Fred Astaire

FREDERICK AUSTERLITZ

His real name is Frederick Austerlitz.

Outstanding American dancer, singer, movie actor and choreographer.

He was born May 10, 1899 in Omaha (Nebraska, USA) in a family of Austrian emigrant.

Together with his sister, the dancer Adele Austerlitz, he began performing on stage as a dancer, from 1915 - in musical comedies. The pair were seen, followed by invitations - first in London, then on Broadway (1923).

He made his film debut, having already gained fame as a dancer of "The Dancing Lady" (1933).

In 1933, the Fred Astaire - Ginger Rogers pair was formed: they starred together until 1939, with the resounding success of The Merry Divorce, The Cylinder, Swing Time, Let's Dance, Carefree.

Once again they appeared together in 1949 in "Barkley of Broadway." At the same time, Astaire received an honorary Oscar award.

In 1940-1950-ies Astaire continued dizzying career of the actor of musical comedy, often changing the partners, young Hollywood movie stars, starring in the tapes of the masters of American commercial cinema - W. Minnelli, S. Donen, J. Negulesko, R. Mamulyana.

In 1959 he played a dramatic role in the political pamphlet Stanley Kramer "Last Bank.

In 1960-1970-ies acted in movies rarely - aged Astaire preferred to perform dramatic roles, sometimes outside the United States ("Lilac Taxi" I. Boisset, 1977; "Ghost Story" J. Erwin, 1981).

Astaire danced with almost all of Hollywood's "first ladies" - Rita Hayworth, Sid Charisse ("The Bandwagon", 1953), Leslie Kuron's "Long Leg Daddy" (1955), Ann Miller and Judy Garland's "Easter Parade", 1948).

Astaire had a keen sense of the specifics of filmmaking, which allowed him to build his numbers in front of the camera with precision and effect.

Astaire was revered as an outstanding singer, second only to Bing Crosby (they starred together in Holiday Inn, 1942).

He proved himself an able actor, but Astaire's worldwide fame came from his giant contribution to the genre of musical film comedy.

He talked about his work in this genre in his memoir book Steps in Time, published in the USA in 1960.

Astaire's theatrical and film career spanned a period of 76 years, during which he starred in 31 musical films. With Ginger Rogers, he starred in 10 films that turned the musical comedy genre upside down.

Balanchine and Nureyev called him the greatest dancer of the twentieth century. In addition, Fred Astaire is considered the dancer with the greatest influence on the musical genre, particularly in film and television. The American Motion Picture Institute named him the fifth greatest actor of all time.

Fred Astaire died in Los Angeles on June 22, 1987 of pneumonia.

PRIZES AND AWARDS

Academy Award (1949):

Honorary Award for services to the development of musical film

Oscar nomination (1974):

Best Supporting Actor ("Hell in the Sky")

Golden Globe Award:

1950 - Best Actor, Comedy/Musical ("Three Short Words")

1974 - Best Supporting Actor (Hell in the Sky).

BAFTA Award (1975):

Best Supporting Actor ("Hell in the Sky")