Fred Astaire

Biography

Fred Astaire was an American dancer, actor, singer, and choreographer whose stage, film, and television career lasted 76 years. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, he started in vaudeville as a child with his sister Adele and reached Broadway in 1917 with Over the Top. His ten musicals with Ginger Rogers included Swing Time (1936), Top Hat (1935), and Shall We Dance (1937). Later musicals took in Funny Face (1957), Silk Stockings (1957), Easter Parade (1948), Holiday Inn (1942), and The Band Wagon (1953). The Towering Inferno (1974) brought him a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination, his sole competitive one, plus Golden Globe and BAFTA wins. Other honors included an Academy Honorary Award in 1950, Kennedy Center Honors in 1978, and an AFI Life Achievement Award in 1980. He wrote Steps in Time, published in 1959, and won Emmy Awards for television specials. He died in 1987.

88years old at death

Born May 10, 1899Omaha
Died June 22, 1987Los Angeles
Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
Frederick Austerlitz (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 43
Career span: 86 years1933 to 2019

Genres

Comedy63%, 27 films
Romance58%, 25 films
Musical47%, 20 films
Music19%, 8 films
Documentary16%, 7 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A first
In 1958, An Evening with Fred Astaire, the first of his television specials, earned nine Emmy Awards. These included Best Single Performance by an Actor and Most Outstanding Single Program of the Year, and it was the first major broadcast prerecorded on color videotape.
Early training
While in London, Astaire took piano lessons at the Guildhall School of Music with his friend and colleague Noël Coward. In 1926 he helped judge the Charleston Championship of the World at the Royal Albert Hall.

Fred Astaire movies on Netflix

Sid & Judy2019IMDb rating 7.4as Himself
To Each His Own Cinema2007IMDb rating 6.7as (segment "Cinéma de Boulevard")
That's Entertainment! III1994IMDb rating 7.5
Audrey Hepburn: Remembered1993IMDb rating 8.0as Himself
That's Dancing!1985IMDb rating 7.2as Himself
Ghost Story1981IMDb rating 6.3as Ricky Hawthorne
The Man in the Santa Claus Suit1979IMDb rating 6.5as Santa Claus
That's Entertainment, Part II1976IMDb rating 7.3as Self - Host
That's Entertainment!1974IMDb rating 7.8as Self - Host / Narrator
The Towering Inferno1974IMDb rating 7.0as Harlee Claiborne
Imagine1972IMDb rating 7.3as Himself
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town1970IMDb rating 7.7as S.D. Kluger - Narrator (voice)
The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again1970IMDb rating 5.7as The Baltimore Kid
Finian's Rainbow1968IMDb rating 6.1as Finian McLonergan
The Notorious Landlady1962IMDb rating 6.7as Franklyn Ambruster
On the Beach1959IMDb rating 7.1as Julian Osborne
Funny Face1957IMDb rating 7.0as Dick Avery
Silk Stockings1957IMDb rating 6.8as Steve Canfield
Daddy Long Legs1955IMDb rating 6.7as Jervis Pendleton III
The Band Wagon1953IMDb rating 7.4as Tony Hunter
The Belle of New York1952IMDb rating 6.1as Charlie Hill
Royal Wedding1951IMDb rating 6.7as Tom Bowen
The Barkleys of Broadway1949IMDb rating 7.0as Josh Barkley
Easter Parade1948IMDb rating 7.3as Don Hewes
Blue Skies1946IMDb rating 6.4as Jed Potter
Ziegfeld Follies1945IMDb rating 6.4as Fred Astaire ('Here's to the Ladies') / Raffles ('This Heart of Mine') / Tai Long ('Limehouse Blues') / Gentleman ('The Babbit and the Bromide')
The Sky's the Limit1943IMDb rating 6.3as Fred Atwell (Fred Burton)
Holiday Inn1942IMDb rating 7.3as Ted Hanover
You Were Never Lovelier1942IMDb rating 7.2as Robert Davis
Second Chorus1941IMDb rating 5.7as Danny O'Neill
You'll Never Get Rich1941IMDb rating 6.7as Robert Curtis
Broadway Melody of 19401940IMDb rating 7.2as Johnny Brett
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle1939IMDb rating 6.9as Vernon Castle
Carefree1938IMDb rating 6.9as Tony Flagg
A Damsel in Distress1937IMDb rating 6.8as Jerry Halliday
Shall We Dance1937IMDb rating 7.4as Petrov
Follow the Fleet1936IMDb rating 7.1as Bake Baker
Swing Time1936IMDb rating 7.4as Lucky Garnett
Roberta1935IMDb rating 7.0as Huck Haines
Top Hat1935IMDb rating 7.7as Jerry Travers
The Gay Divorcee1934IMDb rating 7.3as Guy Holden
Dancing Lady1933IMDb rating 6.8as Fred Astaire
Flying Down to Rio1933IMDb rating 6.6as Fred Ayres

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Funny Face1957 Comedy, Musical, Romanceas Dick Avery
IMDb rating 7.036K votes
The Towering Inferno1974 Action, Drama, Thrilleras Harlee Claiborne
IMDb rating 7.054K votes
Top Hat1935as Jerry Travers
IMDb rating 7.722K votes
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town1970as S.D. Kluger - Narratorvoice
IMDb rating 7.720K votes
Swing Time1936as Lucky Garnett
IMDb rating 7.416K votes
Holiday Inn1942as Ted Hanover
IMDb rating 7.320K votes
The Band Wagon1953as Tony Hunter
IMDb rating 7.414K votes
Ghost Story1981as Ricky Hawthorne
IMDb rating 6.311K votes

Most often with

Mark Sandrich directed seven of these films, Charles Walters three and Stanley Donen two. Ginger Rogers appears in ten of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Ginger Rogers

Gene Kelly

Eric Blore

Cyd Charisse

Mickey Rooney

Lucille BallMark SandrichDirector, 7 films

Charles WaltersDirector, 3 films

Stanley DonenDirector, 2 films

Films together

Ginger Rogers10 films together, 1933 to 1949
Ginger Rogers's page
- The Barkleys of Broadway1949IMDb rating 7.0Astaire as Josh BarkleyRogers as Dinah Barkley
- The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle1939IMDb rating 6.9Astaire as Vernon CastleRogers as Irene Castle
- Carefree1938IMDb rating 6.9Astaire as Tony FlaggRogers as Amanda Cooper
- Shall We Dance1937IMDb rating 7.4Astaire as PetrovRogers as Linda Keene
- Follow the Fleet1936IMDb rating 7.1Astaire as Bake BakerRogers as Sherry Martin
- Swing Time1936IMDb rating 7.4Astaire as Lucky GarnettRogers as Penny Carroll
- Roberta1935IMDb rating 7.0Astaire as Huck HainesRogers as Scharwenka
- Top Hat1935IMDb rating 7.7Astaire as Jerry TraversRogers as Dale Tremont
- The Gay Divorcee1934IMDb rating 7.3Astaire as Guy HoldenRogers as Mimi Glossop
- Flying Down to Rio1933IMDb rating 6.6Astaire as Fred AyresRogers as Honey Hale
Gene Kelly6 films together, 1945 to 2019
Gene Kelly's page
- Sid & Judy2019IMDb rating 7.4Astaire as HimselfKelly as Himself
- That's Entertainment! III1994IMDb rating 7.5Kelly as Self - Host
- That's Dancing!1985IMDb rating 7.2Astaire as HimselfKelly as Himself - Host
- That's Entertainment, Part II1976IMDb rating 7.3Astaire as Self - HostKelly as Self - Host
- That's Entertainment!1974IMDb rating 7.8Astaire as Self - Host / NarratorKelly as Self - Host / Narrator
- Ziegfeld Follies1945IMDb rating 6.4Astaire as Fred Astaire ('Here's to the Ladies') / Raffles ('This Heart of Mine') / Tai Long ('Limehouse Blues') / Gentleman ('The Babbit and the Bromide')Kelly as Gentleman ('The Babbit and the Bromide')
Eric Blore6 films together, 1933 to 1943
Eric Blore's page
- The Sky's the Limit1943IMDb rating 6.3Astaire as Fred Atwell (Fred Burton)Blore as Jackson - Phil's Butler
- Shall We Dance1937IMDb rating 7.4Astaire as PetrovBlore as Cecil Flintridge
- Swing Time1936IMDb rating 7.4Astaire as Lucky GarnettBlore as Gordon
- Top Hat1935IMDb rating 7.7Astaire as Jerry TraversBlore as Bates
- The Gay Divorcee1934IMDb rating 7.3Astaire as Guy HoldenBlore as Waiter
- Flying Down to Rio1933IMDb rating 6.6Astaire as Fred AyresBlore as Head Waiter
Cyd Charisse6 films together, 1945 to 1994
Cyd Charisse's page
- That's Entertainment! III1994IMDb rating 7.5Charisse as Self - Host
- That's Dancing!1985IMDb rating 7.2Astaire as Himself
- That's Entertainment!1974IMDb rating 7.8Astaire as Self - Host / Narrator
- Silk Stockings1957IMDb rating 6.8Astaire as Steve CanfieldCharisse as Ninotchka Yoschenko
- The Band Wagon1953IMDb rating 7.4Astaire as Tony HunterCharisse as Gabrielle Gerard
- Ziegfeld Follies1945IMDb rating 6.4Astaire as Fred Astaire ('Here's to the Ladies') / Raffles ('This Heart of Mine') / Tai Long ('Limehouse Blues') / Gentleman ('The Babbit and the Bromide')Charisse as Ballerina (segment "Beauty")
Mickey Rooney5 films together, 1970 to 2019
Mickey Rooney's page
- Sid & Judy2019IMDb rating 7.4Astaire as HimselfRooney as Himself
- That's Entertainment! III1994IMDb rating 7.5Rooney as Self - Host
- That's Entertainment, Part II1976IMDb rating 7.3Astaire as Self - Host
- That's Entertainment!1974IMDb rating 7.8Astaire as Self - Host / NarratorRooney as Self - Host / Narrator
- Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town1970IMDb rating 7.7Astaire as S.D. Kluger - NarratorvoiceRooney as Kris Kringle / Santa Clausvoice
Lucille Ball5 films together, 1935 to 1994
Lucille Ball's page
- That's Entertainment! III1994IMDb rating 7.5
- Ziegfeld Follies1945IMDb rating 6.4Astaire as Fred Astaire ('Here's to the Ladies') / Raffles ('This Heart of Mine') / Tai Long ('Limehouse Blues') / Gentleman ('The Babbit and the Bromide')Ball as Lucille Ball ('Here's to the Ladies')
- Follow the Fleet1936IMDb rating 7.1Astaire as Bake BakerBall as Kitty Collins
- Roberta1935IMDb rating 7.0Astaire as Huck HainesBall as Fashion Model
- Top Hat1935IMDb rating 7.7Astaire as Jerry TraversBall as Flower Shop Clerk
Mark SandrichDirector, 7 films, 1934 to 1946
All films by Mark Sandrich
- Blue Skies1946IMDb rating 6.4Astaire as Jed Potter
- Holiday Inn1942IMDb rating 7.3Astaire as Ted Hanover
- Carefree1938IMDb rating 6.9Astaire as Tony Flagg
- Shall We Dance1937IMDb rating 7.4Astaire as Petrov
- Follow the Fleet1936IMDb rating 7.1Astaire as Bake Baker
- Top Hat1935IMDb rating 7.7Astaire as Jerry Travers
- The Gay Divorcee1934IMDb rating 7.3Astaire as Guy Holden
Charles WaltersDirector, 3 films, 1948 to 1952
All films by Charles Walters
- The Belle of New York1952IMDb rating 6.1Astaire as Charlie Hill
- The Barkleys of Broadway1949IMDb rating 7.0Astaire as Josh Barkley
- Easter Parade1948IMDb rating 7.3Astaire as Don Hewes
Stanley DonenDirector, 2 films, 1951 to 1957
All films by Stanley Donen
- Funny Face1957IMDb rating 7.0Astaire as Dick Avery
- Royal Wedding1951IMDb rating 6.7Astaire as Tom Bowen

Box office

What Fred Astaire's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$180 million

21 of the 43 films have a worldwide figure.

21Worldwide figure
4US gross only
6Never in cinemas
12Figure not found

Top grosser

The Towering Inferno1974Harlee Claiborne$116 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 85% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
The Towering Inferno1974as Harlee Claiborne
$116M64.4% of the total
2
Finian's Rainbow1968as Finian McLonergan
$12M6.4% of the total
3
Ziegfeld Follies1945as Fred Astaire ('Here's to the Ladies') / Raffles ('This Heart of Mine') / Tai Long ('Limehouse Blues') / Gentleman ('The Babbit and the Bromide')
$5.3M3.0% of the total
4
That's Entertainment, Part II1976as Self - Host
$5.0M2.8% of the total
5
The Barkleys of Broadway1949as Josh Barkley
$4.4M2.5% of the total
6
Royal Wedding1951as Tom Bowen
$3.9M2.2% of the total
7
Holiday Inn1942as Ted Hanover
$3.8M2.1% of the total
8
The Band Wagon1953as Tony Hunter
$3.5M1.9% of the total

The Sky's the Limit (1943), $2.2 million

The Belle of New York (1952), $2.0 million

The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939), $1.8 million

A Damsel in Distress (1937), $1.5 million

That's Entertainment! III (1994), $280,163

$26.6 millionfrom the other 13 films with a worldwide figure, 15% of the total

Awards

Nineteen awards and honors from 1949 to 2008, seventeen of them major.

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Fred Astaire's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Academy Awards
1949	Honorary Award		Honorary
Golden Globes
1974	Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture	The Towering Inferno	Won
1960	Cecil B. DeMille Award		Won
1950	Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy	Three Little Words	Won
BAFTA
1976	Best Actor in a Supporting Role	The Towering Inferno	Won
Emmy Awards
1978	Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie	A Family Upside Down	Won
1961	Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program		Won
1959	Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie	An Evening with Fred Astaire	Won
1959	Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series	An Evening with Fred Astaire	Won
Grammy Awards
2008	Grammy Hall of Fame (posthumous)	Top Hat, White Tie and Tails	Won
2006	Grammy Hall of Fame (posthumous)		Won
2005	Grammy Hall of Fame (posthumous)	They Can't Take That Away from Me	Won
2004	Grammy Hall of Fame (posthumous)	Night and Day	Won
2000	Grammy Hall of Fame (posthumous)	Cheek to Cheek	Won
1999	Grammy Hall of Fame (posthumous)	The Astaire Story	Won
1998	Grammy Hall of Fame (posthumous)	The Way You Look Tonight	Won
1989	Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (posthumous)		Won
Other honors
1981	AFI Life Achievement Award		Won
1978	Kennedy Center Honors		Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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