But all waskept so private that interviewers would laterexclaim that Donald must have escaped it for them not to hear any of the usual choice details. "Our entire family composed an act", he says. Which is a lot harder than it sounds.. Theytook it home with them for $1.50. These included going down with a sinking boat and launching himself head-first into a dangerously narrow wall niche for a disappearing act. That number, along with the cheerily strutted "Good Morning," danced with Debbie Reynolds and Kelly, and the vaudeville-inspired "Fit As a Fiddle (And Ready for Love)" danced with Kelly, rewarded him with a Golden Globe Award (over Kelly) for his performance. Los Angeles Times 3 Mar 1989: 28. Actually, they were quite challenging. His ability to do somersault against walls during a musical number in films, October 11, 1956 - September 27, 2003 (his death, 3 children). In the bloatedEthel Merman vehicleCall Me Madam, he did two elegantpartnered numberswith legendary female star Vera Ellen. ", In a 2012 interview with Newsday, Kelly's widow, Patricia Ward Kelly, said her husband designed routines to suit his partners, whether they were professional dancers or not. And that was always his intent with Debbie, and she worked like a trouper and became a big star.". When they graduated from circus into vaudeville, all their children (seven were born, three died in infancy) were initiated into "The O'Connor Family," billed as "The Royal Family of Vaudeville." "He'd sit in his dressing room and stare into space, and I think he had problems at home. He made his film debut at age eleven, dancing an uncredited "specialty routine" with brothers Jack and Billy in the 1937 Warner Brothers musical, Melody for Two. ARKATOV, JANICE. Hang on to your chairs and lamps. "We really didn't have a choice; if you were in the family you appeared in the act. Unfortunately for the O'Connor family, world events often coincided with terrible personal losses, requiring Donald to assume adult responsibilities at a very young age. In the 1950s, O'Connor reestablished himself as a comedic actor and tap dancer. [8][9] In a 2002 interview, Betty Comden recalled, "How [Freed] could have written it in the first place and not realized is still a mystery. One bit at the end of this show is achingly poignant. He also won a Primetime Emmy Award from four nominations and received. You forgot didnt you? As he pauses for closing announcements,she looks nervously off stage, and you can just barelyhear the pianist assuring her, Its all right.. He arrived on set to discover that the rushed-draft scriptfreely sacrificed factfor cliched fiction, andnobody seemed to care. He hoped the break would launch Donald to greater heights of A-list stardom. While he couldnt escape the playing priests in bad movies curse that year, he madethis memorablescene stand out fromthe Christmas TVtrifleA Time to Remember. He died from complications of heart failure on September 27, 2003, at age 78 at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital, in Woodland Hills, California. He was meant to play Bing Crosby's partner in White Christmas (1954). They are provided in a historical context. Donald O'Connor Billed at Sahara "I capture your attention without giving you time to think about it. Monroe herself was intimidated by the show biz pros dancing aroundher, sometimesfumblingdozens of takes per scene. Like all improvisational geniuses, he couldnt dothe same thing twice. He had guest roles in Murder, She Wrote, Tales from the Crypt, The Building, The Nanny and Frasier, and was in the films Bandit: Bandit's Silver Angel (1994), and Father Frost (1996). Donald O'Connor Divorced. "I had three months to learn what Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor had been doing for years," Reynolds wrote in her 2013 memoir Unsinkable. Shes clearly very shy, and he gets down at her level to run through some jokes. O'Connor followed the first Francis with comedies: Curtain Call at Cactus Creek (1950), The Milkman (1950), and Double Crossbones (1951). O'Connor later said regarding Effie, "She wanted me to be as great as I possibly could be. Though his body was aging, his eyes still had the same fire, the same knowing sparkle that said,Im about to make a complete and utter fool of myself. He was born for it. He chose to keep much of his philanthropy work private. . (1948), Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin' (1948), and Yes, Sir, That's My Baby (1949); and these led to Francis (1949), a potboiler about an Army private who finds he is the only person who can carry on a conversation with an otherwise taciturn mule; the film proved to be a big hit with the kids and led to five sequels. The actor's lungs were hardly suited for the endurance that "Make 'Em Laugh" required. O'Connor went back to Universal for Francis Goes to West Point (1952) then returned to MGM for I Love Melvin (1953) a musical with Debbie Reynolds. Jack O'Connor, Donald's older brother, retrained Donald on backflips using a harness. (Asked howthatturkey gotmade, he replied bluntly, Because they had the money, and they couldnt think of anything else to do.). The New York Times, 10 Oct 1956: 46. He subsequently focused on theatre work and his nightclub act, performing in Las Vegas. He was Cap'n Andy in a short-lived Broadway revival of Show Boat (1983) and continued to tour in various shows and acts. However, the art of song and dance had its pioneers long before Kaufman ever stepped up before a crowd. In a baffling move, this film also paired OConnor with none other than Marilyn Monroe. However, Donen recalled, the resulting number was "100% plagiarism. The Donald OConnor Story Part I of III September 1 2014 Esther OReilly Patheos Explore the worlds faith through. In the Twentieth Century-Fox film, Call Me Madam (1953), O'Connor dances a lyrical duet (one of his all time favorites) with Vera Ellen; and in There's No Business Like Show Business (1954), there is the infamous scene in which he kisses costar Marilyn Monroe. Hopper, Hedda. Of all the famous dance partners choreographer-director Gene Kelly worked with, Jerry, the superimposed cartoon mouse from 1945's Anchors Aweigh, was his favorite. Night Work (1939) was a sequel to Boy Trouble and O'Connor was in Death of a Champion (1939). In 1971, after suffering a heart attack, O'Connor devoted considerably energy to composing music for the concert hall. Donald was honored with a retrospective at New York's Lincoln Center and an honorary degree from Boston University. This is Youre All the World to Me Fred Astaires famous 1951 ceiling dance scene in Royal Wedding. Itkept building and building to such a crescendo that At the end, I thought Id actually have to kill myself. He completed the routine in a single day and came back after a three-day rest to a standing ovation from the cast and crew. Beautiful You should be so happy that this man came over., He teamed up with fellow veteranMickey Rooney for anespecially memorable tour. While it certainly got him down in real life, he was back at it after the three days of rest had restored him to proper health. Amazingly, he continued to work into the 70s, to increasingly shrinking audiences. In 1975, the BBC asked Donald O'Connor if the musical was dead. The New York Times, 17 June 1953: 32. Singin in the Rain from the movie Singin in the Rain 1952. His best-known musical work is probably Singin' in the Rain (1952), in which he did an impressive dance that culminated in a series of backflips off the wall. O'Connor appeared in the short-lived Bring Back Birdie on Broadway in 1981. And the more pleased an audience is, the more energy I give back to the audience. In the wake of this career setback, OConnor was hit with another tragic personal blow in the death of his only surviving brother, Jack. Revivals are so popular now. We filmed that whole sequence in one day. Yeah, he was miserable. In 1992 he said, "I never wanted to be a superstar. Obituaries: Donald O'Connor, 78, comic and dancer Working on a concrete floor, he asked if the crew could provide anything to break his numerous falls. "I said, 'Sure, any time.' He was billed fifth in Sing You Sinners (1938) playing Bing Crosby's and MacMurray's younger brother.[10]. He was famous for his versatility, knack for physical comedy and acrobatic dancing style. Born into a vaudeville family, O'Connor was the youthful figure cutting a rug in several Universal musicals of the 1940s. Los Angeles Times 17 Aug 1965: C10. Itwas like the audience wanted to hang on forever to great performers and delightful memories from the golden age of song-and-dance. But in 1998, anothershow-stoppingconcert runwith the Palm Springs Follies nearly killed the consummate entertainer when he came down with viral pneumonia. Assistants carried her to her dressing room, and doctors put her on bed rest for two days. Gwen didnt even wait until it was finalizedto begin an affairwith the actor Dan Dailey. [6] His brother Billy died a decade later from scarlet fever and his eldest sibling Jack died from alcoholism in 1959. O'Connor and Bing Crosby united on Anything Goes (1956) at Paramount. Directed by Arthur Lubin, the film was a huge success. He trained hard with Keaton and threw himself into the role with perhaps even more dedication than usual, literally risking his life to recreate some of Keatons most daring stunts. Donald O'Connor Keeps Studio City Theater in the Family-Literally: [Valley Edition] [41][42] During the turbulent nine-year marriage, Carter physically abused O'Connor in frustration over her lack of an acting career. He bought a theatre, the Donald O'Connor Theatre, and would perform in it with his children. DONALD O'CONNOR'S MUSICAL JOURNEY KEEPS HIM ON ROAD: [SPORTS FINAL, CN Edition] The letters detail the lives of other patients, particularly a 30-year-old man who was completely immobilized. Scott, John L. Los Angeles Times 15 Aug 1966: c21. O'Connor credited the patients he met and thanked God for allowing him to recover. Severo, Richard. But I had never had any formal training. As he hovered on the edge of death in a coma for weeks, son Kevin recalls, We all startedto pray, and we asked the community to pray. OConnor miraculously pulled through. For 90 minutes, the full measure of his comic genius is on display, combining inspired innovation with an uncannily accurate reproduction of Keatons technique and mannerisms. One of O'Connor's most memorable moments tap dancing on television is The Bell Telephone Hour's "Song and Dance Man." Universal added $50,000 to the budget and elevated the "B" movie to "A" status.[10]. The father dies before Williams enters the film as his son, so the two geniuses never actually got to work together. One young lad joined him for a special performance to commemorate his 30th anniversary in the business, which nearly doubled as a 31st birthday party. MOULIN ROUGE DATE: Donald O'Connor Joins Rush to L.A. OConnor was born into a family of Vaudeville entertainers. Reynolds wrote: 'The camera closed in. Cause of death: alcoholism. created 4 months ago. I'm still singing and dancing. Berlin had pitched the song to him with childlike eagerness, but OConnor pretended to waffle on it until he could surprise the composer with the finished routine. There was no longer a place for OConnors particular skill set on the big screen. In 1998 O'Connor signed on for The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies, headlining a revue featuring 54-year-old-plus performers, and signing and dancing his way through eight performances a week. He appeared as a gaslight-era entertainer in the 1981 film Ragtime, notable for similar encore performances by James Cagney and Pat O'Brien. The dancer was paralyzed from the waist down, but recovered by way of physical therapy. On tour, he made a beeline for the bar in every new town. He didnt plan to stay at first. YOUNG DONALD O'CONNOR MAKES GOOD IN VIDEO The song, Life Has Its Funny Ups and Downs is sung by then-child actor Noreen Corcoran who died very recently, in 2016. "Gene always said, 'You choreograph to the woman,' so he choreographed to Debbie's capabilities.You want your partner to look the best he or she can possibly look. All the same, the show indeed must go on (he also says this in the iconic "Make 'Em Laugh" scene). Donald O'Connor Scheduled for Another 'Francis' Film Please note: images depicting historical events may contain themes, or have descriptions, that do not reflect current understanding. In real life, OConnor was still under the illusion that he could manage his own. [9], O'Connor signed a contract at Paramount Studios. He wrote tohis daughter Alicia, telling her about the other recovering addicts he had met, 13-year-olds in worse shape than he was. The Brussels Symphony Orchestra recorded some of his work, and in 1956 he conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a performance of his first symphony, Reflections d'Un Comique.[26]. That year marked the beginning of his accelerated descent into full-blown alcoholism. Thank you sir. Heoften singled these out as his best workand praisedEllen warmly,recallingthat every move we did meant something., Donald barely missed another chance to star opposite Ellen, as Bing Crosbys pal in White Christmas. Unfortunately,as thesong-and-dance musical itself faded out of style, this was not to be. "[8], When they were not touring they stayed with O'Connor's Uncle Bill in Danville, Illinois. One fan had a front-row seat and later recalled, There were so many curtain calls, it was unbelievable. They were billed as the O'Connor Family, the Royal Family of Vaudeville. I had to play straight in order to convince the audience that the mule could talk."[14]. He received no formal training in tap dance until he went to work for Universal Pictures and took tap dance classes with the studio's choreographer Louis DaPron who, after a few weeks of classes exasperatedly pronounced him "unteachable." When asked how he came to dance as he did in Singin in the Rain, he explained that actor Gene Kelly, who co-directed and starred in the classic 1952 film, told him he could do anything he wanted. Movie bred, he has the versatility of a Jimmy Durante and the effervescence of youth. Heres one of the most famous dance scenes from movie musical history. Hopper, Hedda. Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Distinctive. [2][3] In the song, Cosmo explains that he loves making people laugh, and quotes back to the inspiring words of a man named Samuel J. Snodgrass (as he was about to be led to the guillotine), his dad and his grandpa (though it's made unclear whether Cosmo refers to Snodgrass's or his own relatives). He would never look back again. ", "AFI List of Top 100 Songs From U.S. Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists, Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists, Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. OConnor would later have to be content withsupporting Crosbyinthe ill-conceived Broadway adaptationAnything Goesinstead. Maybe he spoke too soon, despite his apparent readiness and enthusiasm to pull off the bit (via IMDb). [7] She was a typical stage mother, often striking him. Director: William A. Wellman | Stars: Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, Robert Preston, Brian Donlevy Votes: 6,231 Beau Geste as a Child 11. His talent was once again relegated to small roles and brilliant one-offs in forgettable pictures. He did Francis Joins the WACS (1954) then played Tim Donahue in the 20th Century Fox all-star musical There's No Business Like Show Business (1954), which featured Irving Berlin's music and also starred with Ethel Merman, Marilyn Monroe (O'Connor's on screen love interest), Dan Dailey, Mitzi Gaynor and Johnnie Ray. Gloria said simply, God gave him a gift, and that gift was sobriety. His son Fred said, Thank God theres a higher power that healed him. He rebuilt his wifes trust and reunited with his family after eight months clean. Its one of the only times in OConnors career that he peels off the jesters mask for a glimpse of the vulnerable soul underneath. Donald O'Connor, Who Danced Through Many Hollywood Musicals, Dies at 78 By Richard Severo Sept. 28, 2003 Donald O'Connor, the jaunty, versatile dancer, singer and actor whose. Hes disciplined. By the end, Reynolds' feet were bleeding and she could barely move. According to Britannica, Donald O'Connor ("Singin' in the Rain") was "reportedly able to dance before he could stand up straight, to sing before he developed a vocabulary, and to play several musical instruments before he learned to read music." Fans andjournalists approached him one by one with their questions, speaking with hushedrespect. Through the end of his career, he lived, true to his word: "I was born and raised to entertain other people. PARAMOUNT SIGNS DONALD O'CONNOR: Actor Will Make 3 Pictures for Studio -- Betty Hutton's Film May Be One of Them By THOMAS M. PRYOR Special to. O'Connor was stunned at the insignificance of the gift after all the millions of dollars he had made for the studio, and in later life recalled, "What can I say about these people?". Show more Make Em Laugh SingingInTheRain1952 164K views 14 years ago Applied Mathematics -. O'Connor is also seen briefly dancing a vaudeville-styled tap routine as one of the three Dancing Dolans in the 1939 Warner Brother's musical On Your Toes, choreographed by George Balanchine. [citation needed]. Films", ""Be A Clown" and "Make 'Em Laugh:" Comic Timing, Rhythm, and Donald O'Connor's Face", "Singin' in the Rain: A Conversation with Betty Comden and Adolph Green", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Make_%27Em_Laugh&oldid=1140046445, This page was last edited on 18 February 2023, at 04:20. Antonin Dvorak His succinct answer:No. The most distinctive characteristic of his dancing style was its athleticism, for which he had few rivals. Standout moments aside Donald was born into show business and would have a continuous career for almost 80 years. O'Connor was still making public appearances well into 2003. Why didnt you tell me?, Yet for all his abrasiveness, Gene recognizeda professional when he saw one: Nobody else in the business could have taken the beating I gave Donald OConnor in Singin In the Rain Donald comes from vaudeville. My fans, He returned to finish out the tour and promptly filled up anotheryear full of contracts. His priceless last quip: Id like to thank the Academy for the lifetime achievement award I will eventually get.. It's rather ironic that the "Make 'Em Laugh" sequence begins with O'Connor declaring that "you can't let a little thing like this get you down" to fellow actor Gene Kelly. His best-known musical work is probably Singin in the Rain 1952 in which he did an impressive dance that culminated in a series of backflips off the wall. I move fast, I keep changing my hats. Danny Kaye inherited the part. But Donald contracted a rare fever from Francis the mule just as production began, and he was still too weak to take the job even after they had postponed the shoot for months. What movie was dancing on the ceiling in. It was just a fact. Hang On To Your Chairs And Lamps You Re All The Brilliant Choreography This Dance Number Was Done On A Fred Astaire Fred Astaire Dancing Old Movie Stars. He then suffered a heart attack in 1971, leading him to quit taking the medication. Not that Kelly minded. For Singin' in the Rain, however, MGM cultivated a much more sympathetic sidekick persona, and that remained O'Connor's signature image. But beyond all that, its a complex and potent dramatic role, as Keaton undergoes the painful transition from silent to talkie era while secretly sinking deeper into alcoholism. Dates: 1925-2003Birth Date: Aug 28, 1925Death Date: Sep 27, 2003, Place of Birth: Chicago, IllinoisPlace of Death: Calabasas, California. Donald O'Connor, 78, Who Danced His Way Through Many Hollywood Musicals, Is Dead: [Obituary (Obit)] It is dead the way we used to make 'em.". " Make 'Em Laugh " is a song first featured in the 1952 MGM musical film Singin' in the Rain, performed by Donald O'Connor as the character Cosmo Brown. (1942), a low-budget musical with The Andrews Sisters, the studio's teenage singing star Gloria Jean, and Peggy Ryan. The man who performed the most sensational solo number in the history of musical comedy is dead. Despite Keatons credit as a technical advisor, OConnor watched the legends input on his own life storygo in one ear and out the other. So damned dishonest, he would later recall with disgust. Donald O'Connor in Drama Role With Vince Edwards [18] He maintained he was forced to go to the hospital during the film's production due to injuries and exhaustion. Unable to speakand barely able to breathe upon awaking, he immediately scribbled down a question: How long am I going to be here? Picture Show, London, Vol. But Donald bore it with perpetual good humor. O'Connor is the guy who ran straight up three walls, flipping backward to earth each time, in Singin' in the Rain, and no matter how often you see the movie, the stunt still appears fresh, magical and completely surprising. 54th Academy Awards. They brought me those little Oriental rugswouldnt absorb a sponge. He consulted with his brother Jack on running up the wall,an old trick from his circus days. Everything about me is based on show business. In one tense scene, Daileys father character smacked OConnor as the bad boy who comes home drunk. The Life Story of DONALD O'CONNOR. Donald O'Connor Enters Hospital At home, his wife Gloria recalled him asan absolute terror to live with at that time, his personality changing in seconds under the influence. 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donald o'connor dancing on the ceiling