Fred Astaire

Acting

Fred Astaire

Born May 10, 1899 · Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Died June 22, 1987 · aged 88

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 …

Known For

Cole Porter in Hollywood: Satin and SilkCole Porter in Hollywood: Satin and Silk · 2003
Cole Porter in Hollywood: Satin and Silk
7.02003
MovieDocumentary
This documentary short subject details the making of the 1957 MGM musical, "Silk Stockings". Hosted by its star Cyd Charisse, the film gives behind-the-scenes glimpses of how this film was made with interviews by musical director Andre Previn and supporting actress Janis Paige.
The Towering InfernoThe Towering Inferno · 1974
The Towering Inferno
7.01974
MovieActionDrama
At the opening party of a colossal—but poorly constructed—skyscraper, a massive fire breaks out, threatening to destroy the tower and everyone in it.
VaudevilleVaudeville · 1997
Vaudeville
8.01997
MovieDocumentary
Vaudeville is a 1997 PBS documentary under its American Masters program. Using film clips and photos, the art and history of vaudeville (1890-1930s) is illustrated.
Funny FaceFunny Face · 1957
Funny Face
7.01957
MovieMusicComedy
A shy Greenwich Village book clerk is discovered by a fashion photographer and whisked off to Paris where she becomes a reluctant model.
Blue SkiesBlue Skies · 1946
Blue Skies
6.21946
MovieComedyRomance
Jed Potter looks back on a love triangle conducted over the course of years and between musical numbers. Dancer Jed loves showgirl Mary, who loves compulsive nightclub-opener Johnny, who can't stay committed to anything in life for very long.
The Purple Rose of CairoThe Purple Rose of Cairo · 1985
The Purple Rose of Cairo
7.41985
MovieFantasyComedy
Cecilia is a waitress in New Jersey, living a dreary life during the Great Depression. Her only escape from her mundane reality is the movie theatre. After losing her job, Cecilia goes to see 'The Purple Rose of Cairo' in hopes of raising her spirits, where she watches dashing archaeologist Tom Baxter time and again.
Dance Crazy in HollywoodDance Crazy in Hollywood · 1990
Dance Crazy in Hollywood
6.01990
MovieDocumentaryHistory
American dancer and choreographer Hermes Pan recalls his life and work as he relives the glorious history of the Hollywood musical.
That's Entertainment!That's Entertainment! · 1974
That's Entertainment!
7.41974
MovieDocumentaryFamily
Various MGM stars from yesterday present their favorite musical moments from the studio's 50 year history.

Movies

Cole Porter in Hollywood: Satin and SilkCole Porter in Hollywood: Satin and Silk · 2003
Cole Porter in Hollywood: Satin and Silk
7.02003
MovieDocumentary
This documentary short subject details the making of the 1957 MGM musical, "Silk Stockings". Hosted by its star Cyd Charisse, the film gives behind-the-scenes glimpses of how this film was made with interviews by musical director Andre Previn and supporting actress Janis Paige.
The Towering InfernoThe Towering Inferno · 1974
The Towering Inferno
7.01974
MovieActionDrama
At the opening party of a colossal—but poorly constructed—skyscraper, a massive fire breaks out, threatening to destroy the tower and everyone in it.
VaudevilleVaudeville · 1997
Vaudeville
8.01997
MovieDocumentary
Vaudeville is a 1997 PBS documentary under its American Masters program. Using film clips and photos, the art and history of vaudeville (1890-1930s) is illustrated.
Funny FaceFunny Face · 1957
Funny Face
7.01957
MovieMusicComedy
A shy Greenwich Village book clerk is discovered by a fashion photographer and whisked off to Paris where she becomes a reluctant model.
Blue SkiesBlue Skies · 1946
Blue Skies
6.21946
MovieComedyRomance
Jed Potter looks back on a love triangle conducted over the course of years and between musical numbers. Dancer Jed loves showgirl Mary, who loves compulsive nightclub-opener Johnny, who can't stay committed to anything in life for very long.
The Purple Rose of CairoThe Purple Rose of Cairo · 1985
The Purple Rose of Cairo
7.41985
MovieFantasyComedy
Cecilia is a waitress in New Jersey, living a dreary life during the Great Depression. Her only escape from her mundane reality is the movie theatre. After losing her job, Cecilia goes to see 'The Purple Rose of Cairo' in hopes of raising her spirits, where she watches dashing archaeologist Tom Baxter time and again.
Dance Crazy in HollywoodDance Crazy in Hollywood · 1990
Dance Crazy in Hollywood
6.01990
MovieDocumentaryHistory
American dancer and choreographer Hermes Pan recalls his life and work as he relives the glorious history of the Hollywood musical.
That's Entertainment!That's Entertainment! · 1974
That's Entertainment!
7.41974
MovieDocumentaryFamily
Various MGM stars from yesterday present their favorite musical moments from the studio's 50 year history.
On the BeachOn the Beach · 1959
On the Beach
6.71959
MovieScience FictionDrama
In 1964, atomic war wipes out humanity in the northern hemisphere; one American submarine finds temporary safe haven in Australia, where life-as-usual covers growing despair. In denial about the loss of his wife and children in the holocaust, American Captain Towers meets careworn but gorgeous Moira Davidson, who begins to fall for him. The sub returns after reconnaissance a month (or less) before the end; will Towers and Moira find comfort with each other?
The Gay DivorceeThe Gay Divorcee · 1934
The Gay Divorcee
6.91934
MovieComedyRomance
Seeking a divorce from her absentee husband, Mimi Glossop travels to an English seaside resort. There she falls in love with dancer Guy Holden, whom she later mistakes for the corespondent her lawyer hired.
You Were Never LovelierYou Were Never Lovelier · 1942
You Were Never Lovelier
7.11942
MovieRomanceComedy
An Argentine heiress thinks a penniless American dancer is her secret admirer.
The Band WagonThe Band Wagon · 1953
The Band Wagon
7.21953
MovieMusicComedy
A Broadway artiste turns a faded film star's comeback vehicle into an artsy flop.
La La LaLa La La · 2018
La La La
7.22018
MovieDocumentaryTV Movie
When the silent cinema learned to speak, the audience was surprised not only by the voices of the actors and the sound effects, but also by a new element, the music, which, combined with the dance and an unprejudiced imagination, gave rise to a new genre, as important to Hollywood cinema as the western was: the musical. A journey through the history of this genre, from its beginnings to the present day.
Ghost StoryGhost Story · 1981
Ghost Story
6.01981
MovieHorrorDrama
Four successful elderly gentlemen, members of the Chowder Society, share a gruesome, 50-year-old secret. When one of Edward Wanderley's twin sons dies in a bizarre accident, the group begins to see a pattern of frightening events developing.
ImagineImagine · 1972
Imagine
7.11972
MovieMusicDocumentary
A surreal, half-fiction, half real life footage of a day in the life of John lennon and Yoko Ono, composed to music from John's historic 'Imagine' album and Yoko's 'Fly'.
Sem Título #1: Dance of LeitfossilSem Título #1: Dance of Leitfossil · 2014
Sem Título #1: Dance of Leitfossil
10.02014
MovieDocumentaryMusic
Experimental Short, Brazil
That's Dancing!That's Dancing! · 1985
That's Dancing!
6.91985
MovieDocumentaryMusic
A documentary film about dancing on the screen, from its origins after the invention of the movie camera, over the movie musical from the late 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s, up to the break dance and music videos from the 80s.
Hooray for HollywoodHooray for Hollywood · 1976
Hooray for Hollywood
8.01976
MovieDocumentary
A celebration of Hollywood in the 1930s, featuring a compilation of clips from features and newsreels of the era.
That's Entertainment! IIIThat's Entertainment! III · 1994
That's Entertainment! III
7.01994
MovieDocumentaryMusic
Some of MGM'S musical stars review the studios history of musicals. From The Hollywood Revue of 1929 to Brigadoon, from the first musical talkies to Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain.
Flying Down to RioFlying Down to Rio · 1933
Flying Down to Rio
6.31933
MovieComedyRomance
An American bandleader woos a Brazilian beauty who is already engaged to his employer. His friends try to help him, while learning the local dance, The Carioca. The first pairing of Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers, and their only pre-Code film.
Paris When It SizzlesParis When It Sizzles · 1964
Paris When It Sizzles
6.31964
MovieRomanceComedy
Hollywood producer Alexander Meyerheimer has hired drunken writer Richard Benson to write his latest movie. Benson has been in Paris supposedly working on the script for months, but instead has spent the time living it up. Benson now has just two days to the deadline and thus hires a temporary secretary, Gabrielle Simpson, to help him finish on time.
Daddy Long LegsDaddy Long Legs · 1955
Daddy Long Legs
6.41955
MovieRomance
Wealthy American, Jervis Pendleton has a chance encounter at a French orphanage with a cheerful 18-year-old resident, and anonymously pays for her education at a New England college. She writes letters to her mysterious benefactor regularly, but he never writes back. Several years later, he visits her at school, while still concealing his identity, and—despite their large age difference—they soon fall in love.
Twenty Years AfterTwenty Years After · 1944
Twenty Years After
8.01944
MovieDocumentary
This short celebrates the 20th anniversary of MGM. Segments are shown from several early hits, then from a number of 1944 releases.
Get Aboard! 'The Band Wagon'Get Aboard! 'The Band Wagon' · 2005
Get Aboard! 'The Band Wagon'
2005
MovieDocumentary
Documentary on the 1953 musical "The Band Wagon."

TV Shows

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson · 1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.51962
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under The Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night. For its first ten years, Carson's Tonight Show was based in New York City with occasional trips to Burbank, California; in May 1972, the show moved permanently to Burbank, California. In 2002, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was ranked #12 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.
The Mike Douglas ShowThe Mike Douglas Show · 1961
The Mike Douglas Show
5.81961
SeriesComedy
The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that originally aired only in the Cleveland area during much of its first two years on the air. It then went into syndication in 1963 and remained on television until 1982. It was distributed by Westinghouse Broadcasting and for much of its run, originated from studios of two of the company's TV stations in Cleveland and Philadelphia.
Golden Globe AwardsGolden Globe Awards · 1944
Golden Globe Awards
7.01944
Series
An annual awards ceremony recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign, bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
What's My Line?What's My Line? · 1950
What's My Line?
7.01950
SeriesFamilyComedy
Four panelists must determine guests' occupations - and, in the case of famous guests, while blindfolded, their identity - by asking only "yes" or "no" questions.
The Dick Cavett ShowThe Dick Cavett Show · 1968
The Dick Cavett Show
6.81968
Series
The Dick Cavett Show has been the title of several talk shows hosted by Dick Cavett on various television networks.
Dr. KildareDr. Kildare · 1961
Dr. Kildare
5.71961
SeriesDrama
The story of a young intern in a large metropolitan hospital trying to learn his profession, deal with the problems of his patients, and win the respect of the senior doctor in his specialty, internal medicine.
The Ed Sullivan ShowThe Ed Sullivan Show · 1948
The Ed Sullivan Show
6.81948
SeriesComedy
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in September 1971 by the CBS Sunday Night Movie, which ran only one season and was eventually replaced by other shows. In 2002, The Ed Sullivan Show was ranked #15 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.
OmnibusOmnibus · 1967
Omnibus
7.21967
SeriesDocumentary
Omnibus was an arts-based BBC television documentary series, broadcast mainly on BBC1 in the United Kingdom. The programme was the successor to the long-running arts-based series 'Monitor'. It ran from 1967 until 2003, usually being transmitted on Sunday evenings. During its 35-year history, the programme won 12 Bafta awards. Among the series' best remembered documentaries are Cracked Actor, a profile of David Bowie, and Rene Magritte, a graduate film by David Wheatley, 'Madonna: Behind the American dream', a film produced by Nadia Hagger, and a profile of the British film director Ridley Scott. For a season in 1982, the series was in a magazine format presented by Barry Norman. The series was replaced by 'Imagine' hosted by Alan Yentob.
The OscarsThe Oscars · 1953
The Oscars
7.01953
Series
An annual American awards ceremony honoring cinematic achievements in the film industry. The various category winners are awarded a copy of a statuette, officially the Academy Award of Merit, that is better known by its nickname Oscar.
Dinah!Dinah! · 1974
Dinah!
7.01974
Series
Dinah's show premiered 9 September 1974 and continued through to 4 September 1981. She started out the 70's with Dinah's Place which usually featured one guest and was more of a home oriented show about cooking, crafts and occasionally music. This format lasted until May of 1974. When the show came back in October of 1974 the format had changed drastically to a variety talk show which was called Dinah. and went on until 1981. This show was also known as "Dinah and Friends" during the summer of 1976.
The Steve Allen ShowThe Steve Allen Show · 1956
The Steve Allen Show
6.21956
SeriesComedy
CinépanoramaCinépanorama · 1956
Cinépanorama
8.71956
SeriesDocumentaryFamily
Battlestar GalacticaBattlestar Galactica · 1978
Battlestar Galactica
7.11978
SeriesSci-Fi & FantasyDrama
When the 12 Colonies of Man are wiped out by a cybernetic race called the Cylons, Commander Adama and the crew of the battlestar Galactica lead a ragtag fleet of human survivors in search of a "mythical planet" called Earth.
Alcoa PremiereAlcoa Premiere · 1961
Alcoa Premiere
6.01961
SeriesDrama
Alcoa Premiere is an American anthology drama series that aired from October 1961 to July 1963 on ABC. The series was hosted by Fred Astaire, directed by Norman Lloyd and executive produced by Alfred Hitchcock.
The Kennedy Center HonorsThe Kennedy Center Honors · 1978
The Kennedy Center Honors
7.41978
Series
The Kennedy Center Honors is an annual honor given to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to American culture.
It Takes a ThiefIt Takes a Thief · 1968
It Takes a Thief
7.21968
SeriesDrama
Convicted cat burglar Alexander Mundy gets an offer he can't refuse from the United States government: If he puts his formidable thieving skills to work for them, he'll be released from prison. Alexander's dad, Alister, sometimes comes out of retirement as a thief to help his son on special jobs.
MGM ParadeMGM Parade · 1955
MGM Parade
7.51955
Series
The original concept of the show was to allow the viewer to see the inner workings of a movie studio and featured interviews with MGM stars and explanations of how movies were made. Later, the format changed to show edited versions of MGM films.
The Emmy AwardsThe Emmy Awards · 1949
The Emmy Awards
7.91949
Series
An annual awards ceremony honoring the best in U.S. prime time television programming as chosen by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
The American Film Institute Salute to ...The American Film Institute Salute to ... · 1973
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
6.31973
Series
In 1973 the American Film Institute initiated its Life Achievement Award, to be presented to a yearly recipient whose talent has fundamentally advanced the film art; whose accomplishments have been acknowledged by scholars, critics, professional peers and the general public; and whose work has stood the test of time.
Talking PicturesTalking Pictures · 2013
Talking Pictures
6.22013
SeriesDocumentary
A look back at television appearances by legends of the silver screen, using archive footage to tell the story of their lives and careers.
General Electric TheaterGeneral Electric Theater · 1953
General Electric Theater
6.81953
SeriesComedyDrama
General Electric Theater is an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was broadcast on CBS radio and television. The series was sponsored by General Electric's Department of Public Relations.
Hollywood and the StarsHollywood and the Stars · 1963
Hollywood and the Stars
7.51963
SeriesDocumentary
Each 30 minute show concentrated on a Hollywood genre, film or legendary star.
The RKO Story: Tales From HollywoodThe RKO Story: Tales From Hollywood · 1987
The RKO Story: Tales From Hollywood
9.01987
SeriesDocumentary
Ed Asner tells the story of RKO Pictures from the 1920s to the 1960s.