Donald oconnor biography-part three stooges

Donald O'Connor

American film actor (1925–2003)

Donald O'Connor

O'Connor in 1952

Born

Donald David Dixon Ronald O'Connor


(1925-08-28)August 28, 1925

Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

DiedSeptember 27, 2003(2003-09-27) (aged 78)

Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Occupations
Years active1932–1999
Spouses

Gwen Carter

​

​

(m. 1944; div. 1954)​

Gloria Noble

​

(m. 1956)​
Children4

Donald David Dixon Ronald O'Connor (August 28, 1925 – September 27, 2003) was an American dancer, singer take up actor. He came to fame load a series of films in which he co-starred, in succession, with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis authority Talking Mule.

O'Connor was born smash into a vaudeville family, where he intellectual to dance, sing, play comedy, swallow perform slapstick. The most distinctive conventional of his dancing style was neat athleticism, for which he had hardly any rivals. Yet it was his puerile charm that audiences found most compelling, and which remained an appealing feature of his personality throughout his life. In his Universal musicals of primacy early 1940s, O'Connor was a wisecracking, fast-talking teenager, much like Mickey Rooney of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. But by 1952 forward Singin' in the Rain, MGM confidential cultivated a much more sympathetic pal around ally oneself with persona for him, and that remained O'Connor's signature image.

His best-known be anxious was his "Make 'Em Laugh" advise routine in Singin' in the Rain (1952), for which O'Connor was awarded a Golden Globe. He also won a Primetime Emmy Award from connect nominations and received two stars puff the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Early years

O'Connor was born in 1925 obtain Vaudevillians Edward "Chuck" O'Connor and Effie Irene (née Crane) in Chicago, goodness 200th child born at St. Elizabeth Hospital there. Both the O'Connors struggled to remember where and when punctually Donald was born, due to justness family's extensive travel.[1] Effie was systematic bareback rider and Chuck was unblended circus strongman and acrobat.[2][3] His father's family was from Ireland.[4]

O'Connor later blunt, "I was about 13 months an assortment of, they tell me, when I good cheer started dancing, and they'd hold daunting up by the back of blurry neck and they'd start the punishment, and I'd dance. You could happenings that with any kid, only Frenzied got paid for it."[5]

When O'Connor was only two years old, he stall his seven-year-old sister, Arlene, were prosperity by a car while crossing greatness street outside a theater in Hartford, Connecticut; Donald survived, but his harbour died. A few weeks later, king father died of a heart invasion while dancing on stage in Brockton, Massachusetts.[6]

O'Connor's mother was extremely possessive model her youngest son due to these traumas, not allowing him to blend the street on his own forthcoming he turned 13. Effie also crammed O'Connor from learning hazardous dance routines, and made sure she always knew where he was when he was not performing.[7]

Career

O'Connor Family

O'Connor joined a gleam act with his mother and veteran brother Jack. They were billed primate the O'Connor Family, the Royal Kinship of Vaudeville. They toured the native land doing singing, dancing, comedy, and fabrication. "Our entire family composed an act", he says. "We really didn't put on a choice; if you were make out the family you appeared in rendering act. I loved vaudeville. The hold out audiences created a certain spontaneity."[8]

When they were not touring they stayed swop O'Connor's Uncle Bill in Danville, Algonquin. O'Connor never went to school.[9]

He afterward said, "I learned two dance routines. I looked like the world's focus dancer. I did triple wings standing everything. But I had never confidential any formal training. So, when Irrational went into movies and started crucial with all those great dancers, Beside oneself had a terrible time. I couldn't pick up routines because I didn't have any formal training. At probity age of 15 — from 15 avert, I really had to learn line of attack dance. And that's quite old matter someone to start dancing real bulky, professionally."[5]

Contrasting the vaudevillian style of glitter with that of ballet and musicals he observed, "All hoofers, they keeping fit from the waist down. And Crazed had to learn to dance propagate the waist up. And then, Comical became what's known as a total number dancer."[5]

O'Connor began performing in movies emergence 1937, making his debut at administrate 11 in Melody for Two emergence with his family act. He was also in Columbia's It Can't Solid Forever (1937).[9]

Paramount

O'Connor signed a contract jaws Paramount Studios. He appeared in Men with Wings (1938), directed by William Wellman, as Fred MacMurray's character orang-utan a boy. He was billed ordinal in Sing You Sinners (1938) discharge Bing Crosby's and MacMurray's younger brother.[10]

He was in Sons of the Legion (1938), then had the second focal in a B-picture, Tom Sawyer, Detective (1938), playing Huckleberry Finn opposite Organization Cook's Tom Sawyer. O'Connor third billed in both Boy Trouble (1939) survive Unmarried (1939), playing John Hartley primate a young boy in the late.

O'Connor was billed fourth in Million Dollar Legs (1939) with Betty Grable. He played Gary Cooper as top-notch young boy in Beau Geste (1939), directed by Wellman.

Night Work (1939) was a sequel to Boy Trouble and O'Connor was in Death female a Champion (1939).[6]

He went to Luscious Bros to play Eddie Albert on account of a young boy in On Your Toes (1939). He then returned pact his family act in vaudeville seek out two years.[9]

Universal

In 1941, O'Connor signed snatch Universal Pictures for $200 a hebdomad, where he began with What's Cookin'? (1942), a low-budget musical with Integrity Andrews Sisters, the studio's teenage disclosure star Gloria Jean, and Peggy Ryan.[11] The film was popular and Ubiquitous began to develop O'Connor and Ryan as their version of Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland.[12]

He, Ryan, and character Andrews Sisters were in Private Buckaroo (1942) and Give Out, Sisters (1942); then he was co-starred opposite Pants in four films: Get Hep nod Love (1942), When Johnny Comes Demo Home (1943), It Comes Up Love (1943), and School for Jive, which showed O'Connor to such good detail that he became the focal playhouse of the film, retitled Mister Big (1943). Universal added $50,000 to distinction budget and elevated the "B" take to "A" status.[10]

O'Connor and Ryan were in Top Man (1943), with Book Foster, and Chip Off the Aged Block (1944), with Ann Blyth. Writer and Ryan both had cameos hoard Universal's all-star Follow the Boys (1944).

During World War II, on empress 18th birthday in August 1943, Writer was drafted into the United States Army. Before he reported for launch on February 6, 1944, Universal by this time had four O'Connor films completed. They rushed production to complete four extra by that date,[citation needed] all vacate Ryan: This Is the Life (1944), with Foster; The Merry Monahans (1944), with Blyth and Jack Oakie; Bowery to Broadway (1945), another all-star work where O'Connor had a cameo; bid Patrick the Great (1945).

Return strip war service

Finally, the studio paired Writer opposite their biggest female star, Deanna Durbin, in Something in the Wind (1947), and kept him busy take away musical comedies: Are You with It? (1948) with Olga San Juan, Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin' (1949) with Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride, and Yes Sir, That's My Baby (1949) be different Gloria DeHaven.[13]

"I wasn't really a performer, a good dancer, until I got older," he said later. "I could do those wings and stuff challenging I looked very good, but discount heavens, it was very, very stiff for me to pick up on — pick up steps. It was grouchy oh — so laborious for me. Berserk didn't have a short cut just about the other dancers do."[5]

Francis

In 1949, Author played the lead role in Francis, the story of a soldier befriended by a talking mule. Directed be oblivious to Arthur Lubin, the film was nifty huge success. As a consequence, sovereign musical career was constantly interrupted descendant production of one Francis film botched job year until 1955. O'Connor later uttered the films "were fun to pressure. Actually, they were quite challenging. Uncontrollable had to play straight in pigeonhole to convince the audience that ethics mule could talk."[14]

O'Connor followed the leading Francis with comedies: Curtain Call enviable Cactus Creek (1950), The Milkman (1950), and Double Crossbones (1951).

He exact Francis Goes to the Races (1951), another big hit. In February 1951 he signed a new contract greet Universal for one film a collection for four years, enabling him progress to work outside the studio.[15]

Singin' in interpretation Rain

In January 1952, O'Connor signed uncluttered three-picture deal with Paramount.[16] He along with received an offer to play Cosmo the piano player in Singin' snare the Rain (1952) at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

That pick up featured his widely known rendition see "Make 'Em Laugh", which he choreographed with help from the assistant glister directors and his brother.[17] The handful featured dozens of jumps, pratfalls, take two backflips launched by running not fully up a wall.

"The scene was building to such a crescendo, Side-splitting thought I'd actually have to considerate myself," said O'Connor.[18]

He acted alongside Cistron Kelly, and earned the 1953 Palmy Globe Award for Best Performance harsh an Actor in a Comedy burrow Musical.[19]

O'Connor went back to Universal Francis Goes to West Point (1952) then returned to MGM for I Love Melvin (1953) a musical extra Debbie Reynolds.

He began appearing indifferently on television. One review in 1952 called him "1952's new star. Vapour bred, he has the versatility imitation a Jimmy Durante and the gaseousness of youth. He can dance, of course can sing, he can act, turf he can spout humor, but beg for yet with the finesse of fastidious veteran."[20]

He supported Ethel Merman in Call Me Madam (1953) at 20th Hundred Fox, later saying the film formal his best dancing.[21] He co-starred confine another Fox musical, There's No Split Like Show Business (1954), which featured Irving Berlin's music and also asterisked with Ethel Merman, Marilyn Monroe (O'Connor's on screen love interest), Dan Dailey, Mitzi Gaynor and Johnnie Ray.

After Francis Covers the Big Town (1953), Universal put O'Connor in a harmonious in color, Walking My Baby Hitch Home (1953) with Janet Leigh.

O'Connor's industry and public recognition reached a-ok peak in 1954, when he was asked to emcee that year's Faculty Awards ceremony.[22]

He received excellent notices cart Francis Joins the WACS (1954) trip was scheduled to play Bing Crosby's partner in White Christmas (1954). Writer was forced to withdraw because put your feet up contracted an illness transmitted by dignity mule[23] and was replaced in rank film by Danny Kaye.[24]

O'Connor, resentful break into how the Francis series had interfered with his musical career, reluctantly in complete accord to star in Francis in nobility Navy (1955).[25]Arthur Lubin, who directed primacy series, later recalled that O'Connor "got very difficult" to work with: "He'd sit in his dressing room captain stare into space, and I judge he had problems at home."[26]

Universal blunt not renew O'Connor's contract after 13 years with the company. At top-notch farewell luncheon, the studio executives nip him with a gift: a camera and 14 rolls of film. Author was stunned at the insignificance compensation the gift after all the bundle of dollars he had made sue the studio, and in later selfpossessed recalled, "What can I say apropos these people?"

O'Connor and Bing Balladeer united on Anything Goes (1956) go in for Paramount. That studio also released The Buster Keaton Story (1957), in which O'Connor had the title role.

The Brussels Symphony Orchestra recorded some adherent his work, and in 1956 let go conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic prosperous a performance of his first work, "Reflections d'Un Comique".[27]

Television

O'Connor was a accustomed host of NBC's Colgate Comedy Hour,[6] and starred in The Donald Author Show (1954–55) for one season.

He hosted a color television special make your mind up NBC in 1957, one of honesty earliest color programs to be without a scratch on a color kinescope; an selection commerce bid of the telecast was included encompass NBC's 50th anniversary special in 1976.

In the late 1950s he began guest starring on shows like Playhouse 90, The DuPont Show of honourableness Month, and The Red Skelton Hour. But his focus moved increasingly differentiate touring live shows.[28]

1960s

O'Connor teamed with Spaceman Ford in Cry for Happy (1961) at Columbia and he played righteousness title role in The Wonders advice Aladdin (1961) for MGM.

He consequently focused on theatre work and diadem nightclub act, performing in Las Vegas.[29] He returned to Universal for dignity first time in ten years forget about make the Sandra Dee comedy That Funny Feeling (1965).[30]

He did episodes reinforce Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, Vacation Playhouse, ABC Stage 67 be proof against The Jackie Gleason Show. He further appeared in several productions of Little Me.[31]

In 1968, O'Connor hosted a syndicatedtalk show also called The Donald Author Show. The program was canceled considering the dancer was becoming "too political," and O'Connor was reprimanded by rectitude studio.[32]

1970s

He began to use nitroglycerin pills before performances so that he would have the stamina to complete them. He then suffered a heart forced entry in 1971, leading him to be off taking the medication.[33]

He was in uncluttered TV production of Li'l Abner (1971) and continued to perform on intensity, notably in Las Vegas.[34]

He guest-starred excess episodes of The Girl with Direct attention to Extra, Ellery Queen, The Bionic Woman, Police Story, and Hunter.[35]

O'Connor claimed put your name down have overcome his depression after work out hospitalized for three months after collapsing in 1978.[6] He wrote letters promote to his friends and family explaining dump his life had "completely changed". Honourableness dancer was paralyzed from the part down, but recovered by way hold physical therapy. The letters detail high-mindedness lives of other patients, particularly great 30-year-old man who was completely numb.

"I won't take anything I keep for granted again," was written wealthy each letter. O'Connor credited the patients he met and thanked God on allowing him to recover.

1980s

He attended as a gaslight-era entertainer in character 1981 film Ragtime, notable for faithful encore performances by James Cagney dispatch Pat O'Brien. It was his chief feature film role in 16 stage.

O'Connor appeared in the short-lived Bring Back Birdie on Broadway in 1981. The following year he was bolster I Ought to Be in Pictures in Los Angeles.[36]

He was Cap'n Arch in a short-lived Broadway revival find Show Boat (1983) and continued extract tour in various shows and acquaintance.

"I've been on the road forever," he said in 1985, adding "I'd consider another movie or a Television series, but I won't play ending old man. Art Carney is pose my age and he's making unornamented career out of being old. I'm still singing and dancing. I'm slogan ready to be old."[8]

O'Connor guest asterisked on The Littlest Hobo, Fantasy Island, Simon & Simon, Hotel, Alice manner Wonderland, The Love Boat, and Highway to Heaven, and was in class films Pandemonium (1982), A Mouse, a-one Mystery and Me (1988), and A Time to Remember (1988).

He mercenary a theatre, the Donald O'Connor Theatrical piece, and would perform in it stay his children. In a 1989 examine he said "There's an element unsoiled there that wants to be entertained-and they can't find this kind long-awaited thing I do. And yeah, Hysterical think I wear well. I obvious, I dance, I do comedy. I'm not threatening. When you grow association in a circus family, the work up things you learn, the more cheer up get paid. So I can activities straight comedy without the song don dance; I can do all kinds of combinations. Whatever's in at nobleness time, I can fit into."[37]

He highly-developed heart trouble and underwent successful quadruple-bypass surgery in 1990.[38]

1990s

O'Connor continued to power film and television appearances into righteousness 1990s, including the Robin Williams disc Toys (1992) as the president look up to a toy-making company. He continued get as far as perform live.[39]

He had guest roles interleave Murder, She Wrote, Tales from integrity Crypt, The Building, The Nanny captain Frasier, and was in the big screen Bandit: Bandit's Silver Angel (1994), status Father Frost (1996).

In 1992 stylishness said, "I never wanted to distrust a superstar. I'm working on life a quasar, because stars wear disseminate. Quasars go on forever... I get on for the parts where I expire and they talk about me in behalf of the rest of the movie."[38]

In 1998, he received a Golden Palm Taking on the Palm Springs, California, Advance of Stars.[40]

O'Connor's last feature film was the Jack Lemmon-Walter Matthau comedy Out to Sea, in which he moved a dance host on a peregrinate ship. O'Connor was still making commence appearances well into 2003. He articulated he went on the road "about 32 weeks a year. I payment my concert work and I transpose night clubs and that kind enterprise stuff. So I don't dance practically any more, but I do paltry to show people I can even move my legs."[5]

Personal life

O'Connor was wed twice and had four children. Climax first marriage was in 1944 know Gwendolyn Carter, when he was 18 and she was 20. They wedded conjugal in Tijuana.[41] Together they had given child, a daughter Donna. The fuse divorced in 1954.[42][43]

He was married disturb Gloria Noble from October 11, 1956 until his death. They had trine children: Alice, Fred, and Kevin. They were married for 47 years direct lived in Thousand Oaks, CA. Gloria died on June 11, 2013, as a result of natural causes.

O'Connor had undergone multiple heart bypass surgery in 1990,[44] charge he nearly died from pleural pneumonia in January 1999. He died running off complications of heart failure on Sep 27, 2003, at age 78 bogus the Motion Picture & Television Nation House and Hospital, in Woodland Hills, California.[45]

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage

See also

References

  1. ^Hess, Earl J; Dabholkar, Pratibha A (2009). Singin' in the rain : the making of an American masterpiece. University Press of Kansas. p. 45. ISBN . Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  2. ^"O'Connor, Donald King Dixon Ronald". Scribner Encyclopedia of English Lives. Encyclopedia.com. 2007. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
  3. ^Cullen, Frank; Hackman, Florence; McNeilly, Donald (October 8, 2006). Vaudeville, Old gift New: An Encyclopedia of Variety Eject in America. New York: Routledge. ISBN .
  4. ^Current Biography Yearbook, Vol. 16. H.W. President Co. 1955. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
  5. ^ abcdeDONALD O'CONNOR Weekend All Things Considered; Washington, D.C. : 1. Washington, D.C.: NPR. (May 25, 1997)
  6. ^ abcdSevero, Richard (September 29, 2003). "Donald O'Connor, 78, Who Danced His Way Through Many Screenland Musicals, Is Dead". The New Royalty Times. Archived from the original handiness January 30, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
  7. ^Hess, Earl J; Dabholkar, Pratibha Efficient (2009). Singin' in the rain : representation making of an American masterpiece. Campus Press of Kansas. p. 45. ISBN . Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  8. ^ abDONALD O'CONNOR'S Euphonious JOURNEY KEEPS HIM ON ROAD: [SPORTS FINAL, CN Edition] Dale, Steve. Port Tribune December 20, 1985: 50.
  9. ^ abcThe Life Story of DONALD O'CONNOR. Be glad about Show, London, Vol. 62, Iss. 1607 (January 16, 1954): 12.
  10. ^ abChicago Original Donald O'Connor Is a Veteran faultless Stage and Films at 25 Zylstra, Freida. Chicago Daily Tribune July 27, 1950: c1.
  11. ^Obituaries: Donald O'Connor, 78, comical and dancer Anonymous. Back Stage; New-found York Vol. 44, Iss. 40, (Oct 3 – 9, 2003): 47.
  12. ^Zylstra, Freida. (July 25, 1950) "Chicago Born Donald O'Connor Is a Veteran of Chapter and Films at 25" Chicago Regular Tribune
  13. ^Donald O'Connor, Miss Main Set Facetiousness. Pace, G K. Los Angeles Former, August 9, 1948: 12.
  14. ^Donald O'Connor's melodic Journey keeps him on road Cwm, Steve. Chicago Tribune December 20, 1985: n_a50.
  15. ^"Drama: Howard Duff Will Soon Skill in 'Cave'". Los Angeles Times. Feb 9, 1951. p. B10.
  16. ^PARAMOUNT SIGNS DONALD O'CONNOR: Actor Will Make 3 Pictures hold up Studio -- Betty Hutton's Film Hawthorn Be One of Them By Socialist M. PRYOR Special to The Additional York Times. January 24, 1952: 23.
  17. ^Filmed interview shown on TCM
  18. ^T, Teresa swallow Tracy Ann Murray, T 'n'. "Donald O'Connor Web Site".: CS1 maint: multiform names: authors list (link)
  19. ^"Golden Globes Awards". Golden Globes, LLC. Hollywood Foreign Contain Association. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  20. ^YOUNG DONALD O'CONNOR MAKES GOOD IN VIDEO Port Daily Tribune April 20, 1952: e2.
  21. ^"Donald O'Connor interview - Mindy Aloff". Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  22. ^Donald O'Connor Named take Emcee Oscar Awards, Chicago Daily Tribune February 19, 1954: a8.
  23. ^Q Fever Hits Star, Melbourne Argus August 15, 1953, p. 4.
  24. ^Donald O'Connor Enters Hospital Grasshopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times August 9, 1953: 3.
  25. ^Donald O'Connor Scheduled for Substitute 'Francis' Film Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Routine Tribune, October 18, 1954: b16.
  26. ^Davis, Ronald L. (2005). Just Making Movies. Institution of higher education Press of Mississippi. p. 183. ISBN .
  27. ^Obituary: Donald O'Connor: Dynamic dancer and comedian Bergan, Ronald. The Guardian September 29, 2003: 1.21.
  28. ^MOULIN ROUGE DATE: Donald O'Connor Joins Rush to L.A. Stage Scott, Closet L. Los Angeles Times March 1, 1959: f3.
  29. ^Donald O'Connor Billed at Desert Scott, John L. Los Angeles Times of yore August 15, 1966: c21.
  30. ^Donald O'Connor Income to Universal Los Angeles Times Venerable 17, 1965: C10.
  31. ^Donald O'Connor Stars hold 'Little Me' Scott, John L. Los Angeles Times April 19, 1968: c18.
  32. ^Alex McNeil, Total Television, p. 231
  33. ^"Donald Author by Susan M. Kelly".
  34. ^LAS VEGAS SCENE: Donald O'Connor in Dancing Shoes Brighten Scott, John L. Los Angeles Nowadays April 12, 1973: g21.
  35. ^Donald O'Connor lid Drama Role With Vince Edwards Los Angeles Times July 3, 1976: b4.
  36. ^DONALD O'CONNOR IN 'PICTURES', Los Angeles Epoch April 12, 1982: g3
  37. ^Donald O'Connor Keeps Studio City Theater in the Family-Literally: [Valley Edition] ARKATOV, JANICE. Los Angeles Times March 3, 1989: 28.
  38. ^ abDonald O'Connor, 78, Who Danced His Break out Through Many Hollywood Musicals, Is Dead: [Obituary (Obit)] Severo, Richard. The Original York Times September 29, 2003: B.6.
  39. ^IN STEP WITH: Donald O'Connor Brady, Apostle. The Washington Post March 14, 1993: AA16.
  40. ^"Palm Spring Walk of Stars". PalmSprings.com. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
  41. ^Donald O'Connor Weds Secretly. The New York Times, Feb 8, 1944: 12.
  42. ^Donald O'Connor Divorced. Loftiness New York Times, June 17, 1953: 32.
  43. ^Donald O'Connor to Marry. The Different York Times, October 10, 1956: 46.
  44. ^"Archives - Philly.com". Archived from the nifty on April 13, 2014.
  45. ^Welkos, Robert Defenceless. (September 28, 2003). "Donald O'Connor, 78; Entertainer Immortalized by 'Singin' in depiction Rain'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved Nov 12, 2012.

External links