Gene Kelly

Biography

Eugene (Gene) Kelly
born: 23-08-1912
birth place: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
died: 02-02-1996

As a child, Eugene Curran Kelly preferred sports to dancing. He wanted to play pro football, but his mother organized him and his siblings as The Five Kellys, and they performed at amateur nights.

In 1932, Gene and his family opened the Gene Kelly Dance Studio. The following year, he graduated with a degree in economics from the University of Pittsburgh.

Eventually, though, he moved to New York City and found his way into the chorus line of Broadway musicals. His big break was in the title role of the Broadway musical, 'Pal Joey' in 1940. Two years later he made his film debut in 'For Me and My Gal', with Judy Garland.

Kelly became one of the top stars of the 1940s and 1950s. He didn't just act, sing, and dance; he also served as choreographer, and in the process had a major impact on dancing in the movies. He also directed films, including 'Gigot' and 'Hello, Dolly!'.

His most memorable films, most of which he choreographed, included 'An American in Paris' and 'Singin' in the Rain', one of the greatest musicals ever made, in which Kelly starred in the famous dance sequence of the title song, as well as 'Anchors Aweigh', 'The Pirate', 'The Three Musketeers', 'On the Town', 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game', 'Brigadoon' and 'Invitation to the Dance'.

He continued working sporadically in films through the 1960s, appearing in 'Inherit the Wind', 'What a Way to Go!' and '40 Carats', amongst others.

He died on 2nd February 1996.