Born Frederick Austerlitz (May 10, 1899 - June 22, 1987) in Omaha, Nebraska, Fred Astaire was Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, movie actor, and singer. He was a star from his Vaudeville debut in 1906 and his death. He starred in 31 musicals. His father was from Austria and had parents who converted from Judaism to Catholicism, and his mother was born in America with parents who were German immigrants. His sister, Adele Astaire, was also a dancer, and they danced in partnership as children. Astaire is cited as a major influence of Michael Jackson, Gregory Hines, Sammy Davis Jr., and even Rudolph Nureyev. He died at the age of 88 in 1987.
Recommended Resources
Contains Fred’s biography, a listing of his awards, music, and performances, as well as some amusing stories about him.
http://www.alsodances.net/
Goes over the life and career of the beloved dancer, going back to his Vaudeville days. Also offers a list of his films, television, and broadway shows, photographs, and a link to his autobiography, “Steps in Time.”
http://www.classicmoviemusicals.com/astaire.htm
This website has a regular section and a multimedia section, with music, dance, and video, as well as a list of movies and clips from them and videos of Fred and Ginger acting and dancing together.
http://themave.com/Astaire/
Provides trivia about the dancing star, as well as photographs of him and of his partners, including Ginger Rogers.
http://www.meredy.com/fredtriv.html
