"I've been on the road forever," he said in 1985, adding "I'd consider another movie or a TV series, but I won't play an old man. Most entertaining and most revolutionary moments from their movie musicals. In Its Always Fair Weather Gene Kelly did a tap dance on roller skates but he wasnt. 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. Dancing in the Rain. If you've ever seen "Singin' in the Rain," you probably remember Donald O'Connor's astonishing execution of "Make 'Em Laugh" where his singing and dancing abilities culminate in a superb performance that invokes both slapstick physical antics and regimented choreography. In 1971, after suffering a heart attack, O'Connor devoted considerably energy to composing music for the concert hall. Maybe he spoke too soon, despite his apparent readiness and enthusiasm to pull off the bit (via IMDb). I did triple wings and everything. a list of 22 titles. Anonymous. 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]. "I could do those wings and stuff and I looked very good, but my heavens it was very, very hard for me to pick up on pick up steps. In some of the best dance television camera work to date, O'Connor joined the brothers in "Cute," a medium tempo swing tune by Neal Hefti in which he tapped out feather-light shuffles and heel-clicks. 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. And that's quite old for someone to start dancing real heavy, professionally. I sing, I dance, I do comedy. I do my concert work and I do night clubs and that kind of stuff. He arrived on set to discover that the rushed-draft scriptfreely sacrificed factfor cliched fiction, andnobody seemed to care. Broadcast on NBC-TV (January 16, 1966), this mini-musical history of tap dance in America opened with O'Connor as host dancing an Irish jig, Scottish reel, Spanish zapateada, and German spatlasse, followed by a softshoe dance and some sand dancing. 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. Screenwriters Betty Comden and Adolph Green recall that before shooting had started, they had "painfully wedged into the script as a cheering-up song" for Donald O'Connor the Freed/Brown song "The Wedding of the Painted Doll",[6] but during filming, Freed realized that O'Connor needed a better number, but could not find anything suitable for his character within his collection. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. For Singin' in the Rain, however, MGM cultivated a much more sympathetic sidekick persona, and that remained O'Connor's signature image. Speaking to Parademagazine, he confessed the secret struggles whichring true for so many comedians. A few weeks later, his father died of a heart attack while dancing on stage in Brockton, Massachusetts. 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. So, when I went into movies and started working with all those great dancers, I had a terrible time. Donald O'Connor. The routine was completely improvised by OConnor. "We really didn't have a choice; if you were in the family you appeared in the act. Donna recalled that it allculminated at the breakfast table one morning, when Donald asked Gwen, What would you like to do today? She answered,I want a divorce. He swallowed the pain and asked, Are you sure you wouldnt rather go to a movie? No, I want a divorce. She fought for and woncustody of Donna, leaving Donald with the dog. Gene Kelly came in to help with musical timing and blocking. Scott, John L. Los Angeles Times 1 Mar 1959: f3. He insisted on finishing out the night, but by the next morning, he couldnt leave his bed. "Make 'Em Laugh," O . '"[10], Last edited on 18 February 2023, at 04:20, "Aren't the show tunes "Be a Clown" and "Make 'Em Laugh" suspiciously similar? [9], He later said, "I learned two dance routines. Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital, Irving Berlin's There's No Business Like Show Business, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, "Donald O'Connor, 78, Who Danced His Way Through Many Hollywood Musicals, Is Dead", "Donald O'Connor interview - Mindy Aloff", "Donald O'Connor, 78; Entertainer Immortalized by 'Singin' in the Rain', Mindy Alloff's 1979 interview with O'Connor, Donald O'Connor on "The Colgate Comedy Hour" (1951-54), Donald O'Connor on "Texaco Star Theater" (1954-55), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Donald_O%27Connor&oldid=1138222779, Won - 1954 Primetime Emmy Award for Best Male Star of Regular Series (for, Earned - 1960, Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in television, Nominated - 1960 Primetime Emmy award for Best Specialty Act - Single or Group, Nominated - 1980 Primetime Emmy award for Outstanding Individual Achievement - Special Events (52nd Annual Academy Awards (1980)), This page was last edited on 8 February 2023, at 16:33. Los Angeles Times 3 Mar 1989: 28. My body just had to absorb this tremendous shock. He was in Sons of the Legion (1938), then had the second lead in a B-picture, Tom Sawyer, Detective (1938), playing Huckleberry Finn opposite Billy Cook's Tom Sawyer. ", .css-g0owdm{display:block;font-family:Memphis,Georgia,Times,Serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0.625rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-g0owdm:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 40.625rem){.css-g0owdm{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-g0owdm{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 61.25rem){.css-g0owdm{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}}Jennifer Garner Stuns in Low-Cut Jumpsuit, Fans Demand Answers About the 'Today Show', The Weirdest Golden Globes Dresses of All Time, Find Your Next Best Read with These Spring Books, Kelly Clarkson Fans Are Calling Her Out on IG, Here's What Jon Gries Whispered to Aubrey Plaza, Jennifer Nettles Set to Host New Dating Show, See Sam Elliott's Red Carpet Appearance with Wife, Carrie Underwood Has the Cutest Chicken Sweatshirt, 'Last of Us' Star Pedro Pascal Posts Upsetting IG. LAS VEGAS SCENE: Donald O'Connor in Dancing Shoes Again Whatever's in at the time, I can fit into. 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. Donald OConnor 1959 doing his eccentric athletic comic dancing and singing. Weekend All Things Considered; Washington, D.C.: 1. YOUNG DONALD O'CONNOR MAKES GOOD IN VIDEO Tune in tomorrow for the third and final chapter in the Donald OConnor story. Kelly later recalled that every time they would ask OConnor to repeat a bit, he would say Oh, you mean like this? and do something different yet again. He played Gary Cooper as a young boy in Beau Geste (1939), directed by Wellman. He also developed as an actor, played a number of juvenile and super- polite boy roles such as Bing Crosby's kid brother in Sing, You Sinners (1938), Huckleberry Finn in Tom Sawyer, Detective (1938), and Beau (Gary Cooper) at age twelve in the dashing Foreign Legion action adventure film, Beau Geste (1939). Ironically, his character was fighting drug addiction. It was like catchinglightning in a bottle. But privately, the two masters understood each other well and commiserated over the generic flop. 44, Iss. Co-director Stanley Donen referenced the Cole Porter song "Be a Clown" from the film The Pirate, and further suggested that Freed and Brown compose a song using this as their inspiration. 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. Like most child performers who grew up in show business, O'Connor learned to dance by watching the hundreds of musical acts on stage and screen, making tap comedy dance and acrobatic tricks his specialty. There was no longer a place for OConnors particular skill set on the big screen. The New York Times, 8 Feb 1944: 12. Movie bred, he has the versatility of a Jimmy Durante and the effervescence of youth. O'Connor is a dynamite entertainer as he performs a remarkably gymnastic roller-skate dance routine with some assistance from Corcoran, for the 1953 film I Love Melvin. Business wasnt just waiting to pick up when he got out of rehab. With a backlog of seven features, deferred openings kept O'Connor's screen presence uninterrupted during the two years he was overseas with Special Services in the U.S. Army Air Forces. It was one of the most memorable clips of the 80s using the rotating room effect made famous in the 1951 movie Royal Wedding where Fred Astaire danced on the ceiling. Both the O'Connors struggled to remember where and when exactly Donald was born, due to the family's extensive travel. MOULIN ROUGE DATE: Donald O'Connor Joins Rush to L.A. Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists, Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists, Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. a list of 43 titles. Night Work (1939) was a sequel to Boy Trouble and O'Connor was in Death of a Champion (1939). It was his first feature film role in 16 years. Another legendary dancer, Fred Astaire, then in his early 50s, was the one to comfort her. The following year he was in I Ought to Be in Pictures in Los Angeles.[35]. I came back on the set three days later." Songwriter (s) Nacio Herb Brown. This is Youre All the World to Me Fred Astaires famous 1951 ceiling dance scene in Royal Wedding. Standout moments aside Donald was born into show business and would have a continuous career for almost 80 years. The Guardian 29 Sep 2003: 1.21. In 1993, O'Connor released his own exercise-oriented video, Let's Tap. Reynolds wrote: 'The camera closed in. Everything about me is based on show business. ", Though it's reported that Reynolds eventually took a perspective of gratitude for everything Kelly had put her through, because it made her a better performer, the exacting director later admitted, "I wasn't very nice to Debbie. In 1975, the BBC asked Donald O'Connor if the musical was dead. [40] Together they had one child, a daughter Donna. Stage Sept. 28, 2003 12 AM PT. By the end, Reynolds' feet were bleeding and she could barely move. While he couldnt escape the playing priests in bad movies curse that year, he madethis memorablescene stand out fromthe Christmas TVtrifleA Time to Remember. You could do that with any kid, only I got paid for it. I think it will bring me happiness. [6] His brother Billy died a decade later from scarlet fever and his eldest sibling Jack died from alcoholism in 1959. But doing one would mean being out in cold, cold New York for a year, a year and a half," he said. [7] She was a typical stage mother, often striking him. Video unavailable Watch on YouTube Watch on The "Broadway Melody Ballet" from Singin' in the Rain (1952). Dancing In the Rain: The Donald O'Connor Story (Part II of III), Dancing In the Rain: The Donald OConnor Story (Part III of III). Thank you sir. Kelly was a "cruel taskmaster," Reynolds continued. He spent the years giving back through quiet philanthropic work, helping anyone from other alcoholicsto people seeking abreak in show business. a list of 42 titles. The couple divorced in 1954. Granted, he is still acting, but theres no question that he was drawing on the pain behind his own lifes work to convey the depth of Keatons pent-up sorrow. Hopper, Hedda. [9], O'Connor signed a contract at Paramount Studios. Here-married in 1956, to Gloria Noble. Director: William A. Wellman | Stars: Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, Robert Preston, Brian Donlevy Votes: 6,231 Beau Geste as a Child 11. This included an awkward stab at syndicated talk-show hosting in 1968, where he managed to offend Joan Baez by bluntly askingabout her prison sentence for war protests: How did you like it up river?. He came to fame in a series of films in which he co-starred with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis the Talking Mule . 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. [32], He was in a TV production of Li'l Abner (1971) and continued to perform on stage, notably in Las Vegas. "That's what it's like to learn to dance. The father dies before Williams enters the film as his son, so the two geniuses never actually got to work together. (He explains the latter trick in this clip.) Get it done and come back home. Written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown, [1] the song is closely based on Cole Porter 's "Be a Clown" from the Freed-produced 1948 MGM . Donald OConnor was the last of the song and dance men. 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. One of his last public appearances was a press conference in2002, held in conjunction withthe 50th anniversary release ofSingin in the Rain. They finishwith a song, but she forgets her one line. Shifting base of operations to Las Vegas gave the restless performer a steady audience and the abilityto nurture fresh talent. 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. According to reports at the time the couple split, O'Connor was left with only the dog and sought the help of multiple psychiatrists. 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. O'Connor guest starred on The Littlest Hobo, Fantasy Island, Simon & Simon, Hotel, Alice in Wonderland, The Love Boat, and Highway to Heaven, and was in the films Pandemonium (1982), A Mouse, a Mystery and Me (1988), and A Time to Remember (1988). The whole hour is pure gold. In one tense scene, Daileys father character smacked OConnor as the bad boy who comes home drunk. Hopper, Hedda. ARKATOV, JANICE. "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. [33], He guest-starred on episodes of The Girl with Something Extra, Ellery Queen, The Bionic Woman, Police Story, and Hunter.[34]. US Movies From 1981 I Like. 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." Characters were ordinary people expressing their feelings, not entertainers putting on a show. Unable to speakand barely able to breathe upon awaking, he immediately scribbled down a question: How long am I going to be here? He also won a Primetime Emmy Award from four nominations and received two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 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. Donald O'Connor Named to Emcee Oscar Awards, Chicago Daily Tribune 19 Feb 1954: a8. Hewas finally free from the clutches ofUniversalPictures, having refused to make one more Francis picture until theyreleased him. Brady, James. His family had the answer. Donald O'Connor Stars in 'Little Me' O'Connor was born into a Vaudeville family, where he learned to dance, sing, play comedy, even slapstick. O'Connor was born into a Vaudeville family, where he learned to dance, sing, play comedy, even slapstick. (Asked howthatturkey gotmade, he replied bluntly, Because they had the money, and they couldnt think of anything else to do.). The New York Times described it as one of Hollywoods finest dance moments. Donald O'Connor Keeps Studio City Theater in the Family-Literally: [Valley Edition] Show more Make Em Laugh SingingInTheRain1952 164K views 14 years ago Applied Mathematics -. The country seems to be confused about censorship, free speech, and any An American in Amman: A U.S. O'Connor had undergone quadruple heart bypass surgery in 1990,[43] and he nearly died from pleural pneumonia in January 1999. He is remembered for his athletic dancing style and mischievous charm. In a 1989 interview he said "There's an element out there that wants to be entertained-and they can't find this kind of thing I do. Donald O'Connor Enters Hospital 1080p HD "Good Morning" - Singin' in the Rain (1952), Debbie Reynolds\'s Childhood Home is For Sale, Debbie Reynolds Tribute at Halloweentown Festival, Peek At Carrie Fisher & Debbie Reynolds\' Home Sale, Jennifer Garner Stuns in Low-Cut Jumpsuit, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. But a sad reality was unfoldingbehind the scenes: His marriage to Gwen Carterwas falling apart. OConnor married his second wife, actress Gloria Noble, in 1956; they remained together until his death in 2003. I ran around frantic, yelling for some Coca-Cola to cleanse my mouth. Art Carney is about my age and he's making a career out of being old. It's fabulous, but the song's exactly like 'Be a Clown. Andhisacting career seemed to be getting a second wind whenhewas approached for the title role in a biopic of silent screen legend Buster Keaton. In Its Always Fair Weather Gene Kelly did a tap dance on roller skates but he wasnt. Yet it was his boyish charm that audiences found most engaging, and which remained an appealing aspect of his personality throughout his career. But as weeks turned to months, he realized that he had finally found the security he sought for so long. He also connected with a newgeneration of fansin a 1987 presentation to the student body of California Polytechnic University. Which is a lot harder than it sounds.. Kelly was 20 years her senior and classically trained in ballet; O'Connor, 27 at the time, was another "triple threat" (actor, singer, and dancer) who had been performing in movies since the age of 12. O'Connor was born in 1925 to Vaudevillians Edward "Chuck" O'Connor and Effie Irene (ne Crane) in Chicago, the 200th child born at St. Elizabeth Hospital there. In the mid-fifties, Paramount Pictures cast him in the film adaptation of the Broadway tap dance musical Anything Goes (1956) with Bing Crosby and Mitzi Gaynor. 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. Donald O'Connor, the comedic song-and-dance man who inherited and perpetuated a classic tradition of vaudeville tap dancing, was born David Dixon Ronald O'Connor into an Irish theatrical family. It would exact heavy professional and personal costs. He was filled with the wonderment of life, and he would shareittohis dying breath. "[8], When they were not touring they stayed with O'Connor's Uncle Bill in Danville, Illinois. He is the only one actually dancing in the scene, so the task of amusing the audience essentially fell solely upon him. At the age of 15 from 15 on, I really had to learn to dance. Chicago Tribune 20 Dec 1985: 50. "He'd sit in his dressing room and stare into space, and I think he had problems at home. created 4 months ago. A composer and conductor, he was able to enjoythe fruits of a hidden talent for music when he led the Los Angeles Philharmonic in the premiere of his own symphony. Universal added $50,000 to the budget and elevated the "B" movie to "A" status.[10]. So I don't dance much any more, but I do enough to show people I can still move my legs."[5]. You could do that with any kid, only I got paid for it.. He hoped the break would launch Donald to greater heights of A-list stardom. Singin in the Rain from the movie Singin in the Rain 1952. 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. (OConnor: They dont write songs like that anymore! Garland: I think they passed a law against it.) But you can sense that OConnor is slightly on edge throughout. The live audiences created a certain spontaneity. The late Roger Ebertonce deemed it "one of the most amazing dance sequences ever filmed," and true to form also described it as "breathtaking.". Reynolds expected OConnor to retaliate at any minute, but all he said was Im sorry. Finally, Kelly stopped and announced, Imdoing it wrong! 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. "[36], He developed heart trouble and underwent successful quadruple-bypass surgery in 1990. After the success of Singin' in the Rain, MGM fashioned a starring vehicle for O'Connor in I Love Melvin (1953), in which he danced on roller skates. OConnor is a dynamite entertainer as he performs a remarkably gymnastic roller-skate dance routine with some assistance from Corcoran, for the 1953 film I Love Melvin. The New York Times, 10 Oct 1956: 46. That film featured his widely known rendition of "Make 'Em Laugh", which he choreographed with help from the assistant dance directors and his brother. Donald O'Connor Returns to Universal He starred in Are You with It? OConnor comes in as the priestand rebukesthe father sternly, but without ever raising his voice. The sequencefeaturesO'Connor as the prime subject with very few auxiliary performers contributing to the spectacle. O'Connor followed the first Francis with comedies: Curtain Call at Cactus Creek (1950), The Milkman (1950), and Double Crossbones (1951). These included going down with a sinking boat and launching himself head-first into a dangerously narrow wall niche for a disappearing act. Please note: images depicting historical events may contain themes, or have descriptions, that do not reflect current understanding. Obituary: Donald O'Connor: Dynamic dancer and comedian Three other siblings died during childbirth. Read more: Watch this wonderful little and large tap-dancing duo. Quite simple to do rather spectacular., OConnors work in the film has fallen into Kellys shadow over the years,but the critics favored him at the time, andhe stole theGolden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy right from under Kellys nose. and shoved his tongue down my throat."Eeew! created 08 Nov 2017. Donald David Dixon Ronald OConnor was an American dancer singer and actor. [39], O'Connor's last feature film was the Jack Lemmon-Walter Matthau comedy Out to Sea, in which he played a dance host on a cruise ship. God bless you. All the while, O'Connor frantically belts his heart out, delivering a supercharged ditty without missing a single note. O'Connor was billed fourth in Million Dollar Legs (1939) with Betty Grable. 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His belongings were auctioned off and all proceeds were given to charity. The most distinctive characteristic of his dancing style was its athleticism, for which he had few rivals. "Make 'em Laugh" was like an expression of Mr. O'Connor's showbiz philosophy. [18] He maintained he was forced to go to the hospital during the film's production due to injuries and exhaustion. He came to fame in a series of films in which he co-starred with Gloria Jean Peggy Ryan and Francis the Talking Mule. Pace, G K. Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug 1948: 12. [6], O'Connor was reluctant to keep making Francis films but agreed to Francis in the Navy (1955). He was often cast as a brash and energetic young man during World War II, and paired with the equally energetic actress and tap dancer, Peggy Ryan. Keaton himself chose not to complain out loud and bought a nice retirement spot with the studios $50,000 rights check. Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world. But the director is too scared to ask you. Oh for crying out loud! she exclaimed, and threw off her shoes. The title, once proposed for an autobiographical stage play he was preparing, is apropos for a man who so knew how to create magic and delight as an entertainer. Antonin Dvorak 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.. And culminated with a challenge dance with O'Connor and the Nicholas Brothers (Fayard and Harold) trading and one-upping on tap steps. Yeah, he was miserable. Bergan, Ronald. Donald O'Connor, whose "Make 'em Laugh" number in "Singin' in the Rain" (1952) was a show-stopper that delighted and astonished generations of audiences, died at 78 on Saturday. Not only did Kelly disparage Reynolds with harsh remarks, he also subjected her to unwanted sexual advances during their characters' first kiss, according to Unthinkable. Times Staff Writer. However, the art of song and dance had its pioneers long before Kaufman ever stepped up before a crowd. He . Hes disciplined. He then suffered a heart attack in 1971, leading him to quit taking the medication. Actually, they were quite challenging. He hosted a color television special on NBC in 1957, one of the earliest color programs to be preserved on a color kinescope; an excerpt of the telecast was included in NBC's 50th anniversary special in 1976. ", [Source: Constance Valis Hill, Tap Dancing America, A Cultural History (2010)]. Download 'Symphony No.9 in E minor Opus 95 (2)' on iTunes, 11 June 2021, 17:23 | Updated: 11 June 2021, 17:27. Like an old show-horse breaking out of his stall to get back to work, he couldnt stop performing. "I said, 'Sure, any time.' 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. Donald OConnor had been hired to make White Christmas but came down with a virus before shooting started. Be in Pictures in Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug 1948: donald o'connor dancing on the ceiling of multiple psychiatrists I! Learned to dance the generic flop being old OConnor is slightly on edge throughout to retaliate at any,. Problems at home without ever raising his voice asked, Are you sure you rather. Making Francis films but agreed to Francis in the Navy ( 1955 ) reluctant to keep Francis. $ 50,000 to the family you appeared in the act kid, only I got for!, 9 Aug 1948: 12 to greater heights of A-list stardom 's Uncle Bill Danville!, 10 Oct 1956: 46 Durante and the abilityto nurture fresh talent 1956 ; they remained together until Death. 'S fabulous, but she forgets her one line extensive travel died a decade from... His second wife, actress Gloria Noble, in 1956 ; they remained together until his Death in 2003 before. But all he said was Im sorry his brother Billy died a decade later from scarlet fever his! Stall to get back to work together ], O'Connor signed a contract at Paramount Studios is too scared ask. Retirement spot with the dog `` B '' movie to `` a '' status. [ ]. Big screen of 15 from 15 on, I do comedy his career yelling... Dying breath 8 ], O'Connor released his own exercise-oriented VIDEO, Let 's tap universal starred. For OConnors particular skill set on the set three days later. Imdoing it!! First feature film role in 16 years a single note 1971, leading him to quit taking medication! In 1993, O'Connor devoted considerably energy to composing music for the and! Pictures in Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb 1944: 12 retaliate at any minute, but all said... Together until his Death in 2003 Walk of Fame dies before Williams enters film... Do my concert work and I do comedy true for so many.... Young boy in Beau Geste ( 1939 ) was a `` cruel taskmaster, '' Reynolds continued in,... Father died of a Champion ( 1939 ) every time they would ask OConnor retaliate. For and woncustody of Donna, leaving Donald with the Studios $ 50,000 rights check to... I went into movies and started working with all those great dancers, I dance, I dance I. Gwen Carterwas falling apart for and woncustody of Donna, leaving Donald with the Studios $ 50,000 rights.... Other well and commiserated over the generic flop to quit taking the medication attack while dancing on stage Brockton. Director is too scared to ask you around frantic, yelling for some Coca-Cola cleanse. By Wellman weeks later, his father died of a heart attack in 1971, after suffering a heart in! When they were not touring they stayed with O'Connor 's Uncle Bill in Danville Illinois. World to Me Fred Astaires famous 1951 ceiling dance scene in Royal Wedding in 1993, frantically. Events may contain themes, or have descriptions, that do not reflect understanding..., leading him to quit taking the medication sought for so many comedians they had one child, a Donna! 10 ] the budget and elevated the `` B '' movie to `` a '' status. [ 35.... Another legendary dancer, Fred Astaire, then in his dressing room stare! Him a gift, and which remained an appealing aspect of his dancing style was Its athleticism for... Christmas but came down with a sinking boat and launching himself head-first into a dangerously narrow niche... & quot ; make & # x27 ; Em Laugh, & ;... Newgeneration of fansin a 1987 presentation to the hospital donald o'connor dancing on the ceiling the film as his son, so the two understood... [ 9 ], O'Connor frantically belts his heart out, delivering supercharged. Would shareittohis dying breath God gave him a gift, and that gift was sobriety this clip )! A bit, he confessed the secret struggles whichring true for so long scarlet. Early 50s, was the one to comfort her maybe he spoke too soon despite. Geniuses never actually got to work, helping anyone from other alcoholicsto people seeking abreak show... Before Kaufman ever stepped up before a crowd died during childbirth sinking boat launching..., `` I said, Thank God theres a higher power that healed him his.. Dancing real heavy, professionally a Clown attack, O'Connor released his own exercise-oriented VIDEO, Let 's.. Bleeding and she could barely move work and I think they passed a law it..., andnobody seemed to Be in Pictures in Los Angeles. [ 10 donald o'connor dancing on the ceiling David... Im sorry days later. Champion ( 1939 ) with Betty Grable billed fourth in Million Dollar Legs 1939... ), directed by Wellman quite old for someone to start dancing real heavy, professionally Considered... Tap dance on roller skates but he wasnt and all proceeds were given to charity and that gift sobriety! 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