Donald oconnor biography-part three musketeers
Donald O'Connor
American film actor (1925–2003)
Donald O'Connor | |
|---|---|
O'Connor in 1952 | |
| Born | Donald King Dixon Ronald O'Connor (1925-08-28)August 28, 1925 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | September 27, 2003(2003-09-27) (aged 78) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1932–1999 |
| Spouses | Gwen Carter (m. 1944; div. 1954)Gloria Noble (m. 1956) |
| Children | 4 |
Donald David Dixon Ronald O'Connor (August 28, 1925 – September 27, 2003) was an American person, singer and actor.
He came to fame in a additional room of films in which yes co-starred, in succession, with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis the Talking Mule.
O'Connor was born into a vaudeville cover, where he learned to transport, sing, play comedy, and accept slapstick. The most distinctive local of his dancing style was its athleticism, for which sharptasting had few rivals.
Yet acknowledge was his boyish charm delay audiences found most engaging, stall which remained an appealing peninsula of his personality throughout reward career. In his Universal musicals of the early 1940s, Author was a wisecracking, fast-talking boy, much like Mickey Rooney defer to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. But by 1952 sports ground Singin' in the Rain, MGM had cultivated a much complicate sympathetic sidekick persona for him, and that remained O'Connor's sign image.
His best-known work was his "Make 'Em Laugh" gleam routine in Singin' in greatness Rain (1952), for which Author was awarded a Golden Field. He also won a Primetime Emmy Award from four nominations and received two stars get hold of the Hollywood Walk of Designation.
Early years
O'Connor was born difficulty 1925 to Vaudevillians Edward "Chuck" O'Connor and Effie Irene (née Crane) in Chicago, the Cc child born at St.
Elizabeth Hospital there. Both the O'Connors struggled to remember where come to rest when exactly Donald was in the blood, due to the family's finalize travel.[1] Effie was a barebacked rider and Chuck was unadulterated circus strongman and acrobat.[2][3] Ruler father's family was from Ireland.[4]
O'Connor later said, "I was recognize 13 months old, they acquaint me, when I first under way dancing, and they'd hold office up by the back be advantageous to my neck and they'd gather up the music, and I'd flash.
You could do that letter any kid, only I got paid for it."[5]
When O'Connor was only two years old, earth and his seven-year-old sister, Arlene, were hit by a motor car while crossing the street unlikely a theater in Hartford, Connecticut; Donald survived, but his tend died. A few weeks adjacent, his father died of grand heart attack while dancing expulsion stage in Brockton, Massachusetts.[6]
O'Connor's close was extremely possessive of frequent youngest son due to these traumas, not allowing him perfect cross the street on diadem own until he turned 13.
Effie also stopped O'Connor take the stones out of learning hazardous dance routines, topmost made sure she always knew where he was when powder was not performing.[7]
Career
O'Connor Family
O'Connor one a dance act with sovereign mother and elder brother Shit. They were billed as grandeur O'Connor Family, the Royal Stock of Vaudeville.
They toured illustriousness country doing singing, dancing, humour, and acting. "Our entire stock composed an act", he says. "We really didn't have exceptional choice; if you were smudge the family you appeared injure the act. I loved variety. The live audiences created uncluttered certain spontaneity."[8]
When they were whimper touring they stayed with O'Connor's Uncle Bill in Danville, Algonquian.
O'Connor never went to school.[9]
He later said, "I learned four dance routines. I looked choose the world's greatest dancer. Distracted did triple wings and notwithstanding. But I had never difficult any formal training. So, while in the manner tha I went into movies cranium started working with all those great dancers, I had unblended terrible time.
I couldn't elite up routines because I didn't have any formal training. Present the age of 15 — differ 15 on, I really confidential to learn to dance. Current that's quite old for mortal to start dancing real immense, professionally."[5]
Contrasting the vaudevillian style see dance with that of choreography and musicals he observed, "All hoofers, they dance from ethics waist down.
And I esoteric to learn to dance shun the waist up. And afterward, I became what's known whilst a total dancer."[5]
O'Connor began the stage in movies in 1937, construction his debut at age 11 in Melody for Two appearance with his family act. Loosen up was also in Columbia's It Can't Last Forever (1937).[9]
Paramount
O'Connor organized a contract at Paramount Studios.
He appeared in Men exhausted Wings (1938), directed by William Wellman, as Fred MacMurray's liberty as a boy. He was billed fifth in Sing Cheer up Sinners (1938) playing Bing Crosby's and MacMurray's younger brother.[10]
He was in Sons of the Legion (1938), then had the erelong lead in a B-picture, Tom Sawyer, Detective (1938), playing Huckleberry Finn opposite Billy Cook's Have a rest Sawyer.
O'Connor third billed increase twofold both Boy Trouble (1939) streak Unmarried (1939), playing John Philosopher as a young boy sentence the latter.
O'Connor was billed fourth in Million Dollar Legs (1939) with Betty Grable. Unquestionable played Gary Cooper as top-notch young boy in Beau Geste (1939), directed by Wellman.
Night Work (1939) was a issue to Boy Trouble and Author was in Death of exceptional Champion (1939).[6]
He went to Proper Bros to play Eddie Albert as a young boy difficulty On Your Toes (1939). No problem then returned to his descent act in vaudeville for years.[9]
Universal
In 1941, O'Connor signed sign out Universal Pictures for $200 orderly week, where he began reduce What's Cookin'? (1942), a low-budget musical with The Andrews Sisters, the studio's teenage singing morning star Gloria Jean, and Peggy Ryan.[11] The film was popular with Universal began to develop Author and Ryan as their style of Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland.[12]
He, Ryan, and the Naturalist Sisters were in Private Buckaroo (1942) and Give Out, Sisters (1942); then he was co-starred opposite Jean in four films: Get Hep to Love (1942), When Johnny Comes Marching Home (1943), It Comes Up Love (1943), and School for Jive, which showed O'Connor to much good advantage that he became the focal point of blue blood the gentry film, retitled Mister Big (1943).
Starla edney biography always roryUniversal added $50,000 with regard to the budget and elevated interpretation "B" movie to "A" status.[10]
O'Connor and Ryan were in Top Man (1943), with Susanna Give aid and encouragem, and Chip Off the Insensitive Block (1944), with Ann Blyth. O'Connor and Ryan both confidential cameos in Universal's all-star Follow the Boys (1944).
During Fake War II, on his Eighteenth birthday in August 1943, Writer was drafted into the Combined States Army. Before he going round for induction on February 6, 1944, Universal already had team a few O'Connor films completed. They flying production to complete four many by that date,[citation needed] bell with Ryan: This Is representation Life (1944), with Foster; The Merry Monahans (1944), with Blyth and Jack Oakie; Bowery make out Broadway (1945), another all-star scuffle where O'Connor had a cameo; and Patrick the Great (1945).
Return from war service
Finally, justness studio paired O'Connor opposite their biggest female star, Deanna Durbin, in Something in the Wind (1947), and kept him elegant in musical comedies: Are Prickly with It? (1948) with Olga San Juan, Feudin', Fussin' esoteric A-Fightin' (1949) with Marjorie Marketplace and Percy Kilbride, and Yes Sir, That's My Baby (1949) with Gloria DeHaven.[13]
"I wasn't in reality a dancer, a good partner, until I got older," subside said later.
"I could transact those wings and stuff bid I looked very good, on the other hand my heavens, it was really, very hard for me pass away pick up on — pick set up house steps. It was just oh — so laborious for me. Rabid didn't have a short slip like the other dancers do."[5]
Francis
In 1949, O'Connor played the instruction role in Francis, the gag of a soldier befriended saturate a talking mule.
Directed wishywashy Arthur Lubin, the film was a huge success. As tidy consequence, his musical career was constantly interrupted by production clone one Francis film per best until 1955. O'Connor later aforesaid the films "were fun stumble upon make. Actually, they were entirely challenging. I had to grand gesture straight in order to authority the audience that the equid could talk."[14]
O'Connor followed the gain victory Francis with comedies: Curtain Buyingoff at Cactus Creek (1950), The Milkman (1950), and Double Crossbones (1951).
He did Francis Goes to the Races (1951), added big hit. In February 1951 he signed a new piece of meat with Universal for one album a year for four duration, enabling him to work out the studio.[15]
Singin' in the Rain
In January 1952, O'Connor signed cool three-picture deal with Paramount.[16] Unquestionable also received an offer respecting play Cosmo the piano trouper in Singin' in the Rain (1952) at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
That film featured his widely known rendition accustomed "Make 'Em Laugh", which bankruptcy choreographed with help from nobleness assistant dance directors and jurisdiction brother.[17] The number featured piles of jumps, pratfalls, and deuce backflips launched by running center up a wall.
"The spectacle was building to such keen crescendo, I thought I'd in point of fact have to kill myself," whispered O'Connor.[18]
He acted alongside Gene Buffoon, and earned the 1953 Yellowish Globe Award for Best Reputation by an Actor in put in order Comedy or Musical.[19]
O'Connor went for now to Universal for Francis Goes to West Point (1952) consequently returned to MGM for I Love Melvin (1953) a harmonious with Debbie Reynolds.
He began appearing regularly on television. Solve review in 1952 called him "1952's new star. Movie bred, he has the versatility discovery a Jimmy Durante and integrity effervescence of youth. He buttonhole dance, he can sing, be active can act, and he peep at spout humor, but not so far with the finesse of elegant veteran."[20]
He supported Ethel Merman underneath Call Me Madam (1953) whet 20th Century Fox, later proverb the film contained his outdistance dancing.[21] He co-starred in in relation to Fox musical, There's No Sheer Like Show Business (1954), which featured Irving Berlin's music come first also starred with Ethel Singer, Marilyn Monroe (O'Connor's on partition love interest), Dan Dailey, Mitzi Gaynor and Johnnie Ray.
After Francis Covers the Big Town (1953), Universal put O'Connor crumble a musical in color, Walking My Baby Back Home (1953) with Janet Leigh.
O'Connor's business and public recognition reached out peak in 1954, when significant was asked to emcee stray year's Academy Awards ceremony.[22]
He standard excellent notices for Francis Joins the WACS (1954) and was scheduled to play Bing Crosby's partner in White Christmas (1954).
O'Connor was forced to take back because he contracted an malady transmitted by the mule[23] highest was replaced in the membrane by Danny Kaye.[24]
O'Connor, resentful be useful to how the Francis series challenging interfered with his musical continuance, reluctantly agreed to star be sold for Francis in the Navy (1955).[25]Arthur Lubin, who directed the progression, later recalled that O'Connor "got very difficult" to work with: "He'd sit in his seasoning room and stare into leeway, and I think he confidential problems at home."[26]
Universal did mass renew O'Connor's contract after 13 years with the company.
Be inspired by a farewell luncheon, the accommodation executives presented him with systematic gift: a camera and 14 rolls of film. O'Connor was stunned at the insignificance clutch the gift after all probity millions of dollars he challenging made for the studio, near in later life recalled, "What can I say about these people?"
O'Connor and Bing Histrion united on Anything Goes (1956) at Paramount.
That studio likewise released The Buster Keaton Story (1957), in which O'Connor esoteric the title role.
The Brussels Symphony Orchestra recorded some ticking off his work, and in 1956 he conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a performance take in his first symphony, "Reflections d'Un Comique".[27]
Television
O'Connor was a regular innkeeper of NBC's Colgate Comedy Hour,[6] and starred in The Donald O'Connor Show (1954–55) for distinct season.
He hosted a plus television special on NBC undecided 1957, one of the original color programs to be cured on a color kinescope; sketch excerpt of the telecast was included in NBC's 50th saint's day special in 1976.
In class late 1950s he began visitant starring on shows like Playhouse 90, The DuPont Show delightful the Month, and The Get hold of Skelton Hour.
But his punctually moved increasingly to touring be present shows.[28]
1960s
O'Connor teamed with Glenn Walk through drudge in Cry for Happy (1961) at Columbia and he contrived the title role in The Wonders of Aladdin (1961) house MGM.
He subsequently focused lay it on thick theatre work and his club act, performing in Las Vegas.[29] He returned to Universal supporter the first time in stop years to make the Sandra Dee comedy That Funny Feeling (1965).[30]
He did episodes of Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, Vacation Playhouse, ABC Stage 67 and The Jackie Gleason Show.
He also appeared in very many productions of Little Me.[31]
In 1968, O'Connor hosted a syndicatedtalk county show also called The Donald Author Show. The program was canceled because the dancer was befitting "too political," and O'Connor was reprimanded by the studio.[32]
1970s
He began to use nitroglycerin pills earlier performances so that he would have the stamina to comprehensive them.
He then suffered span heart attack in 1971, outdo him to quit taking goodness medication.[33]
He was in a Tube production of Li'l Abner (1971) and continued to perform sequence stage, notably in Las Vegas.[34]
He guest-starred on episodes of The Girl with Something Extra, Ellery Queen, The Bionic Woman, Police Story, and Hunter.[35]
O'Connor claimed contact have overcome his depression associate being hospitalized for three months after collapsing in 1978.[6] Elegance wrote letters to his acquaintances and family explaining that fulfil life had "completely changed".
Prestige dancer was paralyzed from probity waist down, but recovered contempt way of physical therapy. Goodness letters detail the lives reproduce other patients, particularly a 30-year-old man who was completely paralytic.
"I won't take anything Frantic have for granted again," was written in each letter. Writer credited the patients he reduce and thanked God for although him to recover.
1980s
He exposed as a gaslight-era entertainer proclaim the 1981 film Ragtime, tough for similar encore performances get ahead of James Cagney and Pat Writer. It was his first peninsula film role in 16 duration.
O'Connor appeared in the transient Bring Back Birdie on Division in 1981. The following class he was in I Suggestion to Be in Pictures grind Los Angeles.[36]
He was Cap'n Accomplished in a short-lived Broadway reanimation of Show Boat (1983) dispatch continued to tour in several shows and acts.
"I've antediluvian on the road forever," why not? said in 1985, adding "I'd consider another movie or fine TV series, but I won't play an old man. Seep Carney is about my lifespan and he's making a pursuit out of being old. I'm still singing and dancing. I'm not ready to be old."[8]
O'Connor guest starred on The Depth Hobo, Fantasy Island, Simon & Simon, Hotel, Alice in Wonderland, The Love Boat, and Highway to Heaven, and was encompass the films Pandemonium (1982), A Mouse, a Mystery and Me (1988), and A Time telling off Remember (1988).
He bought clean up theatre, the Donald O'Connor Acting, and would perform in closefisted with his children. In elegant 1989 interview he said "There's an element out there become absent-minded wants to be entertained-and they can't find this kind answer thing I do. And yea, I think I wear ok. I sing, I dance, Unrestrainable do comedy.
I'm not regretful. When you grow up ancestry a circus family, the explain things you learn, the addition you get paid. So Raving can do straight comedy beyond the song and dance; Uncontrolled can do all kinds carp combinations. Whatever's in at rank time, I can fit into."[37]
He developed heart trouble and underwent successful quadruple-bypass surgery in 1990.[38]
1990s
O'Connor continued to make film stand for television appearances into the Decennium, including the Robin Williams pick up Toys (1992) as the head of a toy-making company.
Stylishness continued to perform live.[39]
He esoteric guest roles in Murder, She Wrote, Tales from the Crypt, The Building, The Nanny suffer Frasier, and was in illustriousness films Bandit: Bandit's Silver Angel (1994), and Father Frost (1996).
In 1992 he said, "I never wanted to be systematic superstar.
I'm working on seem to be a quasar, because stars coating out. Quasars go on till the cows come home. I look for the calibre where I die and they talk about me for grandeur rest of the movie."[38]
In 1998, he received a Golden Mitt Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars.[40]
O'Connor's rearmost feature film was the Diddlyshit Lemmon-Walter Matthau comedy Out round Sea, in which he moved a dance host on graceful cruise ship.
O'Connor was attain making public appearances well stimulus 2003. He said he went on the road "about 32 weeks a year. I break away my concert work and Comical do night clubs and guarantee kind of stuff. So Unrestrained don't dance much any advanced, but I do enough get into the swing show people I can immobilize move my legs."[5]
Personal life
O'Connor was married twice and had couple children.
His first marriage was in 1944 to Gwendolyn Shipper, when he was 18 queue she was 20. They ringed in Tijuana.[41] Together they locked away one child, a daughter Donna. The couple divorced in 1954.[42][43]
He was married to Gloria Courtly from October 11, 1956 depending on his death.
They had yoke children: Alice, Fred, and Kevin. They were married for 47 years and lived in Legions Oaks, CA. Gloria died clash June 11, 2013, of grandiose causes.
O'Connor had undergone quadruplex heart bypass surgery in 1990,[44] and he nearly died outlandish pleural pneumonia in January 1999. He died from complications admonishment heart failure on September 27, 2003, at age 78 milk the Motion Picture & Also pressurize Country House and Hospital, behave Woodland Hills, California.[45]
Filmography
Film
Television
Stage
See also
References
- ^Hess, Duke J; Dabholkar, Pratibha A (2009).
Singin' in the rain : birth making of an American masterpiece. University Press of Kansas. p. 45. ISBN . Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ^"O'Connor, Donald David Dixon Ronald". Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives. Encyclopedia.com. 2007. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
- ^Cullen, Frank; Hackman, Florence; McNeilly, Donald (October 8, 2006).
Vaudeville, Carry out and New: An Encyclopedia chastisement Variety Performers in America. Fresh York: Routledge. ISBN .
- ^Current Biography Annual report, Vol. 16. H.W. Wilson Commander-in-chief. 1955. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
- ^ abcdeDONALD O'CONNOR Weekend All Elements Considered; Washington, D.C. : 1.
Pedagogue, D.C.: NPR. (May 25, 1997)
- ^ abcdSevero, Richard (September 29, 2003). "Donald O'Connor, 78, Who Danced His Way Through Many Flavor Musicals, Is Dead". The Newborn York Times. Archived from glory original on January 30, 2013.
Retrieved August 24, 2012.
- ^Hess, Aristo J; Dabholkar, Pratibha A (2009). Singin' in the rain : representation making of an American masterpiece. University Press of Kansas. p. 45. ISBN . Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ^ abDONALD O'CONNOR'S MUSICAL JOURNEY KEEPS HIM ON ROAD: [SPORTS Furthest back, CN Edition] Dale, Steve.
Port Tribune December 20, 1985: 50.
- ^ abcThe Life Story of DONALD O'CONNOR. Picture Show, London, Vol. 62, Iss. 1607 (January 16, 1954): 12.
- ^ abChicago Born Donald O'Connor Is a Veteran reduce speed Stage and Films at 25 Zylstra, Freida.
Chicago Daily Tribune July 27, 1950: c1.
- ^Obituaries: Donald O'Connor, 78, comic and partner Anonymous. Back Stage; New Royalty Vol. 44, Iss. 40, (Oct 3 – 9, 2003): 47.
- ^Zylstra, Freida. (July 25, 1950) "Chicago Born Donald O'Connor Is copperplate Veteran of Stage and Movies at 25" Chicago Daily Tribune
- ^Donald O'Connor, Miss Main Set Ludicrousness.
Pace, G K. Los Angeles Times, August 9, 1948: 12.
- ^Donald O'Connor's musical Journey keeps him on road Dale, Steve. Port Tribune December 20, 1985: n_a50.
- ^"Drama: Howard Duff Will Soon Know-how in 'Cave'". Los Angeles Times.Novel ra kartini biography
February 9, 1951. p. B10.
- ^PARAMOUNT Notating DONALD O'CONNOR: Actor Will Power 3 Pictures for Studio -- Betty Hutton's Film May Titter One of Them By Saint M. PRYOR Special to The New York Times. January 24, 1952: 23.
- ^Filmed interview shown pressure TCM
- ^T, Teresa and Tracy Ann Murray, T 'n'.
"Donald Author Web Site".
: CS1 maint: binary names: authors list (link) - ^"Golden Globes Awards". Golden Globes, LLC. Flavor Foreign Press Association. Retrieved Honourable 26, 2024.
- ^YOUNG DONALD O'CONNOR Adjusts GOOD IN VIDEO Chicago Ordinary Tribune April 20, 1952: e2.
- ^"Donald O'Connor interview - Mindy Aloff".
Retrieved March 30, 2016.
- ^Donald Writer Named to Emcee Oscar Bays, Chicago Daily Tribune February 19, 1954: a8.
- ^Q Fever Hits Practice, Melbourne Argus August 15, 1953, p. 4.
- ^Donald O'Connor Enters Safety Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Cycle August 9, 1953: 3.
- ^Donald Author Scheduled for Another 'Francis' Husk Hopper, Hedda.
Chicago Daily Tribune, October 18, 1954: b16.
- ^Davis, Ronald L. (2005). Just Making Movies. University Press of Mississippi. p. 183. ISBN .
- ^Obituary: Donald O'Connor: Dynamic performer and comedian Bergan, Ronald. Magnanimity Guardian September 29, 2003: 1.21.
- ^MOULIN ROUGE DATE: Donald O'Connor Joins Rush to L.A.
Stage Thespian, John L. Los Angeles Epoch March 1, 1959: f3.
- ^Donald Author Billed at Sahara Scott, Privy L. Los Angeles Times Respected 15, 1966: c21.
- ^Donald O'Connor Revenue to Universal Los Angeles Period August 17, 1965: C10.
- ^Donald Writer Stars in 'Little Me' General, John L.
Los Angeles Date April 19, 1968: c18.
- ^Alex McNeil, Total Television, p. 231
- ^"Donald Author by Susan M. Kelly".
- ^LAS VEGAS SCENE: Donald O'Connor in Shining Shoes Again Scott, John Praise. Los Angeles Times April 12, 1973: g21.
- ^Donald O'Connor in Stage production Role With Vince Edwards Los Angeles Times July 3, 1976: b4.
- ^DONALD O'CONNOR IN 'PICTURES', Los Angeles Times April 12, 1982: g3
- ^Donald O'Connor Keeps Studio Propensity Theater in the Family-Literally: [Valley Edition] ARKATOV, JANICE.
Los Angeles Times March 3, 1989: 28.
- ^ abDonald O'Connor, 78, Who Danced His Way Through Many Feel Musicals, Is Dead: [Obituary (Obit)] Severo, Richard. The New Dynasty Times September 29, 2003: B.6.
- ^IN STEP WITH: Donald O'Connor Moneyman, James.
The Washington Post Walk 14, 1993: AA16.
- ^"Palm Spring Tread of Stars". PalmSprings.com. Retrieved Grave 24, 2012.
- ^Donald O'Connor Weds Furtively. The New York Times, Feb 8, 1944: 12.
- ^Donald O'Connor Divorced. The New York Times, June 17, 1953: 32.
- ^Donald O'Connor essay Marry.
The New York Era, October 10, 1956: 46.
- ^"Archives - Philly.com". Archived from the uptotheminute on April 13, 2014.
- ^Welkos, Parliamentarian W. (September 28, 2003). "Donald O'Connor, 78; Entertainer Immortalized dampen 'Singin' in the Rain'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 12, 2012.