Fred Astaire

Biography

Fred Astaire (May 10, 1899 – 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

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show

Golden Globe Awards

What's My Line?

Dr. Kildare

The Dick Cavett Show

All Movies (95)

• Gene Kelly - An American in Hollywood2025 · as Self (archive footage)
• Sid & Judy2019 · as Self (archive footage)
• La La La2018 · as Various Roles (archive footage)
• Fred Astaire donne le 'la'2017 · as Self (archive footage)
• Darcey Bussell: Looking for Fred Astaire2017 · as Self (archive footage)
• Perspectives: For the Love of Fred Astaire2015 · as (archive footage)
• Bing Crosby: Rediscovered2014 · as Self (archive footage)
• Sem Título #1: Dance of Leitfossil2014 · as Self (archive footage)
• Astaire and Rogers Sing the Great American Songbook2010 · as Self (archive footage)
• Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing2009 · as (archive footage)
• 1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year2009 · as Self (archive footage)
• Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression2009 · as Self (archive footage)
• Astaire and Rogers: Partners in Rhythm2006 · as Various / Self (archive footage)
• "All -Singing All-Dancing" Before And After2006 · as Archive Footage
• Reunited at MGM: Astaire and Rogers Together Again2005 · as Self (archive footage)
• Easter Parade: On the Avenue2005 · as Self (Archive Footage)
• Get Aboard! 'The Band Wagon'2005 · as Self (archive footage)
• Complicated Women2003 · as Self (archive footage)
• Cole Porter in Hollywood: Satin and Silk2003 · as Self (archive footage)
• Cole Porter in Hollywood: Begin the Beguine2003
• Hollywood Musicals of the 40's2000 · as Self (archive footage)
• Doris Day: It's Magic1998 · as Self
• A Bing Crosby Christmas1998 · as Self (archive footage)
• Vaudeville1997 · as Self (archive footage)
• That's Entertainment! III1994 · as (archive footage)
• Audrey Hepburn: Remembered1993 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Fred Astaire Songbook1991 · as Self (archive footage)
• You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story1990 · as Self (archive footage)
• Dance Crazy in Hollywood1990 · as Various Roles (archive footage)
• George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey1985 · as Self
• That's Dancing!1985 · as Self (archive footage)
• Going Hollywood: The '30s1984 · as (archive footage)
• Showbiz Goes to War1982 · as Self (archive footage)
• Ghost Story1981 · as Ricky Hawthorne
• The Man in the Santa Claus Suit1979 · as Santa Claus
• A Family Upside Down1978 · as Ted Long
• The Purple Taxi1977 · as Dr. Seamus Scully
• The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town1977 · as S.D. Kluger (narrator) (voice)
• The Amazing Dobermans1976 · as Daniel Hughes
• That's Entertainment, Part II1976 · as Self - Co-Host / Narrator
• Hooray for Hollywood1976 · as Self (archive footage)
• Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?1975 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Lion Roars Again1975 · as Self
• The Towering Inferno1974 · as Harlee Claiborne
• That's Entertainment!1974 · as Self - Host / Narrator
• The Men Who Made the Movies: Vincente Minnelli1973 · as Self (archive footage)
• Imagine1972 · as Self
• S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin1972 · as Self
• Hollywood: The Dream Factory1972 · as Self (archive footage)
• Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town1970 · as S.D. Kluger (voice)
• The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again1970 · as The Baltimore Kid
• Midas Run1969 · as John Pedley
• Finian's Rainbow1968 · as Finian McLonergan
• The Fred Astaire Show1968 · as Self - Host
• The World Premiere of 'Finian's Rainbow'1968 · as Self
• Flashing Spikes1962 · as Narrator
• The Notorious Landlady1962 · as Franklyn Ambruster
• The Pleasure of His Company1961 · as Biddeford 'Pogo' Poole
• Astaire Time1960 · as Self
• On the Beach1959 · as Julian Osborn
• Another Evening with Fred Astaire1959 · as Self
• An Evening with Fred Astaire1958 · as Self
• Silk Stockings1957 · as Steve Canfield
• Funny Face1957 · as Dick Avery
• Stars of Cabaret1956 · as Self (archive footage)
• Daddy Long Legs1955 · as Jervis Pendleton III
• The Band Wagon1953 · as Tony Hunter
• The Belle of New York1952 · as Charlie Hill
• Royal Wedding1951 · as Tom Bowen
• Let's Dance1950 · as Donald Elwood
• Three Little Words1950 · as Bert Kalmar
• The Barkleys of Broadway1949 · as Josh Barkley
• Easter Parade1948 · as Don Hewes
• Blue Skies1946 · as Jed Potter
• Yolanda and the Thief1945 · as Johnny Parkson Riggs
• Ziegfeld Follies1945 · as Fred Astaire / Raffles / Tai Long / Gentleman
• Twenty Years After1944 · as (archive footage)
• The Sky's the Limit1943 · as Fred Atwell (Fred Burton)
• You Were Never Lovelier1942 · as Robert Davis
• Holiday Inn1942 · as Ted Hanover
• Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)1942 · as Self
• You'll Never Get Rich1941 · as Robert Curtis
• Second Chorus1941 · as Danny O'Neill
• Broadway Melody of 19401940 · as Johnny Brett
• The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle1939 · as Vernon Castle
• Carefree1938 · as Tony Flagg
• A Damsel in Distress1937 · as Jerry Halliday
• Shall We Dance1937 · as Petrov
• Swing Time1936 · as Lucky Garnett
• Follow the Fleet1936 · as Bake Baker
• Top Hat1935 · as Jerry Travers
• Roberta1935 · as Huck Haines
• The Gay Divorcee1934 · as Guy Holden
• Flying Down to Rio1933 · as Fred Ayres
• Dancing Lady1933 · as Fred Astaire

All TV Shows (31)

• Talking Pictures2013 · as Self (archive footage)
• The RKO Story: Tales From Hollywood1987 · as Self
• Fred Astaire1980 · as Self
• The Kennedy Center Honors1978 · as Self
• Battlestar Galactica1978 · as Chameleon / Captain Dimitri
• Dinah!1974 · as Self
• The American Film Institute Salute to ...1973 · as Self
• Film '721971 · as Self
• The Dick Cavett Show1968 · as Self - Guest
• It Takes a Thief1968 · as Alister Mundy
• It Takes a Thief1968 · as Alistair Mundy (voice) (uncredited)
• Omnibus1967
• Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre1963 · as Fred Addams
• Hollywood and the Stars1963 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self - Guest
• The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self - Co-Host
• Alcoa Premiere1961 · as Self - Host
• Dr. Kildare1961 · as Joe Quinlan
• The Steve Allen Show1956 · as Self
• Cinépanorama1956 · as Self
• MGM Parade1955 · as actor 'Broadway Melody of 1940' (archive footage) (uncredited)
• MGM Parade1955 · as Performer in 'Ziegfeld Follies'
• The Oscars1953 · as Self
• General Electric Theater1953 · as J. Willingham Bardley
• General Electric Theater1953 · as Paul Ashcroft
• What's My Line?1950 · as Self
• The Emmy Awards1949 · as Self
• The Ed Sullivan Show1948 · as Self
• Golden Globe Awards1944 · as Self - Nominee /Presenter