Eleanor Powell
Biography
Eleanor Powell was an American dancer and actress who became one of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's leading musical stars. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, she began dance lessons at 11 at her mother's urging, trained in ballet and acrobatics, and moved from vaudeville to Broadway revues before signing with MGM in 1935. Her machine-gun footwork in tap made her famous, and she headlined musicals built to showcase her dancing, among them Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935), Born to Dance (1936), Honolulu (1939) and Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940), the last opposite Fred Astaire with a Cole Porter score. She left MGM after Thousands Cheer (1943), then returned for occasional specialty numbers. In the 1950s she hosted an Emmy-winning children's television program and later headlined a nightclub act in Las Vegas, and clips of her dancing were featured in That's Entertainment, Part II (1976).
69years old at death
- Born Springfield
- Died Beverly Hills
- Star sign: ScorpioLast day of the sign, on the Sagittarius cusp
- Also credited as Eleanor Torrey Powell
Movie Career
- Films
- 6
- Career span
- 41 years1935 to 1976
Genres
- Comedy83%, 5 films
- Romance67%, 4 films
- Musical50%, 3 films
- Music33%, 2 films
- Documentary17%, 1 film
Photos
Share
Did you know?!
First role
Gus Edwards, who ran the "Vaudeville Kiddie Review," spotted Powell doing acrobatics on an Atlantic City, NJ beach. She then took her first paid jobs for him at 12, over her summer holidays.
Early training
Powell took only ten tap lessons, her only formal tap training, and disliked it at first, needing coaxing to return after the first lesson.
Early training
Robinson mentored Powell at private shows, where he taught her his signature Stair Dance. In the late 1920s they performed together at New York City elite clubs and at private parties in the palatial homes of New York's high society.
A role that slipped away
In 1942 Powell was cast in For Me and My Gal with Dan Dailey, but during rehearsals the two actors were taken off the picture and Gene Kelly and Judy Garland took their places.
A first
At 17 Powell took her graceful, athletic style to Broadway, starring in revues and musicals such as Follow Thru, Fine and Dandy and At Home Abroad. There she was dubbed "the world's greatest female tap dancer" because of her machine-gun footwork.
Eleanor Powell movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Roy Del Ruth directed two of these films. Twelve actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Mickey Rooney's page
Fred Astaire's page
Gene Kelly's page
Robert Taylor's page
Judy Garland's page
Una Merkel's page
Roy Del RuthDirector, 2 films, 1935 to 1936
All films by Roy Del Ruth
Also two films together6 more actors
- Buddy EbsenBorn to Dance (1936) and Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
- Ann SothernThat's Entertainment, Part II (1976) and Thousands Cheer (1943)
- Kathryn GraysonThat's Entertainment, Part II (1976) and Thousands Cheer (1943)
- Frances LangfordBorn to Dance (1936) and Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
- Ann MorrissBroadway Melody of 1940 (1940) and Honolulu (1939)
- Sid SilversBorn to Dance (1936) and Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.