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Fred Astaire glided his way into [Hollywood](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-hollywood-film-industry) history with a finesse that defined dance on [film](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-movie-film). This icon was born on May 10, 1899, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Johanna (Geilus) and Fritz Austerlitz, who brewed beer for a living. His [sister](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-sister), Adele Astaire, was also a notable figure in the [entertainment](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-entertainment) world. Astaire's legacy is a tapestry of dazzling performances that forever elevated the art of dance in [cinema](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-cinema). ## Early Life and Career Astaire's journey began in the heartland of America, where he stepped into the spotlight at just 5 years old. He grew up in a [family](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-family) immersed in the rhythms of [showbiz](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-show-business), which no doubt influenced his [career](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-career) trajectory. Education took a backseat as he honed his craft, and the [stage](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-stage) became his learning ground. His break into professional [acting](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-acting) came with a role in "Dancing Lady" (1933). It was the beginning of a legendary career, but it was his pairing with Ginger Rogers that became the gold standard of dance duos, starting with "Flying Down to Rio" in 1933. Astaire's career was studded with awards, including an honorary [Oscar](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-academy-awards) in 1950. Beyond the [silver screen](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-silver-screen), his life had its share of personal beats—he was married twice, fathered two [children](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-children), and navigated the industry with other interests and engagements, all while maintaining a relatively scandal-free persona. Astaire's influence on [Hollywood](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-hollywood-film-industry) is undeniable. He brought a signature style and elegance to the [screen](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-screen-film-industry), making an indelible mark as a true icon of American [cinema](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-cinema). His artistry was not just in his steps, but in the effortless grace with which he presented them, making him stand out in the pantheon of great performers. ## Filmography

Year	Title	Role
1981	Ghost Story	Ricky Hawthorne
1981	The Man in the Santa Claus Suit (TV Movie)	Costume Shop Proprietor
1979	Battlestar Galactica (TV Series)	Chameleon
1979	A Family Upside Down (TV Movie)	Ted Long
1978	The Purple Taxi	Dr. Seamus Scully
1977	The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town (TV Movie)	S.D. Kluger (narrator) (voice)
1977	The Amazing Dobermans	Daniel Hughes
1974	The Towering Inferno	Harlee Claiborne
1970	Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (TV Movie)	Narrator - S.D. Kluger (voice)
1970	The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again (TV Movie)	The Baltimore Kid
1969–1970	It Takes A Thief (TV Series)	Alistair Mundy
1969	Midas Run	John Pedley
1968	Finian's Rainbow	Finian McLonergan
1965	Dr. Kildare (TV Series)	Joe Quinlan
1964	Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (TV Series)	Fred Addams
1962	Alcoa Premiere (TV Series)	Ted Miller
1962	The Notorious Landlady	Franklyn Ambruster
1961	The Pleasure of His Company	Biddeford 'Pogo' Poole
1959	On the Beach	Julian Osborn
1957–1959	General Electric Theater (TV Series)	Paul Ashcroft
1957	Silk Stockings	Steve Canfield
1957	Funny Face	Dick Avery
1955	Daddy Long Legs	Jervis Pendleton III
1953	The Band Wagon	Tony Hunter
1952	The Belle of New York	Charlie Hill
1951	Royal Wedding	Tom Bowen
1950	Let's Dance	Donald Elwood
1950	Three Little Words	Bert Kalmar
1949	The Barkleys of Broadway	Josh Barkley
1948	Easter Parade	Don Hewes
1946	Blue Skies	Jed Potter
1945	Yolanda and the Thief	Johnny Parkson Riggs
1945	Ziegfeld Follies	Fred Astaire ('Here's to the Ladies'), Raffles ('This Heart of Mine'), Tai Long ('Limehouse Blues')
1943	The Sky's the Limit	Fred Atwell aka Fred Burton
1942	You Were Never Lovelier	Robert Davis
1942	Holiday Inn	Ted Hanover
1941	You'll Never Get Rich	Robert Curtis
1940	Second Chorus	Danny O'Neill
1940	Broadway Melody of 1940	Johnny Brett
1939	The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle	Vernon Castle
1938	Carefree	Tony Flagg
1937	A Damsel in Distress	Jerry Halliday
1937	Shall We Dance	Peter P. Peters aka Petrov
1936	Swing Time	Lucky Garnett
1936	Follow the Fleet	Bake Baker
1935	Top Hat	Jerry Travers
1935	Roberta	Huck Haines
1934	The Gay Divorcee	Guy Holden
1933	Flying Down to Rio	Fred Ayres
1933	Dancing Lady	Fred Astaire

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