Facts about Fred Astaire

Fred Astaire died at 88 years old
Born: May 10, 1899
Best known as: Hollywood's most famous dancer

     

     

Fred Astaire Biography

Name at birth: Frederick Austerlitz

Fred Astaire was the American movie dancer of the 1930s and 1940s.

Famed for his mixture of elegance and nice-guy charm, he was a popular romantic lead despite his lack of typical movie star good looks.

Astaire’s dance routines are a staple of movie highlight reels. He was often paired with dancing actress Ginger Rogers; their movies together included Flying Down to Rio (1933), Top Hat (1935), and Swing Time (1936).

Astaire was also known as a top-notch singer. He continued to act in films until the early 1980s (Ghost Story, 1981).

Astaire was given an honorary Oscar in 1950, and a quarter century later was nominated for his supporting role in The Towering Inferno (1974).

Extra credit

Astaire was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his non-dancing appearance in the 1974 disaster film The Towering Inferno.


     

Something in Common with Fred Astaire