Home > Categories > Literature and the Arts > Performing Arts > Dance: Biographies > Gene Kelly

Gene Kelly

From: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | Date: 2008

Gene Kelly 1912-96, American dancer, choreographer, movie actor, and director, b. Pittsburgh. Kelly started dancing on Broadway in 1938 and first gained fame in the title role of the Broadway musical Pal Joey (1940). He moved to Hollywood in 1941 and soon starred in his first film, For Me and My Gal (1942). His best-known work was in motion pictures, where he excelled in an inventive combination of camera and dance techniques in such films as On the Town (1949), An American in Paris (1951; Academy Award), Singin' in the Rain (1952)—which contains his single most famous performance—and Invitation to the Dance (1956). Athletically graceful, a skillful and expressive dancer with a joyfully muscular yet lyrical style, he also sang in a thin yet appealing voice. Kelly appeared in such film musicals as Anchors Aweigh (1945), Take Me Out to the Ballgame (1949), Brigadoon (1954), and Les Girls (1957). He also played dramatic film roles, as in Inherit the Wind (1960), and directed several movies, including The Happy Road (1950) and Hello Dolly (1969).

Bibliography: See biographies by C. Hirschhorn (1975) and A. Yudkoff (1999).

Author not available, KELLY, GENE., The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition 2008

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press

For permission to reuse this article, contact Copyright Clearance Center.

Related articles from HighBeam Research:

	Why I'm bringing my memories of Gene to Glasgow EXCLUSIVE: How an Evening Times' picture exhibition inspired Gene Kelly's widow Patricia to come to Scotland Evening Times; 1/13/2006; RUSSELL LEADBETTER; 1271 words; GENE KELLY was one of the finest screen dancers Hollywood ... mistaking the debonair figure of Hollywood star Gene Kelly when he visited Glasgow in 1953. Gene arrived ... came from an impeccable source: Patricia Kelly, Gene's widow. The couple, who met in 1985, married ...
	GENE KELLY: LEGENDARY SCREEN DANCER DIES.(NEWS) The Cincinnati Post (Cincinnati, OH); 2/3/1996; 549 words; Gene Kelly, the dancer who brought his athletic grace ... of fax box one follows: Making a splash Gene Kelly's most memorable dance was the title number ... two follows: Gene Kelly's highlight reel Gene Kelly's films include: For Me and My Gal, 1942 ...
	Dancing Legend Gene Kelly Dies at the Age of 83 All Things Considered (NPR); 2/2/1996; 1164 words; ... With athletic grace and Irish charm, Gene Kelly brought his brand of dance to millions of movie lovers. Now Gene Kelly has died. He was 83 years old. He ... appreciation of singer, dancer and actor Gene Kelly. DEAN OLSHER, Reporter: Gene Kelly ...
	GENE KELLY - A LIFE IN SONG AND DANCE\Film great Gene Kelly dies at 83.(NEWS)(Obituary) Daily News (Los Angeles, CA); 2/3/1996; 1078 words; Byline: Sara Catania and Bob Strauss Daily News Staff Writers Gene Kelly, the dancer, actor, singer and director who won a special Oscar for his brilliant achievements in the art of choreography on film a year before he made Singin' in the Rain, died Friday at the age of 83. Kelly died in his sleep ...
	`Singin' in the Rain' Gene Kelly's exuberance swept up audiences; Gene Kelly kept on dancing Career highlights of Gene Kelly: Films (as actor, director, choreographer) For Me and My Gal, 1942 Pilot No. 5, 1943 Du Barry Was a Lady, 1943 Thousands Cheer, 1943 The Cross of Lorraine, 1943 Cover Girl, 1944 Christmas Holiday, 1944 Anchors Aweigh, 1945 Ziegfeld Follies, 1946 Living in a Big Way, 1947 The Pirate, 1948 The Three Musketeers, 1948 Words and Music, 1948 Take Me Out to the Ball Game, 1949 On the Town, 1949 Black Hand, 1950 Summer Stock, 1950 An American in Paris, 1951 It's a Big Country, 1952 Singin' in the Rain, 1952 The Devil Makes Three, 1952 Brigadoon, 1954 Seagulls Over Sorrento, or Crest of the Wave, 1954 Deep in My Heart, 1954 It's Always Fair Weather, 1955 Invitation to the Dance, 1956 The Happy Road, 1957 Les Girls, 1957 Marjorie Morningstar, 1958 Let's Make Love, 1960 Inherit the Wind, 1960 What a Way To Go, 1964 The Young Girls of Rochefort, 1967 40 Carats, 1973 That's Entertainment, 1974 That's Entertainment Part II, 1976 Viva Knievel! 1977 Xanadu, 1980 That's Entertainment III, 1994 Films (as director or producer-director) Tunnel of Love, 1958 Gigot, 1962 A Guide for the Married Man, 1967 Hello, Dolly! 1969 The Cheyenne Social Club, 1970 Theater Leave It to Me, 1938 One for the Money, 1939 The Time of Your Life, 1939 Pal Joey, 1940 Best Foot Forward, 1941 Television Going My Way, 1962-'63 The Funny Side, 1971 Jack and the Beanstalk, 1967 (Special) The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; 2/3/1996; Journal Sentinel reporter Jackie Loohauis contributed to this report from Milwaukee; 682 words; Gene Kelly, who splashed through puddles with athletic ... all of America wanted to dance just like Gene Kelly." "They don't make them like him anymore ... you knew this was a trained dancer. When Gene Kelly danced, you believed that if you just felt ...
	The lovely, lively legacy of Gene Kelly.(Arts)(Appreciation) The Washington Times; 2/4/1996; Arnold, Gary; 1098 words; Gene Kelly, who died Friday at the age of 83, has left ... commitment to the screen musical. Now that Gene Kelly has joined Fred Astaire, who died in 1987 ... There was enough of the jock and wiseguy in Gene Kelly to sabotage the effete connotations that ...
	Tracing Gene Kelly's Steps The Washington Post; 3/10/2002; Judith S. Gillies Washington Post Staff Writer; 491 words; Gene Kelly made it look easy to ... American in Paris. "But Kelly had a really phenomenal ... wrote and produced "Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer ... more sophisticated. Gene wanted to show an American ... and understood it." Kelly is an "American Master ...
	`Singin' in the Rain' star Gene Kelly dies at age 83.(A) The Washington Times; 2/3/1996; Butters, Patrick; 896 words; Gene Kelly, 83, the charming Hollywood ... strokes in 1994 and 1995. Gene died peacefully in his sleep ... Achievement Award winner, Mr. Kelly once toiled as a bricklayer ... committee rooting for his buddy Gene. Mr. Kelly choreographed many of his ...
	Dancer, actor and director Gene Kelly dies at age 83.(Originated from Knight-Ridder Newspapers) Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service; 2/2/1996; Rickey, Carrie; 1678 words; Gene Kelly, who could arabesque as ... following World War I, young Kelly pursued ice hockey and ... dance routines. Though Kelly was already a Broadway ... premier dancer and stylist, Kelly was in many ways the anti-Astai ... ethereal, effortless, Kelly was stocky and earthbound ... Astaire was ...
	A MOVING LOOK AT GENE KELLY The Boston Globe; 3/5/2002; Karen Campbell, Globe Correspondent; 349 words; Gene Kelly referred to himself as "a blue-collar movie ... who transformed the film musical. PBS's "Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer," which coincides with ... cinematic achievements. If you weren't a Gene Kelly fan, you're likely to be by the end of this ...
	OBITUARY: Gene Kelly The Independent - London; 2/5/1996; GILBERT ADAIR; 1560 words; ... dancer and singer, acrobat and actor, Gene Kelly was one of the most vital and indispensable ... all. To most moviegoers, however, Gene Kelly was familiar only as a performer ... street on the MGM back lot. No one but Gene Kelly could have made rain seem so very ...
	Gene Kelly, giant of dance The Boston Globe; 2/3/1996; Jay Carr, Globe Staff; 1318 words; Gene Kelly, the dancer and choreographer ... quintessential musical. And Kelly was its icon: dancing through ... society. The brasher Mr. Kelly sought from the start to ... naturally to Eugene Curran Kelly of Pittsburgh. At first ... Garland. As a singer, Mr. Kelly often came across as ...
	Gene Kelly, Legendary Hollywood Dancer, Actor Chicago Sun-Times; 2/3/1996; SCOTT HARRIS; 655 words; LOS ANGELES Gene Kelly, the exuberant, charismatic hoofer who ... was the stuff of a Hollywood musical. Gene Kelly was a would-be baseball player and failed ... Singin' in the Rain," remembered Mr. Kelly on Friday as "a great dancer . . . a ...
	Gene Kelly Dance Teacher; 2/1/2005; Dorbian, Iris; 820 words; ... artform Along with Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly (1912-1996) was the original song-and-d ... Kellys." In 1932, he founded the Gene Kelly School of Dance in his hometown ... few chances to share your favorite Gene Kelly movies with your students. As a nod ...
	Gene Kelly, regular guy The Boston Globe; 2/7/1996; Martin F. Nolan, Globe Staff; 653 words; ... the affordable Warren six times. Gene Kelly had won us as D'Artagnan in "The ... blarney and brashness, just like Gene Kelly. He hoofed his way into a special ... Jean Hagen in "Singin' in the Rain." Gene Kelly would have been more graceful, but ...