orig. Eugene Curran Kelly
born Aug. 23, 1912, Pittsburgh, Pa., U.S.
died Feb. 2, 1996, Beverly Hills, Calif.
U.S. dancer, choreographer, actor, and movie director.
After training at his mother's dance school in Pittsburgh, he moved to New York in 1938 and danced in Broadway musicals, creating the title role in Pal Joey in 1940. Beginning in 1942, his athletic style and carefree acting
exemplified in the popular Anchors Aweigh (1945), On the Town (1949), An American in Paris (1951), and Singin' in the Rain (1952), which he also helped choreograph and direct
became hallmarks of the movie musical. His achievements earned him a special Academy Award in 1951. He later choreographed and directed numerous other movies and created a ballet for the Paris Opéra (1960).