Gene Kelly

Gene Kelly

Acting
Born 1912-08-23 - Died 1996-02-02Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Biography

Eugene Curran Kelly (August 23, 1912 – February 2, 1996) was an American actor, dancer, singer, filmmaker, and choreographer. He was known for his energetic and athletic dancing style, his good looks, and the likable characters that he played on screen. He starred in, choreographed, or co-directed some of the most well-regarded musical films of the 1940s and 1950s, until they fell out of fashion in the late 1950s. Kelly is best known today for his performances in films such as Cover Girl (1944), Anchors Aweigh (1945), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor, On the Town (1949), which was his directorial debut, An American in Paris (1951), Singin' in the Rain (1952), Brigadoon (1954), and It's Always Fair Weather (1955). Kelly made his film debut with Judy Garland in For Me and My Gal (1942), and followed by Du Barry Was a Lady (1943), Thousands Cheer (1943), The Pirate (1948), Summer Stock (1950), and Les Girls (1957) among others. After musicals he starred in two films outside the musical genre: Inherit the Wind (1960) and What a Way to Go! (1964). In 1967, he appeared in French director Jacques Demy's musical comedy The Young Girls of Rochefort opposite Catherine Deneuve. Kelly solo directed the comedy A Guide for the Married Man (1967) starring Walter Matthau, and later the extravagant musical Hello, Dolly! (1969) starring Barbra Streisand, recognized with an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. Kelly co-hosted and appeared in Ziegfeld Follies (1946), That's Entertainment! (1974), That's Entertainment, Part II (1976), That's Dancing! (1985), and That's Entertainment, Part III (1994). His many innovations transformed the Hollywood musical, and he is credited with almost single-handedly making the ballet form commercially acceptable to film audiences. Kelly received an Academy Honorary Award in 1952 for his career achievements; the same year, An American in Paris won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture. He later received lifetime achievement awards in the Kennedy Center Honors (1982) and from the Screen Actors Guild and American Film Institute. In 1999, the American Film Institute also ranked him as the 15th greatest male screen legend of Classic Hollywood Cinema.

Movies (103)

Singin' in the Rain
8.1

Singin' in the Rain

1952Movie8.1
The Young Girls of Rochefort
7.7

The Young Girls of Rochefort

1967Movie7.7
An American in Paris
7.0

An American in Paris

1951Movie7.0
Inherit the Wind
7.7

Inherit the Wind

1960Movie7.7
Olympic Gala

Olympic Gala

1984Movie
Cover Girl
6.4

Cover Girl

1944Movie6.4
Xanadu
5.7

Xanadu

1980Movie5.7
The Three Musketeers
6.8

The Three Musketeers

1948Movie6.8
Anchors Aweigh
6.8

Anchors Aweigh

1945Movie6.8
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
8.0

The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies

1995Movie8.0
The Pirate
6.5

The Pirate

1948Movie6.5
On the Town
7.0

On the Town

1949Movie7.0
Thousands Cheer
6.4

Thousands Cheer

1943Movie6.4
Summer Stock
6.7

Summer Stock

1950Movie6.7
Let's Make Love
6.4

Let's Make Love

1960Movie6.4
Ziegfeld Follies
6.0

Ziegfeld Follies

1945Movie6.0
The Cross of Lorraine
6.5

The Cross of Lorraine

1943Movie6.5
It's Showtime
7.5

It's Showtime

1976Movie7.5
Brigadoon
6.5

Brigadoon

1954Movie6.5
Olivia Newton-John: Hollywood Nights
8.0

Olivia Newton-John: Hollywood Nights

1980Movie8.0
That's Entertainment!
7.4

That's Entertainment!

1974Movie7.4
What a Way to Go!
7.1

What a Way to Go!

1964Movie7.1
Les Girls
6.4

Les Girls

1957Movie6.4
Sid & Judy
7.4

Sid & Judy

2019Movie7.4
Words and Music
5.8

Words and Music

1948Movie5.8
Night of 100 Stars
5.8

Night of 100 Stars

1982Movie5.8
That's Entertainment, Part II
7.0

That's Entertainment, Part II

1976Movie7.0
That's Entertainment! III
7.1

That's Entertainment! III

1994Movie7.1
Christmas Holiday
6.5

Christmas Holiday

1944Movie6.5
Pilot #5
6.0

Pilot #5

1943Movie6.0
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
7.2

Hollywood: The Dream Factory

1972Movie7.2
Judy Garland: By Myself
8.3

Judy Garland: By Myself

2004Movie8.3
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
6.1

The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years

1986Movie6.1
It's a Big Country
5.9

It's a Big Country

1951Movie5.9
Du Barry Was a Lady
6.5

Du Barry Was a Lady

1943Movie6.5
It's Always Fair Weather
6.9

It's Always Fair Weather

1955Movie6.9
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
6.5

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

1987Movie6.5
Marjorie Morningstar
6.3

Marjorie Morningstar

1958Movie6.3
40 Carats
5.7

40 Carats

1973Movie5.7
That's Dancing!
6.9

That's Dancing!

1985Movie6.9
NBC: The First Fifty Years

NBC: The First Fifty Years

1976Movie
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
6.7

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

1949Movie6.7
Deep in My Heart
6.7

Deep in My Heart

1954Movie6.7
Twenty Years After
8.0

Twenty Years After

1944Movie8.0
Love Is Better Than Ever
6.6

Love Is Better Than Ever

1952Movie6.6
Gene Kelly: An American in Hollywood
6.5

Gene Kelly: An American in Hollywood

2025Movie6.5
The Lion Roars Again
6.5

The Lion Roars Again

1975Movie6.5
The Happy Road
6.1

The Happy Road

1957Movie6.1
Showbiz Goes to War
10.0

Showbiz Goes to War

1982Movie10.0
Reporters
7.0

Reporters

1981Movie7.0
Roger Rabbit and the Secrets of Toon Town
5.7

Roger Rabbit and the Secrets of Toon Town

1988Movie5.7
Ersatz

Ersatz

1978Movie
Black Hand
6.2

Black Hand

1950Movie6.2
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1950s: The Golden Era of the Musical

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1950s: The Golden Era of the Musical

2009Movie
James Bond: The First 21 Years
6.7

James Bond: The First 21 Years

1983Movie6.7
You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story

You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story

1990Movie
The Men Who Made the Movies: Vincente Minnelli
7.0

The Men Who Made the Movies: Vincente Minnelli

1973Movie7.0
Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer
7.8

Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer

2002Movie7.8
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies
8.3

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies

2004Movie8.3
Jack and the Beanstalk
7.1

Jack and the Beanstalk

1967Movie7.1
Yabba Dabba Doo! The Happy World of Hanna-Barbera

Yabba Dabba Doo! The Happy World of Hanna-Barbera

1977Movie
Viva Knievel!
4.0

Viva Knievel!

1977Movie4.0
Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues
7.6

Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues

1988Movie7.6
The Young Girls Turn 25
7.1

The Young Girls Turn 25

1993Movie7.1
For Me and My Gal
6.5

For Me and My Gal

1942Movie6.5
Cinderella at the Palace
8.0

Cinderella at the Palace

1978Movie8.0
Mickey's 50
9.0

Mickey's 50

1978Movie9.0
Get Aboard! 'The Band Wagon'

Get Aboard! 'The Band Wagon'

2005Movie
Living in a Big Way
6.0

Living in a Big Way

1947Movie6.0
Tom & Jerry's 50th Birthday Bash
6.6

Tom & Jerry's 50th Birthday Bash

1990Movie6.6
True Blue
10.0

True Blue

2024Movie10.0
La La La
7.2

La La La

2018Movie7.2
The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell
9.0

The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell

1982Movie9.0
The Costume Designer
10.0

The Costume Designer

1950Movie10.0
Reunited at MGM: Astaire and Rogers Together Again
10.0

Reunited at MGM: Astaire and Rogers Together Again

2005Movie10.0
The Carpenters: A Christmas Portrait
8.0

The Carpenters: A Christmas Portrait

1978Movie8.0
Summer Stock: Get Happy!

Summer Stock: Get Happy!

2006Movie
Combat Fatigue Irritability

Combat Fatigue Irritability

1945Movie
Hollywood Musicals of the 40's

Hollywood Musicals of the 40's

2000Movie
Behind the screens : Les demoiselles de Rochefort

Behind the screens : Les demoiselles de Rochefort

1966Movie
Invitation to the Dance
6.0

Invitation to the Dance

1956Movie6.0
Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years

Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years

1979Movie
The Sandy Duncan Special
8.0

The Sandy Duncan Special

1974Movie8.0
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing
6.0

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing

2009Movie6.0
Easter Parade: On the Avenue
7.0

Easter Parade: On the Avenue

2005Movie7.0
The Devil Makes Three
6.2

The Devil Makes Three

1952Movie6.2
Frank Sinatra: Ol' Blue Eyes is Back

Frank Sinatra: Ol' Blue Eyes is Back

1973Movie
The Julie Andrews Show
8.5

The Julie Andrews Show

1965Movie8.5
Lucy Moves to NBC
3.3

Lucy Moves to NBC

1980Movie3.3
A Bing Crosby Christmas
10.0

A Bing Crosby Christmas

1998Movie10.0
JFK: The Lost Inaugural Gala

JFK: The Lost Inaugural Gala

2017Movie
Seagulls Over Sorrento
6.0

Seagulls Over Sorrento

1954Movie6.0
Directing Dolly: Gene Kelly Remembered

Directing Dolly: Gene Kelly Remembered

2013Movie
Hollywood: The Golden Years
7.0

Hollywood: The Golden Years

1961Movie7.0
Cole Porter in Hollywood: Ça c'est l'amour
9.0

Cole Porter in Hollywood: Ça c'est l'amour

2003Movie9.0
Happy Again
8.0

Happy Again

2006Movie8.0
The Movie Palaces

The Movie Palaces

1987Movie
Frank Sinatra: Around the World
8.0

Frank Sinatra: Around the World

2011Movie8.0
An Evening with Gene Kelly

An Evening with Gene Kelly

1977Movie
Dancing, a Man's Game - Gene Kelly

Dancing, a Man's Game - Gene Kelly

1958Movie
The Life You Save May Be Your Own

The Life You Save May Be Your Own

1957Movie
The Story of Submarine Warfare in the Pacific

The Story of Submarine Warfare in the Pacific

1945Movie
Sylvie Vartan: Live in Las Vegas

Sylvie Vartan: Live in Las Vegas

1982Movie

TV Shows (30)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.5

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962Series7.5
The Mike Douglas Show
5.8

The Mike Douglas Show

1961Series5.8
Great Performances
6.1

Great Performances

1971Series6.1
The Merv Griffin Show
6.8

The Merv Griffin Show

1962Series6.8
What's My Line?
7.0

What's My Line?

1950Series7.0
Film '72
5.1

Film '72

1971Series5.1
Omnibus
7.0

Omnibus

1952Series7.0
Omnibus
7.2

Omnibus

1967Series7.2
Champs-Elysées
6.8

Champs-Elysées

1982Series6.8
North and South
7.5

North and South

1985Series7.5
The Ed Sullivan Show
6.8

The Ed Sullivan Show

1948Series6.8
The Oscars
7.0

The Oscars

1953Series7.0
The Muppet Show
8.0

The Muppet Show

1976Series8.0
Numéro un
7.5

Numéro un

1975Series7.5
The Kennedy Center Honors
7.4

The Kennedy Center Honors

1978Series7.4
MGM Parade
7.5

MGM Parade

1955Series7.5
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
5.4

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

1973Series5.4
Cérémonie des César
4.6

Cérémonie des César

1976Series4.6
The Danny Kaye Show
7.0

The Danny Kaye Show

1963Series7.0
Talking Pictures
6.2

Talking Pictures

2013Series6.2
Reflets de Cannes
5.0

Reflets de Cannes

1954Series5.0
Hollywood and the Stars
7.5

Hollywood and the Stars

1963Series7.5
Going My Way
5.8

Going My Way

1962Series5.8
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
6.3

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

1973Series6.3
Il était une fois Champs-Élysées
6.5

Il était une fois Champs-Élysées

2022Series6.5
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
7.2

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

1951Series7.2
Sins
7.4

Sins

1986Series7.4
The Funny Side
9.0

The Funny Side

1971Series9.0
Musikalische Unterhaltung

Musikalische Unterhaltung

1961Series
Doug Henning's World of Magic
7.5

Doug Henning's World of Magic

1975Series7.5