Reynolds wrote: 'The camera closed in. His family had the answer. 40, (Oct 3-Oct 9, 2003): 47. Unfortunately for the O'Connor family, world events often coincided with terrible personal losses, requiring Donald to assume adult responsibilities at a very young age. Maybe he spoke too soon, despite his apparent readiness and enthusiasm to pull off the bit (via IMDb). O'Connor never went to school. He hoped the break would launch Donald to greater heights of A-list stardom. [37], O'Connor continued to make film and television appearances into the 1990s, including the Robin Williams film Toys (1992) as the president of a toy-making company. His best-known musical work is probably Singin in the Rain 1952 in which he did an impressive dance that culminated in a series of backflips off the wall. It's rather ironic that the "Make 'Em Laugh" sequence begins with O'Connor declaring that "you can't let a little thing like this get you down" to fellow actor Gene Kelly. Donald O'Connor Enters Hospital OConnor was born into a family of Vaudeville entertainers. Apparently, the scene was so physically distressing for the actor, he retired to a hospital bed for three whole days in order to recover from it (via IMDb). I capture your attention without giving you time to think about it. Donald O'Connor. True, O'Connor hailed from a family of vaudeville performers who traversed the country as an exhibitionist troupe, but Donald seemed to have a penchant for the performing arts that transcended what one is able to learn through the application of mere instruction. 12pm - 2pm, Symphony No.9 in E minor Opus 95 (2) He made his film debut at age eleven, dancing an uncredited "specialty routine" with brothers Jack and Billy in the 1937 Warner Brothers musical, Melody for Two. and shoved his tongue down my throat."Eeew! [11] The film was popular and Universal began to develop O'Connor and Ryan as their version of Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. [citation needed], DONALD O'CONNOR Donald O'Connor Weds Secretly. I hope you can forgive me.Where did the power come from? Obituaries: Donald O'Connor, 78, comic and dancer Of all the famous dance partners choreographer-director Gene Kelly worked with, Jerry, the superimposed cartoon mouse from 1945's Anchors Aweigh, was his favorite. The Brussels Symphony Orchestra recorded some of his work, and in 1956 he conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a performance of his first symphony, Reflections d'Un Comique.[26]. He appeared in Men with Wings (1938), directed by William Wellman, as Fred MacMurray's character as a boy. "[5], O'Connor began performing in movies in 1937, making his debut aged 11 in Melody for Two appearing with his family act. Hopper, Hedda. I loved vaudeville. At the age of 15 from 15 on, I really had to learn to dance. Its a tremendous honor. God bless you, OConnor replied. The actor's lungs were hardly suited for the endurance that "Make 'Em Laugh" required. His best-known work was his "Make 'Em Laugh" dance routine in Singin' in the Rain (1952), for which role O'Connor was awarded a Golden Globe. Upon O'Connor's return from military service Universal did not know what to do with their young star. Distinctive. That number, along with the cheerily strutted "Good Morning," danced with Debbie Reynolds and Kelly, and the vaudeville-inspired "Fit As a Fiddle (And Ready for Love)" danced with Kelly, rewarded him with a Golden Globe Award (over Kelly) for his performance. Some of it includes work for the United States Army and Red Cross. He came to fame in a series of films in which he co-starred with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis the Talking Mule. I didnt escape it. At age 47, he got his first warningin 1972, suffering a heart attack while entertaining troops in Vietnam. "I had three months to learn what Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor had been doing for years," Reynolds wrote in her 2013 memoir Unsinkable. This concludes Part II. In 1993, O'Connor released his own exercise-oriented video, Let's Tap. Though his body was aging, his eyes still had the same fire, the same knowing sparkle that said,Im about to make a complete and utter fool of myself. Like an old show-horse breaking out of his stall to get back to work, he couldnt stop performing. . "[8], When they were not touring they stayed with O'Connor's Uncle Bill in Danville, Illinois. Television was kinder to him, and he netted an Emmy for his versatile work on the Colgate Comedy Hour. Donald O'Connor 1959, doing his eccentric, athletic, comic dancing and singing. Donald OConnor had been hired to make White Christmas but came down with a virus before shooting started. Donald O'Connor Keeps Studio City Theater in the Family-Literally: [Valley Edition] Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital, Irving Berlin's There's No Business Like Show Business, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, "Donald O'Connor, 78, Who Danced His Way Through Many Hollywood Musicals, Is Dead", "Donald O'Connor interview - Mindy Aloff", "Donald O'Connor, 78; Entertainer Immortalized by 'Singin' in the Rain', Mindy Alloff's 1979 interview with O'Connor, Donald O'Connor on "The Colgate Comedy Hour" (1951-54), Donald O'Connor on "Texaco Star Theater" (1954-55), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Donald_O%27Connor&oldid=1138222779, Won - 1954 Primetime Emmy Award for Best Male Star of Regular Series (for, Earned - 1960, Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in television, Nominated - 1960 Primetime Emmy award for Best Specialty Act - Single or Group, Nominated - 1980 Primetime Emmy award for Outstanding Individual Achievement - Special Events (52nd Annual Academy Awards (1980)), This page was last edited on 8 February 2023, at 16:33. I think is will bring me happiness. Brilliant choreography exquisite dancing a clever idea. I'm working on being a quasar, because stars wear out. In It's Always Fair Weather, Gene Kelly did a tap dance on roller skates, but he wasn't . He also won a Primetime Emmy Award from four nominations and received two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Night Work (1939) Approved | 60 min | Comedy, Drama 6.8 Rate Paramount held the project for him but he was not able to recover fully enough for the dance numbers in time to make the shooting schedule required for a December release. Theytook it home with them for $1.50. It was around this time that Donald gave his most revealing and heart-wrenching interview. In the 1950s, O'Connor reestablished himself as a comedic actor and tap dancer. He was in Sons of the Legion (1938), then had the second lead in a B-picture, Tom Sawyer, Detective (1938), playing Huckleberry Finn opposite Billy Cook's Tom Sawyer. In one instance, as all three practiced a step in Good Morning, Kelly himself was unknowinglyrepeating an error while blaming OConnor for it. Actually, they were quite challenging. Please note: images depicting historical events may contain themes, or have descriptions, that do not reflect current understanding. Shes clearly very shy, and he gets down at her level to run through some jokes. ", [Source: Constance Valis Hill, Tap Dancing America, A Cultural History (2010)]. The New York Times, 17 June 1953: 32. [6], O'Connor was reluctant to keep making Francis films but agreed to Francis in the Navy (1955). He then suffered a heart attack in 1971, leading him to quit taking the medication. O'Connor is also seen briefly dancing a vaudeville-styled tap routine as one of the three Dancing Dolans in the 1939 Warner Brother's musical On Your Toes, choreographed by George Balanchine. Art Carney is about my age and he's making a career out of being old. Shifting base of operations to Las Vegas gave the restless performer a steady audience and the abilityto nurture fresh talent. O'Connor was born into a Vaudeville family, where he learned to dance, sing, play comedy, even slapstick. According to IMDb, O'Connor was bedridden for three days after one particular sequence in "Singin' in the Rain" (1952) knocked him off his dancing shoes. He also performed a number of cameo roles on film, among them as the vaudevillian and dance instructor in the film Ragtime (1981 and the dreamy-eyed toy manufacturer in Robin Williams' film, Toys (1992). But OConnor marched on undaunted. He can dance, he can sing, he can act, and he can spout humor, but not yet with the finesse of a veteran. In 1971, after suffering a heart attack, O'Connor devoted considerably energy to composing music for the concert hall. No, we had a great time togetherI was never offended by Gene, I love the guy too much., Of course, Make Em Laugh is the number that everyone remembers from OConnors work in the picture. But doing one would mean being out in cold, cold New York for a year, a year and a half," he said. created 26 Mar 2021. In this rare interview clip (edited by yours truly), OConnor shares a priceless anecdote about the legends famously short temper on the set of their number Fit as a Fiddle: The memoriesof Debbie Reynolds also offer some insight into OConnors gentle, professional personality. He said, 'Well, we're going to have to do it again tomorrow." [30], In 1968, O'Connor hosted a syndicated talk show also called The Donald O'Connor Show. And then, I became what's known as a total dancer. Rising to take its place werethe spontaneous musicals, the Sounds of MusicandOklahomasandWest Side Stories. His succinct answer:No. He didnt plan to stay at first. Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! The late Andy Kaufman used to refer to himself as a "song and dance man" whenever people tried to label him a comedian (via Society of Rock). Unabashed, O'Connor developed his own style of tap dancing drawn from experience in vaudeville. These included going down with a sinking boat and launching himself head-first into a dangerously narrow wall niche for a disappearing act. And I had to learn to dance from the waist up. They brought me those little Oriental rugswouldnt absorb a sponge. He consulted with his brother Jack on running up the wall,an old trick from his circus days. [16] He also received an offer to play Cosmo the piano player in Singin' in the Rain (1952) at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Even in pain, he was pulling funny faces and regaling them with jokes, with stories. When they graduated from circus into vaudeville, all their children (seven were born, three died in infancy) were initiated into "The O'Connor Family," billed as "The Royal Family of Vaudeville." [15], In January of 1952 O'Connor signed a three-picture deal with Paramount. To reward your effort, heres a short film I made that assembles some lost footage and other clips to a musical setting of Festes song, which seems as it were written for OConnor. Read more: Watch this wonderful little and large tap-dancing duo. Directed by Arthur Lubin, the film was a huge success. So, when I went into movies and started working with all those great dancers, I had a terrible time. The crew let out a collective gasp, worried that the men would come to blows. Its one of the only times in OConnors career that he peels off the jesters mask for a glimpse of the vulnerable soul underneath. His succinct answer: "No. "I'm an illusionista trickster who quick chances before your eyes," he admitted in 1992. Granted, he is still acting, but theres no question that he was drawing on the pain behind his own lifes work to convey the depth of Keatons pent-up sorrow. I think it will bring me happiness. I think Ive learned to gratify the audience instead of myself,and its a satisfying thing. However, Donen recalled, the resulting number was "100% plagiarism. Another legendary dancer, Fred Astaire, then in his early 50s, was the one to comfort her. Three other siblings died during childbirth. Written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown,[1] the song is closely based on Cole Porter's "Be a Clown" from the Freed-produced 1948 MGM musical film The Pirate, in which it was sung by Gene Kelly and Judy Garland. He maintained his high standards of excellence through the 60s, as evidenced in some rare clips thathave surfaced on Youtube. The item was OConnors personal Bible. Hang On To Your Chairs And Lamps You Re All The Brilliant Choreography This Dance Number Was Done On A Fred Astaire Fred Astaire Dancing Old Movie Stars. He bought a theatre, the Donald O'Connor Theatre, and would perform in it with his children. Heres a selection of the. ", In a 2012 interview with Newsday, Kelly's widow, Patricia Ward Kelly, said her husband designed routines to suit his partners, whether they were professional dancers or not. O'Connor is the guy who ran straight up three walls, flipping backward to earth each time, in Singin' in the Rain, and no matter how often you see the movie, the stunt still appears fresh, magical and completely surprising. He was often cast as a brash and energetic young man during World War II, and paired with the equally energetic actress and tap dancer, Peggy Ryan. He is the only one actually dancing in the scene, so the task of amusing the audience essentially fell solely upon him. When asked how he came to dance as he did in Singin in the Rain, he explained that actor Gene Kelly, who co-directed and starred in the classic 1952 film, told him he could do anything he wanted. "Gene said, 'Do you think you could do that number again?" It was just oh so laborious for me. His best-known musical work is probably Singin' in the Rain (1952), in which he did an impressive dance that culminated in a series of backflips off the wall. But co-star Mitzi Gaynor recalls that instead, The two Irishmen went off and had a beer. (Ironically, Gwen would later divorce Dailey as well, citing among other cruelties that he snubbed her friends.). "I could do those wings and stuff and I looked very good, but my heavens it was very, very hard for me to pick up on pick up steps. You gotta SMILE! "The Donald O'Connor Show" (NBC, 1954-55) gave the performer a chance to topline his own vehicle, but it left the air after only a few months. The country seems to be confused about censorship, free speech, and any An American in Amman: A U.S. It is dead the way we used to make 'em.". Washington, D.C.: NPR. created 4 months ago. One of his last public appearances was a press conference in2002, held in conjunction withthe 50th anniversary release ofSingin in the Rain. Kelly was 20 years her senior and classically trained in ballet; O'Connor, 27 at the time, was another "triple threat" (actor, singer, and dancer) who had been performing in movies since the age of 12. The following year he was in I Ought to Be in Pictures in Los Angeles.[35]. In a baffling move, this film also paired OConnor with none other than Marilyn Monroe. O'Connor recalled. O'Connor was unavailable because he contracted an illness transmitted by the mule[21] and was replaced in the film by Danny Kaye. "[37], In 1998, he received a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars. He had guest roles in Murder, She Wrote, Tales from the Crypt, The Building, The Nanny and Frasier, and was in the films Bandit: Bandit's Silver Angel (1994), and Father Frost (1996). Amazingly, he continued to work into the 70s, to increasingly shrinking audiences. Disillusionment came swiftly. Donald O'Connor, the breezy song-and-dance comedian who created movie magic with his spirited rendition of "Make 'em Laugh" in the Hollywood . He did Francis Goes to the Races (1951), another big hit. Watch, itll be marvelous. Night Work (1939) was a sequel to Boy Trouble and O'Connor was in Death of a Champion (1939). DONALD O'CONNOR'S MUSICAL JOURNEY KEEPS HIM ON ROAD: [SPORTS FINAL, CN Edition] One young lad joined him for a special performance to commemorate his 30th anniversary in the business, which nearly doubled as a 31st birthday party. The letters detail the lives of other patients, particularly a 30-year-old man who was completely immobilized. 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