Remembering Fred Astaire: 10 facts about the Hollywood icon

June 22, 2017 - 11:54 BST hellomagazine.com

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Born Frederick Austerlitz in Omaha, Nebraska on May 10, 1899, Fred had a successful Hollywood career, starring in over 31 musicals.

He first put on his dancing shoes at the Chambers Dance Academy before kick starting his professional dancing career with his sister Adele Astaire in 1905. The siblings made it to Broadway in 1917.

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Fred was a family man first. The Hollywood star and his wife Phyllis Potter had two children together, Ava and Fred Jr. The remained married until Phyllis passed away in 1954.

He found love again with jockey Robyn Smith (who was 40 years younger than him) and the couple tied the knot in 1980. Sadly, Fred passed away seven years later.

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In 1946, Fred took a short break from acting to create a chain of successful dancing schools called Fred Astaire Dance Studios. The successful studios are now located all over the world.

In 1947 he returned to the silver screen to make the highly profitable film Easter Parade alongside Judy Garland.

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In addition to being one of his generation's greatest dancers, Fred was a successful composer and singer. Some of his hits include: “Puttin′ On The Ritz,” “Night and Day," “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails” and “Shall We Dance.”

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The star was known to be a perfectionist when it came to his craft and would practice for hours to get his dance routines just right.

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While Fred was known to be a fantastic dancer, fans may be surprised to know that he was also an excellent tennis player. His quick and nimble feet made him a tough opponent to beat. Here he is practising his skills on the court at his Beverly Hills home.

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After appearing in what would become his last musical Finian's Rainbow in 1967, Fred ventured onto the small screen, starring in dramas like Dr. Kildare and appeared as himself in special tribute shows in the 1970s.

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He worked with so many of the greats - Ginger Rogers, Rita Hayworth and Judy Garland, to name a few. During the height of his career he collaborated with the one and only Audrey Hepburn in the 1957 hit musical Funny Face.

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He won five Emmy awards, including one in 1978 for his role in A Family Upside Down. He also received an Oscar nomination in 1974 and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute in 1981.

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The Hollywood legend passed away from pneumonia at the age of 88. Since his death, Fred has always been remembered as one of the Golden Age of Hollywood's biggest and brightest stars.

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