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In Memoriam · 1899 – 1987
Fred Astaire

Person · Actor

Fred Astaire

A legendary performer's journey from vaudeville stages to Hollywood icons, Fred Astaire defies the odds and redefines dance in a world that never stops moving.

Born
1899
Died
1987
From
Omaha, Nebraska, USA·Los Angeles, California, USA
Height
1.75 m (5'9")
  • Also:
  • Producer
102
Credits on file
10
Decades active
31
Awards

In short · Acted for 10 decades — 102 credits, 18 Grammy Hall Of Fame wins.

Recent & in release

  1. Award win

    Grammy Hall Of Fame — Grammy Hall of Fame

  2. Award win

    Grammy Hall Of Fame — Grammy Hall of Fame

  3. Award win

    Grammy Hall Of Fame — Grammy Hall of Fame

  4. Award win

    Grammy Hall Of Fame — Grammy Hall of Fame

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Biography

Fred Astaire was born in Omaha, Nebraska, to Johanna (Geilus) and Fritz Austerlitz, a brewer. He entered show business at age 5 and achieved success in both vaudeville and on Broadway, performing in partnership with his sister, Adele Astaire. After Adele retired to marry in 1932, Astaire moved to Hollywood. He was signed to RKO and loaned to MGM for the film *Dancing Lady* (1933) before beginning work on RKO's *Flying Down to Rio* (1933). In the latter film, he began his highly successful partnership with Ginger Rogers, dancing with her in nine RKO pictures. During these years, he was also active in recording and radio. On film, Astaire later appeared with a number of partners across various studios. After a temporary retirement from 1945 to 1947, during which he opened Fred Astaire Dance Studios, he returned to film to star in more musicals through 1957. He subsequently performed a number of straight dramatic roles in film and television.

Family & relationships

Parents
Frederic Austerlitz

Filmography · 80 of 80

Streaming

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Actor

53 credits

Editor

2 credits

Other crew

25 credits

Awards & Nominations

18 wins · 13 nominations

Primetime Emmy Award

  • Won1978Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
  • Nom1961Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
  • Nom1960Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
  • Won1959Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
  • Nom1959Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series

Bafta Award

  • Nom1976Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Academy Award

  • Nom1975Best Supporting Actor

Golden Globe Award

  • Nom1974Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
  • Nom1968Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
  • Nom1961Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
  • Nom1959Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
  • Nom1950Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy

Golden Globe Cecil B Demille Award

  • Nom1960Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award
More awards & festivals (18) — regional academies & film-festival prizes

Grammy Hall Of Fame

  • Won2008Grammy Hall of Fame
  • Won2006Grammy Hall of Fame
  • Won2005Grammy Hall of Fame
  • Won2004Grammy Hall of Fame
  • Won2000Grammy Hall of Fame
  • Won1999Grammy Hall of Fame
  • Won1998Grammy Hall of Fame

Golden Globe Awards

  • Won1974Golden Globe — Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
  • Won1960Golden Globe — Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award
  • Nom1959Golden Globe — Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture

Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Won1989Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

Capezio Dance Award

  • Won1987Capezio Dance Award

Afi Life Achievement Award

  • Won1981AFI Life Achievement Award

Kennedy Center Honors

  • Won1978Kennedy Center Honors

Academy Awards

  • Nom1974Oscar — Actor in a Supporting Role
  • Won1949Oscar — Special Award

Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame

  • Won1960star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Academy Honorary Award

  • Won1949Academy Honorary Award

Originals

Streaming originals this person worked on.

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Additional credits22Show

Non-headline appearances — talk-show, awards-show, panel, and archive-footage credits, kept separate from the main filmography.

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