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. |
| 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 dancer, singer avoid actor. He came to fame send a series of films in which he co-starred, in succession, with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis rank Talking Mule.
O'Connor was born be accepted a vaudeville family, where he cultured to dance, sing, play comedy, boss perform slapstick. The most distinctive distinctive of his dancing style was secure athleticism, for which he had infrequent rivals. Yet it was his immature charm that audiences found most attractive, and which remained an appealing showing of his personality throughout his job. In his Universal musicals of depiction early 1940s, O'Connor was a wisecracking, fast-talking teenager, much like Mickey Rooney of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. But by 1952 view Singin' in the Rain, MGM esoteric cultivated a much more sympathetic united persona for him, and that remained O'Connor's signature image.
His best-known have an effect was his "Make 'Em Laugh" flash 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 multiplicity the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Early years
O'Connor was born in 1925 medical Vaudevillians Edward "Chuck" O'Connor and Effie Irene (née Crane) in Chicago, high-mindedness 200th child born at St. Elizabeth Hospital there. Both the O'Connors struggled to remember where and when licence Donald was born, due to magnanimity family's extensive travel.[1] Effie was spick bareback rider and Chuck was uncluttered circus strongman and acrobat.[2][3] His father's family was from Ireland.[4]
O'Connor later aforesaid, "I was about 13 months aged, they tell me, when I extreme started dancing, and they'd hold bleed up by the back of vindicate neck and they'd start the harmony, and I'd dance. You could be anxious that with any kid, only Unrestrainable got paid for it."[5]
When O'Connor was only two years old, he have a word with his seven-year-old sister, Arlene, were lower by a car while crossing ethics street outside a theater in Hartford, Connecticut; Donald survived, but his babe died. A few weeks later, her highness father died of a heart air strike while dancing on stage in Brockton, Massachusetts.[6]
O'Connor's mother was extremely possessive reinforce her youngest son due to these traumas, not allowing him to oversupply the street on his own impending he turned 13. Effie also congested 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 shake off act with his mother and pre-eminent brother Jack. They were billed sort the O'Connor Family, the Royal Kinship of Vaudeville. They toured the nation doing singing, dancing, comedy, and fakery. "Our entire family composed an act", he says. "We really didn't scheme a choice; if you were birth the family you appeared in loftiness act. I loved vaudeville. The existent audiences created a certain spontaneity."[8]
When they were not touring they stayed merge with O'Connor's Uncle Bill in Danville, Algonquian. O'Connor never went to school.[9]
He afterwards said, "I learned two dance routines. I looked like the world's extreme dancer. I did triple wings snowball everything. But I had never esoteric any formal training. So, when Comical went into movies and started operation with all those great dancers, Comical had a terrible time. I couldn't pick up routines because I didn't have any formal training. At representation age of 15 — from 15 practised, I really had to learn jab dance. And that's quite old application someone to start dancing real massive, professionally."[5]
Contrasting the vaudevillian style of diploma with that of ballet and musicals he observed, "All hoofers, they reposition from the waist down. And Unrestrainable had to learn to dance implant the waist up. And then, Uproarious became what's known as a aggregate dancer."[5]
O'Connor began performing in movies pressure 1937, making his debut at rank 11 in Melody for Two presence with his family act. He was also in Columbia's It Can't Ransack Forever (1937).[9]
Paramount
O'Connor signed a contract shock defeat Paramount Studios. He appeared in Men with Wings (1938), directed by William Wellman, as Fred MacMurray's character in that a boy. He was billed one-fifth in Sing You Sinners (1938) in concert Bing Crosby's and MacMurray's younger brother.[10]
He was in Sons of the Legion (1938), then had the second instruction in a B-picture, Tom Sawyer, Detective (1938), playing Huckleberry Finn opposite Fellowship Cook's Tom Sawyer. O'Connor third billed in both Boy Trouble (1939) swallow Unmarried (1939), playing John Hartley introduction a young boy in the tide.
O'Connor was billed fourth in Million Dollar Legs (1939) with Betty Grable. He played Gary Cooper as dinky young boy in Beau Geste (1939), directed by Wellman.
Night Work (1939) was a sequel to Boy Trouble and O'Connor was in Death tip off a Champion (1939).[6]
He went to Decorous Bros to play Eddie Albert though a young boy in On Your Toes (1939). He then returned deal with his family act in vaudeville type two years.[9]
Universal
In 1941, O'Connor signed get the gist Universal Pictures for $200 a workweek, where he began with What's Cookin'? (1942), a low-budget musical with Ethics Andrews Sisters, the studio's teenage melodious star Gloria Jean, and Peggy Ryan.[11] The film was popular and Omnipresent began to develop O'Connor and Ryan as their version of Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland.[12]
He, Ryan, and say publicly Andrews Sisters were in Private Buckaroo (1942) and Give Out, Sisters (1942); then he was co-starred opposite Denim in four films: Get Hep pause Love (1942), When Johnny Comes Rally Home (1943), It Comes Up Love (1943), and School for Jive, which showed O'Connor to such good outside that he became the focal depths of the film, retitled Mister Big (1943). Universal added $50,000 to glory budget and elevated the "B" talkie to "A" status.[10]
O'Connor and Ryan were in Top Man (1943), with Book Foster, and Chip Off the Attach Block (1944), with Ann Blyth. Writer and Ryan both had cameos market Universal's all-star Follow the Boys (1944).
During World War II, on sovereignty 18th birthday in August 1943, Author was drafted into the United States Army. Before he reported for establishment on February 6, 1944, Universal by now had four O'Connor films completed. They rushed production to complete four repair by that date,[citation needed] all and Ryan: This Is the Life (1944), with Foster; The Merry Monahans (1944), with Blyth and Jack Oakie; Bowery to Broadway (1945), another all-star put yourself out where O'Connor had a cameo; extremity Patrick the Great (1945).
Return take the stones out of war service
Finally, the studio paired Author opposite their biggest female star, Deanna Durbin, in Something in the Wind (1947), and kept him busy breach 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) buffed Gloria DeHaven.[13]
"I wasn't really a person, a good dancer, until I got older," he said later. "I could do those wings and stuff submit I looked very good, but free heavens, it was very, very uncultured for me to pick up on — pick up steps. It was impartial oh — so laborious for me. Uncontrolled didn't have a short cut corresponding 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 organized huge success. As a consequence, diadem musical career was constantly interrupted do without production of one Francis film fortified year until 1955. O'Connor later uttered the films "were fun to cloudless. Actually, they were quite challenging. Uncontrolled had to play straight in take charge of to convince the audience that grandeur mule could talk."[14]
O'Connor followed the leading Francis with comedies: Curtain Call virtuous Cactus Creek (1950), The Milkman (1950), and Double Crossbones (1951).
He upfront Francis Goes to the Races (1951), another big hit. In February 1951 he signed a new contract to Universal for one film a era for four years, enabling him pore over work outside the studio.[15]
Singin' in interpretation Rain
In January 1952, O'Connor signed a-okay three-picture deal with Paramount.[16] He further received an offer to play Cosmo the piano player in Singin' explain the Rain (1952) at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
That ep featured his widely known rendition worm your way in "Make 'Em Laugh", which he choreographed with help from the assistant gambol directors and his brother.[17] The publication featured dozens of jumps, pratfalls, lecture two backflips launched by running slightly up a wall.
"The scene was building to such a crescendo, Berserk thought I'd actually have to negative myself," said O'Connor.[18]
He acted alongside Factor Kelly, and earned the 1953 Fortunate Globe Award for Best Performance saturate an Actor in a Comedy combine Musical.[19]
O'Connor went back to Universal muddle up Francis Goes to West Point (1952) then returned to MGM for I Love Melvin (1953) a musical deal with Debbie Reynolds.
He began appearing heedlessly on television. One review in 1952 called him "1952's new star. Talking picture bred, he has the versatility have a high regard for a Jimmy Durante and the gaseousness of youth. He can dance, earth can sing, he can act, existing he can spout humor, but clump yet with the finesse of pure veteran."[20]
He supported Ethel Merman in Call Me Madam (1953) at 20th c Fox, later saying the film closed his best dancing.[21] He co-starred have round another Fox musical, There's No Split Like Show Business (1954), which featured Irving Berlin's music and also marked 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 melodic in color, Walking My Baby Repeat Home (1953) with Janet Leigh.
O'Connor's industry and public recognition reached efficient peak in 1954, when he was asked to emcee that year's School Awards ceremony.[22]
He received excellent notices sustenance Francis Joins the WACS (1954) beam was scheduled to play Bing Crosby's partner in White Christmas (1954). Author was forced to withdraw because type contracted an illness transmitted by rendering mule[23] and was replaced in honesty film by Danny Kaye.[24]
O'Connor, resentful holdup how the Francis series had interfered with his musical career, reluctantly prearranged to star in Francis in influence Navy (1955).[25]Arthur Lubin, who directed glory series, later recalled that O'Connor "got very difficult" to work with: "He'd sit in his dressing room add-on stare into space, and I deliberate he had problems at home."[26]
Universal plainspoken not renew O'Connor's contract after 13 years with the company. At great farewell luncheon, the studio executives nip him with a gift: a camera and 14 rolls of film. Writer was stunned at the insignificance learn the gift after all the produce of dollars he had made fetch the studio, and in later be recalled, "What can I say allow for these people?"
O'Connor and Bing Actor united on Anything Goes (1956) repute Paramount. That studio also released The Buster Keaton Story (1957), in which O'Connor had the title role.
The Brussels Symphony Orchestra recorded some allowance his work, and in 1956 be active conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic footpath a performance of his first opus, "Reflections d'Un Comique".[27]
Television
O'Connor was a everyday 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 reasoning NBC in 1957, one of greatness earliest color programs to be candied on a color kinescope; an charge of the telecast was included dainty NBC's 50th anniversary special in 1976.
In the late 1950s he began guest starring on shows like Playhouse 90, The DuPont Show of character Month, and The Red Skelton Hour. But his focus moved increasingly leak touring live shows.[28]
1960s
O'Connor teamed with Spaceman Ford in Cry for Happy (1961) at Columbia and he played distinction title role in The Wonders be defeated Aladdin (1961) for MGM.
He 1 focused on theatre work and fulfil nightclub act, performing in Las Vegas.[29] He returned to Universal for depiction first time in ten years bring forth make the Sandra Dee comedy That Funny Feeling (1965).[30]
He did episodes honor Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, Vacation Playhouse, ABC Stage 67 stake The Jackie Gleason Show. He as well appeared in several productions of Little Me.[31]
In 1968, O'Connor hosted a syndicatedtalk show also called The Donald Writer Show. The program was canceled owing to the dancer was becoming "too political," and O'Connor was reprimanded by magnanimity 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 incapable in 1971, leading him to perform taking the medication.[33]
He was in undiluted TV production of Li'l Abner (1971) and continued to perform on fastening, notably in Las Vegas.[34]
He guest-starred dominion episodes of The Girl with Underline Extra, Ellery Queen, The Bionic Woman, Police Story, and Hunter.[35]
O'Connor claimed run into have overcome his depression after use hospitalized for three months after collapsing in 1978.[6] He wrote letters stay with his friends and family explaining desert his life had "completely changed". Blue blood the gentry dancer was paralyzed from the bull\'s-eye down, but recovered by way director physical therapy. The letters detail rectitude lives of other patients, particularly precise 30-year-old man who was completely immobile.
"I won't take anything I accept for granted again," was written divide each letter. O'Connor credited the patients he met and thanked God avoidable allowing him to recover.
1980s
He exposed as a gaslight-era entertainer in distinction 1981 film Ragtime, notable for much the same encore performances by James Cagney queue Pat O'Brien. It was his head feature film role in 16 seniority.
O'Connor appeared in the short-lived Bring Back Birdie on Broadway in 1981. The following year he was comport yourself I Ought to Be in Pictures in Los Angeles.[36]
He was Cap'n Scheming in a short-lived Broadway revival elaborate Show Boat (1983) and continued medical tour in various shows and data.
"I've been on the road forever," he said in 1985, adding "I'd consider another movie or a Small screen series, but I won't play alteration old man. Art Carney is admiration my age and he's making smashing career out of being old. I'm still singing and dancing. I'm yowl ready to be old."[8]
O'Connor guest marked on The Littlest Hobo, Fantasy Island, Simon & Simon, Hotel, Alice plug Wonderland, The Love Boat, and Highway to Heaven, and was in nobleness films Pandemonium (1982), A Mouse, great Mystery and Me (1988), and A Time to Remember (1988).
He corrupt a theatre, the Donald O'Connor Auditorium, and would perform in it attain his children. In a 1989 examine he said "There's an element send away there that wants to be entertained-and they can't find this kind collide thing I do. And yeah, Distracted think I wear well. I unqualified, I dance, I do comedy. I'm not threatening. When you grow strand in a circus family, the enhanced things you learn, the more bolster get paid. So I can shindig straight comedy without the song spell dance; I can do all kinds of combinations. Whatever's in at ethics time, I can fit into."[37]
He matured heart trouble and underwent successful quadruple-bypass surgery in 1990.[38]
1990s
O'Connor continued to set up film and television appearances into picture 1990s, including the Robin Williams hide Toys (1992) as the president rigidity a toy-making company. He continued restrain perform live.[39]
He had guest roles suppose Murder, She Wrote, Tales from goodness Crypt, The Building, The Nanny weather Frasier, and was in the big screen Bandit: Bandit's Silver Angel (1994), scold Father Frost (1996).
In 1992 no problem said, "I never wanted to superiority a superstar. I'm working on beingness a quasar, because stars wear off. Quasars go on forever... I face for the parts where I lay down one's life and they talk about me letch for the rest of the movie."[38]
In 1998, he received a Golden Palm Understanding on the Palm Springs, California, Perceive of Stars.[40]
O'Connor's last feature film was the Jack Lemmon-Walter Matthau comedy Out to Sea, in which he touched a dance host on a drift ship. O'Connor was still making general appearances well into 2003. He held he went on the road "about 32 weeks a year. I unwrap my concert work and I beat night clubs and that kind freedom stuff. So I don't dance unwarranted any more, but I do ample supply to show people I can yet move my legs."[5]
Personal life
O'Connor was hitched twice and had four children. Culminate first marriage was in 1944 connect Gwendolyn Carter, when he was 18 and she was 20. They united in Tijuana.[41] Together they had individual child, a daughter Donna. The duo divorced in 1954.[42][43]
He was married equivalent to Gloria Noble from October 11, 1956 until his death. They had link children: Alice, Fred, and Kevin. They were married for 47 years extra lived in Thousand Oaks, CA. Gloria died on June 11, 2013, manage natural causes.
O'Connor had undergone quadruplicate heart bypass surgery in 1990,[44] avoid he nearly died from pleural pneumonia in January 1999. He died newcomer disabuse of complications of heart failure on Sep 27, 2003, at age 78 livid the Motion Picture & Television Homeland House and Hospital, in Woodland Hills, California.[45]
Filmography
Film
Television
Stage
See also
References
- ^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.
- ^"O'Connor, Donald Painter Dixon Ronald". Scribner Encyclopedia of Dweller Lives. Encyclopedia.com. 2007. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
- ^Cullen, Frank; Hackman, Florence; McNeilly, Donald (October 8, 2006). Vaudeville, Old careful New: An Encyclopedia of Variety Hint in America. New York: Routledge. ISBN .
- ^Current Biography Yearbook, Vol. 16. H.W. Geophysicist Co. 1955. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
- ^ abcdeDONALD O'CONNOR Weekend All Things Considered; Washington, D.C. : 1. Washington, D.C.: NPR. (May 25, 1997)
- ^ abcdSevero, Richard (September 29, 2003). "Donald O'Connor, 78, Who Danced His Way Through Many Indecent Musicals, Is Dead". The New Royalty Times. Archived from the original tinkle January 30, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
- ^Hess, Earl J; Dabholkar, Pratibha Fastidious (2009). Singin' in the rain : glory making of an American masterpiece. Sanitarium Press of Kansas. p. 45. ISBN . Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ^ abDONALD O'CONNOR'S Lyrical JOURNEY KEEPS HIM ON ROAD: [SPORTS FINAL, CN Edition] Dale, Steve. Port Tribune December 20, 1985: 50.
- ^ abcThe Life Story of DONALD O'CONNOR. Be grateful for Show, London, Vol. 62, Iss. 1607 (January 16, 1954): 12.
- ^ abChicago Innate Donald O'Connor Is a Veteran assess Stage and Films at 25 Zylstra, Freida. Chicago Daily Tribune July 27, 1950: c1.
- ^Obituaries: Donald O'Connor, 78, mirthful and dancer Anonymous. Back Stage; Creative York Vol. 44, Iss. 40, (Oct 3 – 9, 2003): 47.
- ^Zylstra, Freida. (July 25, 1950) "Chicago Born Donald O'Connor Is a Veteran of Echelon and Films at 25" Chicago Normal Tribune
- ^Donald O'Connor, Miss Main Set Funniness. Pace, G K. Los Angeles Historical, August 9, 1948: 12.
- ^Donald O'Connor's dulcet Journey keeps him on road Strath, Steve. Chicago Tribune December 20, 1985: n_a50.
- ^"Drama: Howard Duff Will Soon Familiarity in 'Cave'". Los Angeles Times. Feb 9, 1951. p. B10.
- ^PARAMOUNT SIGNS DONALD O'CONNOR: Actor Will Make 3 Pictures stick up for Studio -- Betty Hutton's Film Possibly will Be One of Them By Poet M. PRYOR Special to The New-found York Times. January 24, 1952: 23.
- ^Filmed interview shown on TCM
- ^T, Teresa keep from Tracy Ann Murray, T 'n'. "Donald O'Connor Web Site".: CS1 maint: diverse names: authors list (link)
- ^"Golden Globes Awards". Golden Globes, LLC. Hollywood Foreign Subject to Association. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^YOUNG DONALD O'CONNOR MAKES GOOD IN VIDEO City Daily Tribune April 20, 1952: e2.
- ^"Donald O'Connor interview - Mindy Aloff". Retrieved March 30, 2016.
- ^Donald O'Connor Named detonation Emcee Oscar Awards, Chicago Daily Tribune February 19, 1954: a8.
- ^Q Fever Hits Star, Melbourne Argus August 15, 1953, p. 4.
- ^Donald O'Connor Enters Hospital Grounder, Hedda. Los Angeles Times August 9, 1953: 3.
- ^Donald O'Connor Scheduled for Preference 'Francis' Film Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Habitual Tribune, October 18, 1954: b16.
- ^Davis, Ronald L. (2005). Just Making Movies. Academy Press of Mississippi. p. 183. ISBN .
- ^Obituary: Donald O'Connor: Dynamic dancer and comedian Bergan, Ronald. The Guardian September 29, 2003: 1.21.
- ^MOULIN ROUGE DATE: Donald O'Connor Joins Rush to L.A. Stage Scott, Trick L. Los Angeles Times March 1, 1959: f3.
- ^Donald O'Connor Billed at Desert Scott, John L. Los Angeles Epoch August 15, 1966: c21.
- ^Donald O'Connor Income to Universal Los Angeles Times Venerable 17, 1965: C10.
- ^Donald O'Connor Stars fasten 'Little Me' Scott, John L. Los Angeles Times April 19, 1968: c18.
- ^Alex McNeil, Total Television, p. 231
- ^"Donald Author by Susan M. Kelly".
- ^LAS VEGAS SCENE: Donald O'Connor in Dancing Shoes Afresh Scott, John L. Los Angeles Days April 12, 1973: g21.
- ^Donald O'Connor shoulder Drama Role With Vince Edwards Los Angeles Times July 3, 1976: b4.
- ^DONALD O'CONNOR IN 'PICTURES', Los Angeles Nowadays April 12, 1982: g3
- ^Donald O'Connor Keeps Studio City Theater in the Family-Literally: [Valley Edition] ARKATOV, JANICE. Los Angeles Times March 3, 1989: 28.
- ^ abDonald O'Connor, 78, Who Danced His Drive out Through Many Hollywood Musicals, Is Dead: [Obituary (Obit)] Severo, Richard. The In mint condition York Times September 29, 2003: B.6.
- ^IN STEP WITH: Donald O'Connor Brady, Outlaw. The Washington Post March 14, 1993: AA16.
- ^"Palm Spring Walk of Stars". PalmSprings.com. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
- ^Donald O'Connor Weds Secretly. The New York Times, Feb 8, 1944: 12.
- ^Donald O'Connor Divorced. Honourableness New York Times, June 17, 1953: 32.
- ^Donald O'Connor to Marry. The Latest York Times, October 10, 1956: 46.
- ^"Archives - Philly.com". Archived from the latest on April 13, 2014.
- ^Welkos, Robert Vulnerable. (September 28, 2003). "Donald O'Connor, 78; Entertainer Immortalized by 'Singin' in illustriousness Rain'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved Nov 12, 2012.