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.
Golden Globe Awards
Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
British Academy Film Awards
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Known For
Top Hat
(1935)
Jerry Travers
Easter Parade
(1948)
Don Hewes
On the Beach
(1959)
Julian Osborn
The Towering Inferno
(1974)
Harlee Claiborne
Funny Face
(1957)
Dick Avery
Holiday Inn
(1942)
Ted Hanover
A Damsel in Distress
(1937)
Jerry Halliday
Ghost Story
(1981)
Ricky Hawthorne
The Band Wagon
(1953)
Tony Hunter
Swing Time
(1936)
Lucky Garnett
Finian's Rainbow
(1968)
Finian McLonergan
The Purple Rose of Cairo
(1985)
Jerry Travers (archive footage) (uncredited)
Ziegfeld Follies
(1945)
Various characters
Royal Wedding
(1951)
Tom Bowen
You'll Never Get Rich
(1941)
Robert Curtis
That's Entertainment!
(1974)
Self - Host / Narrator
Full Filmography
Acting
Flying Down to Rio
(1933)
Fred Ayres
Dancing Lady
(1933)
Fred Astaire
The Gay Divorcee
(1934)
Guy Holden
Top Hat
(1935)
Jerry Travers
Roberta
(1935)
Huck Haines
Swing Time
(1936)
Lucky Garnett
Follow the Fleet
(1936)
Bake Baker
Shall We Dance
(1937)
Pete Peters
A Damsel in Distress
(1937)
Jerry Halliday
Carefree
(1938)
Tony Flagg
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle
(1939)
Vernon Castle
Broadway Melody of 1940
(1940)
Johnny Brett
Second Chorus
(1941)
Danny O'Neill
You'll Never Get Rich
(1941)
Robert Curtis
Holiday Inn
(1942)
Ted Hanover
You Were Never Lovelier
(1942)
Robert Davis
Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)
(1942)
Self
The Sky's the Limit
(1943)
Fred Atwell (Fred Burton)
Twenty Years After
(1944)
(archive footage)
Ziegfeld Follies
(1945)
Various characters
Yolanda and the Thief
(1945)
Johnny Parkson Riggs
Blue Skies
(1946)
Jed Potter
Easter Parade
(1948)
Don Hewes
The Barkleys of Broadway
(1949)
Josh Barkley
Three Little Words
(1950)
Bert Kalmar
Let's Dance
(1950)
Donald Elwood
Royal Wedding
(1951)
Tom Bowen
The Belle of New York
(1952)
Charlie Hill
The Band Wagon
(1953)
Tony Hunter
Daddy Long Legs
(1955)
Jervis Pendleton III
Stars of Cabaret
(1956)
Self (archive footage)
Silk Stockings
(1957)
Steve Canfield
Funny Face
(1957)
Dick Avery
An Evening with Fred Astaire
(1958)
Self
On the Beach
(1959)
Julian Osborn
Another Evening with Fred Astaire
(1959)
Self
Astaire Time
(1960)
Self - Host
Hollywood: The Selznick Years
(1961)
'Dancing Lady' (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Pleasure of His Company
(1961)
Biddeford 'Pogo' Poole
Flashing Spikes
(1962)
Narrator
The Notorious Landlady
(1962)
Franklyn Ambruster
The World Premiere of 'Finian's Rainbow'
(1968)
Self
Finian's Rainbow
(1968)
Finian McLonergan
The Fred Astaire Show
(1968)
Self - Host
Midas Run
(1969)
John Pedley
The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again
(1970)
The Baltimore Kid
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
(1970)
S.D. Kluger (voice)
S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin
(1972)
Self
Imagine
(1972)
Self
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
(1972)
Self (archive footage)
The Men Who Made the Movies: Vincente Minnelli
(1973)
Self (archive footage)
The Towering Inferno
(1974)
Harlee Claiborne
That's Entertainment!
(1974)
Self - Host / Narrator
The Lion Roars Again
(1975)
Self
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
(1975)
Self (archive footage)
That's Entertainment, Part II
(1976)
Self - Co-Host / Narrator
The Amazing Dobermans
(1976)
Daniel Hughes
The Purple Taxi
(1977)
Dr. Seamus Scully
The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town
(1977)
S.D. Kluger (narrator) (voice)
A Family Upside Down
(1978)
Ted Long
The Man in the Santa Claus Suit
(1979)
Santa Claus
Ghost Story
(1981)
Ricky Hawthorne
Showbiz Goes to War
(1982)
(archive footage)
Going Hollywood: The '30s
(1984)
(archive footage)
That's Dancing!
(1985)
Self (archive footage)
George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey
(1985)
Self
The Purple Rose of Cairo
(1985)
Jerry Travers (archive footage) (uncredited)
Dance Crazy in Hollywood
(1990)
Various Roles (archive footage)
You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story
(1990)
Self (archive footage)
The Fred Astaire Songbook
(1991)
Self (archive footage)
Audrey Hepburn: Remembered
(1993)
Self (archive footage)
That's Entertainment! III
(1994)
(archive footage)
Doris Day: It's Magic
(1998)
Self
A Bing Crosby Christmas
(1998)
Self (archive footage)
Hollywood Musicals of the 40's
(2000)
Self (archive footage)
Complicated Women
(2003)
Self (archive footage)
Cole Porter in Hollywood: Satin and Silk
(2003)
Self (Archive Footage)
Easter Parade: On the Avenue
(2005)
Self (Archive Footage)
Get Aboard! 'The Band Wagon'
(2005)
Self (archive footage)
Reunited at MGM: Astaire and Rogers Together Again
(2005)
Self (archive footage)
Astaire and Rogers: Partners in Rhythm
(2006)
Various / Self (archive footage)
"All -Singing All-Dancing" Before And After
(2006)
Archive Footage
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
(2009)
Self (archive footage)
Astaire and Rogers Sing the Great American Songbook
(2010)
Self (archive footage)
And the Oscar Goes To...
(2014)
Self (archive footage)
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
(2014)
Self (archive footage)
Sem Título #1: Dance of Leitfossil
(2014)
Self (archive footage)
Perspectives: For the Love of Fred Astaire
(2015)
(archive footage)
Darcey Bussell: Looking for Fred Astaire
(2017)
Self (archive footage)
Fred Astaire donne le 'la'
(2017)
Self (archive footage)
La La La
(2018)
Various Roles (archive footage)
In Full Swing
(2019)
Self (Archive Footage)
Sid & Judy
(2019)
Self (archive footage)
A Life in Technicolor
(2022)
AFI Life Achievement Award: 50th Anniversary Special
(2023)
Self (archive footage)
Crew
Roberta
(1935)
Choreographer
The Sky's the Limit
(1943)
Choreographer
Daddy Long Legs
(1955)
Choreographer
Funny Face
(1957)
Choreographer
The Purple Rose of Cairo
(1985)
Thanks
Production
Sound