Astaire, Fred

Astaire, Fred
(1899-1987)
   The son of Austrian immigrants, Fred Astaire was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and began dancing in vaudeville with his sister in 1906 at the age of seven. In 1917, they moved to stage performances, appearing on Broadway and in London in George and Ira Gershwin’s Lady, Be Good! (1924) and Funny Face (1927). In 1932, he starred on his own in Cole Porter’s The Gay Divorcée. Astaire began appearing in movies in 1933 and made the first film with Ginger Rogers, a version of The Gay Divorcée, in 1934. A number of successful films cemented their on-screen relationship and ensured box office success, most notably Top Hat (1935), Follow the Fleet (1936), Shall We Dance (1937), and The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939). Following a dispute over fees, Astaire left Rogers to work on his own. Among others, he also appeared in Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940), Holiday Inn (1942), and Ziegfeld Follies (1945-1946).
   After a brief period in retirement, Astaire returned to make 10 more films between 1948 and 1957. He had a major hit with Judy Garland in Easter Parade (1948) and made successful films with Cyd Charisse, Leslie Caron, and Audrey Hepburn (Funny Face [1957]). Astaire made a number of very successful television shows, including four musical specials between 1958 and 1968. His last musical film was Finian’s Rainbow (1968), but he also had several nondancing, nonmusical roles in On the Beach (1959), The Pleasure of His Company (1961), The Notorious Landlady (1962), The Midas Run (1969), and The Towering Inferno (1975). He also had dramatic roles in a number of television specials and series.
   See also Cinema; Music.

Historical Dictionary of the Roosevelt–Truman Era . . 2015.

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  • Astaire, Fred — orig. Frederick Austerlitz born May 10, 1899, Omaha, Neb., U.S. died June 22, 1987, Los Angeles, Calif. U.S. dancer and singer of stage and movies. At age seven he began his popular vaudeville dance act with his sister Adele, and they made their… …   Universalium

  • Astaire, Fred — A|staire, Fred [ ə ster ,fred ] a U.S. film actor known especially for his dancing. He appeared in many musical movies in the 1930s and 1940s with the actress Ginger Rogers …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Astaire, Fred — • А СТЕР (Astaire) Фред (наст. имя и фам. Фредерик Аустерлиц, Austerlitz) (р. 10.5.1899)    амер. актёр. В 1917 дебютировал как танцовщик варьете в Нью Йорке. Выступал в т рах Бродвея, играя роли, требующие хореографич. мастерства. С 1933 в кино… …   Кино: Энциклопедический словарь

  • Astaire,Fred — A·staire (ə stârʹ), Fred. 1899 1987. American dancer and actor noted for his elegant style and his partnership with Ginger Rogers in several motion pictures, including Top Hat (1935). * * * …   Universalium

  • Astaire, Fred — ► (1899 1987) Seudónimo de Frederick E. Austerlitz. Actor estadounidense. Actuó en Broadway como bailarín y en 1933 se incorporó al cine. Sombrero de copa (1935), Melodías de Broadway (1953), etc. * * * orig. Frederick Austerlitz (10 may. 1899,… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Astaire, Fred — pseud. di Austerlitz, Frederick E …   Sinonimi e Contrari. Terza edizione

  • Astaire — Astaire, Fred …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • ASTAIRE (F.) — ASTAIRE FRED AUSTERLITZ dit FRED (1899 1987) C’est en compagnie de sa sœur Adele que Fred Astaire connut ses premiers succès dans des spectacles de vaudeville. Dans les années 1920, le couple de danseurs connut un triomphe sans précédent, à… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Fred — Othon Aristidès, conocido por su nombre de pluma Fred, es un guionista y dibujante de cómics francés, de origen griego nacido en París el 5 de marzo de 1931. Su primer trabajo como historietista lo realizó para la revista Zéro en 1954. Para la… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Fred — /fred/, n. a male given name, form of Frederick. * * * (as used in expressions) Astaire Fred Friendly Fred W. Hoyle Sir Fred Rogers Fred McFeely Rose Fred Zinnemann Fred * * * …   Universalium

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