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Gene Kelly

Gene Kelly

Actor · 1912–1996 · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

IMDb

Highest rated as cast or director

Gene Kelly's 6 titles from the 1950s have a median Balasaur Score of 77, led by Singin' in the Rain (90) and An American in Paris (78), against 71 for those from the 1940s.

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.

Acted in 53

2020s

  1. 2024

    True Blue

    (Archive Footage)

2010s

  1. 2018

    La La La

    Various Roles (archive footage)

2000s

  1. 2009

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

    (archive footage)

  2. 2006

    Summer Stock: Get Happy!

    Joe D. Ross (archive footage) (uncredited)

  3. Happy Again

    Don Lockwood (archive footage)

  4. 2004

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

    Don Lockwood

1980s

  1. 1986

    Sins

    Eric Hovland · 3 episodes

  2. 1985

    North and South

    Sen. Charles Edwards · 4 episodes

    79
  3. 1982

    Showbiz Goes to War

    (archive footage)

  4. 1980

    Xanadu

    Danny McGuire

    45

1970s

  1. 1978

    Ersatz

    Don Lockwood (voice) (archive sound)

  2. 1977

    Viva Knievel!

    Will Atkins

    32
  3. 1973

    40 Carats

    Billy Boylan

    62

1950s

  1. 1958

    Marjorie Morningstar

    Noel Airman

  2. 1957

    Les Girls

    Barry Nichols

    72

  3. The Happy Road

    Michael J. Andrews

  4. The Life You Save May Be Your Own

    Tom T. Triplett

  5. 1955

    MGM Parade

    Performer in 'Ziegfeld Follies' (archive footage), Self - Actor, Self, self · 1 episode

  6. It's Always Fair Weather

    Ted Riley

    76
  7. 1954

    Deep in My Heart

    Performer (segment "Dancing Around")

  8. Brigadoon

    Tommy Albright

    65

  9. Seagulls Over Sorrento

    Lieutenant Bradville

  10. 1952

    The Devil Makes Three

    Jeff Eliot

  11. Singin' in the Rain

    Don Lockwood

    90

  12. Love Is Better Than Ever

    Gene Kelly (uncredited)

  13. 1951

    It's a Big Country

    Icarus Xenophon

  14. Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

    Tom T. Triplett · 1 episode

  15. An American in Paris

    Jerry Mulligan

    78
  16. 1950

    Summer Stock

    Joe D. Ross

    78

  17. Black Hand

    Giovanni E. 'Johnny' Columbo

1940s

  1. 1949

    On the Town

    Gabey

    76

  2. Take Me Out to the Ball Game

    Eddie O'Brien

    72
  3. 1948

    Words and Music

    Gene Kelly

    50

  4. The Three Musketeers

    D'Artagnan

    71

  5. The Pirate

    Serafin

    70
  6. 1947

    Living in a Big Way

    Leo Gogarty

  7. 1945

    Ziegfeld Follies

    Gentleman (segment "The Babbit and the Bromide")

  8. Anchors Aweigh

    Joseph Brady

    65

  9. Combat Fatigue Irritability

    Seaman Bob Lucas

  10. 1944

    Christmas Holiday

    Robert Manette

    68

  11. Cover Girl

    Danny McGuire

    73

  12. Twenty Years After

    (archive footage)

  13. 1943

    The Cross of Lorraine

    Victor

  14. Thousands Cheer

    Eddie Marsh

  15. Du Barry Was a Lady

    Alec Howe / Black Arrow

    62

  16. Pilot #5

    Vito S. Alessandro

  17. 1942

    For Me and My Gal

    Harry Palmer

Directed 15

1970s

  1. 1976

    That's Entertainment, Part II

    Director

  2. 1970

    The Cheyenne Social Club

    Director

    67

1960s

  1. 1969

    Hello, Dolly!

    Director

    61
  2. 1967

    A Guide for the Married Man

    Director

    59

  3. Jack and the Beanstalk

    Director

  4. 1964

    American in Paris

    Director

  5. 1962

    Gigot

    Director

1950s

  1. 1958

    Dancing, a Man's Game - Gene Kelly

    Director

  2. The Tunnel of Love

    Director

  3. 1957

    The Happy Road

    Director

  4. 1956

    Invitation to the Dance

    Director

  5. 1955

    It's Always Fair Weather

    Director

    76
  6. 1952

    Singin' in the Rain

    Director

    90

1940s

  1. 1949

    On the Town

    Director

    76
  2. 1945

    Combat Fatigue Irritability

    Director

Other crew 13

2020s

  1. 2021

    Starstruck: Gene Kelly's Love Letter to Ballet

    Choreographer

1960s

  1. 1967

    Jack and the Beanstalk

    Choreographer

  2. 1964

    What a Way to Go!

    Choreographer

    59

Produced 3

1960s

  1. 1967

    Jack and the Beanstalk

    Producer

1950s

  1. 1957

    The Happy Road

    Producer

Wrote 3

2020s

  1. 2024

    The Royal Rascal Talkie

    Writer

1950s

  1. 1956

    Invitation to the Dance

    Writer

Art department 1

1950s

  1. 1958

    Badman's Country

    Art Direction

Appearances67

2020s

  1. 2025

    Gene Kelly: An American in Hollywood

    Self - Portrait Subject & Interviewee (archive footage)

  2. 2022

    Il était une fois Champs-Élysées

    Self (archive footage) · 1 episode

2010s

  1. 2019

    Sid & Judy

    Self (archive footage)

    74
  2. 2013

    Talking Pictures

    Self (archive footage) · 1 episode

  3. Directing Dolly: Gene Kelly Remembered

    Self (archive footage)

  4. 2011

    Frank Sinatra: Around the World

    Self - Guest

2000s

  1. 2009

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

    Self (archive)

  2. 2005

    Get Aboard! 'The Band Wagon'

    Self (archive footage)

  3. 2004

    Judy Garland: By Myself

    Self - Actor (archive sound)

  4. 2002

    Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer

    Self (archive footage)

  5. 2000

    Hollywood Musicals of the 40's

    Self (archive footage)

1990s

  1. 1998

    A Bing Crosby Christmas

    Self / Narrator (archive footage)

  2. 1995

    The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies

    Self

  3. 1994

    That's Entertainment! III

    Self - Host

  4. 1993

    The Young Girls Turn 25

    Self (archive footage)

  5. 1990

    Tom & Jerry's 50th Birthday Bash

    Self

  6. You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story

    Self

1980s

  1. 1988

    Roger Rabbit and the Secrets of Toon Town

    Self – Interviewee

  2. Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues

    Self

  3. 1987

    The Movie Palaces

    Self

  4. James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

    Self

  5. 1986

    The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years

    Self (archive footage)

  6. 1985

    That's Dancing!

    Self - Host

    71
  7. 1983

    James Bond: The First 21 Years

    Self

  8. 1982

    Night of 100 Stars

    Self

  9. Champs-Elysées

    Self · 1 episode

  10. The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell

    Self - Narrator (voice)

  11. 1981

    Reporters

    Self

  12. 1980

    Olivia Newton-John: Hollywood Nights

    Self

  13. Lucy Moves to NBC

    Self

1970s

  1. 1979

    Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years

    Self

  2. 1978

    The Kennedy Center Honors

    Self · 1 episode

  3. The Carpenters: A Christmas Portrait

    Self

  4. Mickey's 50

    Self

  5. Cinderella at the Palace

    Host

  6. 1976

    NBC: The First Fifty Years

    Self

  7. The Muppet Show

    Self - Special Guest Star · 1 episode

    83

  8. That's Entertainment, Part II

    Self - Host

  9. Cérémonie des César

    Self - President · 1 episode

  10. It's Showtime

    Self (archive footage)

  11. 1975

    Doug Henning's World of Magic

    Self · 1 episode

  12. Numéro un

    Self · 1 episode

  13. 1974

    The Sandy Duncan Special

    Self

  14. That's Entertainment!

    Self - Host / Narrator

  15. 1973

    The Men Who Made the Movies: Vincente Minnelli

    Self (archive footage)

  16. Frank Sinatra: Ol' Blue Eyes is Back

    Self - Guest Performer

  17. The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

    Self · 3 episodes

  18. The American Film Institute Salute to ...

    Self · 2 episodes

  19. 1972

    Hollywood: The Dream Factory

    Self (archive footage)

  20. 1971

    Great Performances

    Self · 1 episode

    74

1960s

  1. 1967

    Omnibus

    Self · 1 episode

  2. 1966

    Behind the screens : Les demoiselles de Rochefort

    Self

  3. 1965

    The Julie Andrews Show

    Self

  4. 1963

    Hollywood and the Stars

    Self (archive footage) · 1 episode

  5. The Danny Kaye Show

    Self · 1 episode

  6. 1962

    The Merv Griffin Show

    Self · 3 episodes

    67

  7. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    Self · 1 episode

    82
  8. 1961

    The Mike Douglas Show

    Self - Co-Host · 2 episodes

    69

1950s

  1. 1958

    Dancing, a Man's Game - Gene Kelly

    Self

  2. 1956

    Invitation to the Dance

    Host / Pierrot / The Marine / Sinbad

  3. 1954

    Reflets de Cannes

    Self · 2 episodes

  4. 1953

    The Oscars

    Self · 5 episodes

  5. 1952

    Omnibus

    Self (segment) · 1 episode

  6. 1950

    The Costume Designer

    Self (archive footage)

  7. What's My Line?

    Self · 2 episodes

    81

1940s

  1. 1948

    The Ed Sullivan Show

    Self · 3 episodes

    76
  2. 1945

    The Story of Submarine Warfare in the Pacific

    Narrator (voice)

Thanked in the credits1