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Who Was Fred Astaire?
Fred Astaire is widely regarded as the greatest popular music dancer of all time, celebrated primarily for his iconic pairings with Ginger Rogers in a series of classic films, including Swing Time (1936).
Early Years
Astaire, known for his lightness on his feet, transformed the movie musical landscape with his elegant and seemingly effortless dance style. However, his performances were the result of a rigorous commitment to perfection, honed through countless hours of practice.
He began his career in the performing arts as a child, partnering with his older sister, Adele. Together, they toured the vaudeville circuit before making their Broadway debut in 1917. One of their most notable productions was the 1927 George and Ira Gershwin musical Funny Face. Despite their success on stage, Astaire struggled to break into film initially; a studio executive once remarked after a screen test, “Can’t sing. Can’t act. Slightly balding. Can dance a little.”
In 1932, Astaire faced a significant career setback when Adele retired to marry a British aristocrat. This left him adrift professionally until he decided to move to Hollywood to pursue film opportunities.
Film Career
Astaire’s breakthrough came in 1933 with a minor role in Dancing Lady, starring Joan Crawford. This led to a contract with RKO Radio Pictures, where he was paired with another Broadway star, Ginger Rogers, in Flying Down to Rio (1933). Though they were initially cast as supporting players, their dance number quickly became the highlight of the film. Astaire and Rogers went on to become the most beloved dance duo in cinematic history, starring in films like The Gay Divorcee (1934) and Top Hat (1935). Their routines showcased a blend of styles, incorporating elements from tap, ballroom, and ballet. Katharine Hepburn famously observed the dynamic of their partnership, stating, “Fred gave Ginger class, and Ginger gave Fred sex.”
Off-screen, Astaire was known for his relentless pursuit of perfection, often rehearsing scenes for days on end, which eventually led Rogers to tire of their grueling schedule. The pair separated after their final film together, The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939), but reunited years later for The Barkleys of Broadway (1949).
After his collaboration with Rogers, Astaire performed alongside leading ladies such as Rita Hayworth, Cyd Charisse, Judy Garland, Leslie Caron, and Audrey Hepburn. Some of his most memorable later musicals include Easter Parade with Garland and Funny Face with Hepburn.
Later Years and Death
As Astaire’s film roles diminished, he increasingly turned to television, often appearing as himself on special tribute shows. He began to explore dramatic roles, working on series such as Dr. Kildare, and collaborated with fellow legendary dancer Gene Kelly on the documentary That’s Entertainment, which celebrated the golden era of movie musicals. In 1974, he received his only Academy Award nomination for a supporting role in the disaster film The Towering Inferno, and in 1978, he won an Emmy Award for his performance in the television special A Family Upside Down. Further recognition followed with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute in 1981.
Astaire was hospitalized for pneumonia in the years following and passed away on June 22, 1987, in Los Angeles, California. His death marked the loss of one of Hollywood’s greatest talents. Upon hearing the news, former actor and President Ronald Reagan described Astaire as “an American legend” and “the ultimate dancer.” Ginger Rogers reflected on their partnership, stating, “He was the best partner anyone could ever have.”
Personal Life and Marriage
In his personal life, Astaire was more laid-back than his sophisticated on-screen personas and was deeply devoted to his family. He married his first wife, socialite Phyllis Baker Potter, in 1933, with whom he had two children, Fred Jr. and Ava. He also helped raise her son from a previous marriage. The couple remained together until Phyllis’s death in 1954.
Astaire surprised friends and family when he remarried in 1980 to Robyn Smith, a renowned jockey. Despite a significant age difference of over 40 years, their mutual passion for horses and racing blossomed into romance. After his death in 1987, Smith became a staunch protector of Astaire’s legacy, filing numerous lawsuits to prevent unauthorized uses of his name and likeness. In 1997, however, she permitted the use of Astaire’s film clips in a series of vacuum cleaner commercials.