off-screen than he was in his upper-class persona. He cared deeply for his family. The socialite Phyllis Baker Potter was Astaire's first wife, and the couple's two children, Fred Jr., and Ava were born in 1933.
He also assisted in raising her child from a previous relationship. Phyllis and Fred remained married up until she died in 1954. When Astaire remarried in 1980, he surprised his friends and family. A well-known jockey named Robyn Smith was his second wife.
Despite having an age gap of more than 40 years, the couple's shared passion for horses and racing led to a romance. His wife has been a strong defender of his name and reputation since his passing in 1987.
She has brought various legal actions to stop any unlawful use of his name or appearance. She did, however, give her consent in 1997, so the Astaire film snippets could be altered and used in several vacuum cleaner ads.
Fred Astaire's Net Worth
Fred Astaire had a $10 million net worth. Astaire was a popular theatrical performer who made appearances in many Broadway productions. He was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1981, in addition to being inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.
People Also Ask
What Did Fred Astaire Die Of?
He died of pneumonia.
Who Was Fred Astaire's Favourite Lady To Dance With?
Rita Hayworth was listed as Fred Astaire's favorite dance partner in his autobiography.
Where Was Fred Astaire Born?
He was born in Omaha, Nebraska, in the USA.
Conclusion
One of the most well-known and accomplished dancers in history is Fred Astaire. His unique blend of ballet, tap, and jazz has contributed to the success of cinematic musicals. He was a popular theatre actor who made appearances in several Broadway productions. We appreciate you taking the time to read this post, and we hope you found it helpful.
