Gene Kelly Wiki: Eugene Curran Kelly, who went by the stage name Gene Kelly, was an American dancer, actor, singer, director, and choreographer. He is best known for his groundbreaking work in musical films. He was born on August 23, 1912, in the Pittsburgh area of East Liberty, where he grew up.
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He was the third son of a photographer seller named James Patrick Joseph Kelly and his wife, Harriet Catherine Curran. He was known for his energetic and athletic style of dancing, and he wanted to make dance more available to everyone. Kelly also created a new American dance called “Dance for the common man,” which helped him become well-known.
Gene Kelly’s youth dream was to play shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team from his hometown. But when he was 15, even though he didn’t want to take dance classes, he started to love it. He went to college and studied economics at the University of Pittsburgh, where he was also a member of the Theta Kappa Phi society. He studied law briefly but ultimately became a dance teacher and performer.
Gene Kelly Wiki/Bio
| Gene Kelly Wiki and Biography | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Eugene Curran Kelly |
| Date of Birth | August 23, 1912 |
| Date of Death | February 2, 1996 |
| Place of Birth | East Liberty, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Parents | James Patrick Joseph Kelly (father), Harriet Catherine Curran (mother) |
| Siblings | James Kelly (brother) |
| Childhood Dream | To play shortstop for Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Education | St. Raphael Elementary School, Peabody High School, Pennsylvania State College, University of Pittsburgh (Economics) |
| Fraternity | Theta Kappa Phi (now known as Phi Kappa Theta) |
| Profession | Dancer, actor, singer, director, choreographer |
| Spouse | Betsy Blair (m. 1941-1957), Jeanne Coyne (m. 1960-1973), Patricia Ward (m. 1990-1996) |
| Children | Kerry Kelly (daughter), Bridget Kelly (daughter), Timothy Kelly (son) |
Gene Kelly Height, Weight, and More
Gene Kelly had a fit body and was known for his athletic style of dancing. He is precisely 1.70 meters (5 feet 7 inches) tall and weighs about 77 kg (170 lbs). His unique, athletic build made him stand out in the dance world and significantly impacted his individual, energetic dance routines. Kelly looked good on the big screen because he had dark hair, a strong head, and deep-set eyes.
Kelly was always in excellent health despite the physical demands of his job. This was due to his busy lifestyle and love of sports. He liked baseball and often played it when he had free time.
| Gene Kelly Height, Weight, and More | Details |
|---|---|
| Height | 1.70 m (5 feet 7 inches) |
| Weight | 77 kg (170 lbs) |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Build | Athletic |
| Favorite Sport | Baseball |
| Health Status | Excellent (up until his later years) |
Gene Kelly Career Information
Gene Kelly had a very successful career in the show business. His first movie was “For Me and My Gal,” which he made with Judy Garland in 1942. He went on to star in, choreograph, and co-direct some of the most famous musical movies of the 1940s and 1950s, such as “An American in Paris” (1951), “Singin’ in the Rain” (1952), “Cover Girl” (1944), and “Anchors Aweigh” (1945).
Together with Stanley Donen, he directed his first movie, “On the Town,” in 1949. Even though musicals were becoming less prevalent in the late 1950s, Kelly kept working in this genre, appearing in “Brigadoon” in 1954 and “It’s Always Fair Weather” in 1955. “Invitation to the Dance,” his first movie as a director on his own, came out in 1956.
In the 1960s, Kelly started directing movies, such as “A Guide for the Married Man” in 1967 and “Hello, Dolly!” in 1969, which was nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture. He also hosted and was in shows like “That’s Entertainment!” and “That’s Dancing!” which put together collections of entertainment clips. He won a lot of awards for his work throughout his life. In 1952, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gave him an Honorary Award. In 1982, the Kennedy Center Honors, the Screen Actors Guild, and the American Film Institute also gave him awards for his work.
| Gene Kelly Career Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Film Debut | For Me and My Gal (1942) |
| Directorial Debut | On the Town (1949) |
| Notable Films | An American in Paris (1951), Singin’ in the Rain (1952), Cover Girl (1944), Anchors Aweigh (1945) |
| Directorial Achievements | A Guide for the Married Man (1967), Hello, Dolly! (1969) |
| TV Appearances | That’s Entertainment! Series, That’s Dancing! |
| Awards | Academy Honorary Award (1952), Kennedy Center Honors (1982), Lifetime Achievement awards from the Screen Actors Guild and American Film Institute |
Gene Kelly Net Worth Information
Even though we don’t know the exact numbers, it’s clear that Gene Kelly made a lot of money during his time. He made most of his money from his job as an actor, dancer, director, and choreographer in movies.
But he also made money from the dance school he ran with his family in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Because of his skill and success, he made a lot of money and will always be remembered as one of the best actors in Hollywood’s history.
| Gene Kelly Net Worth Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary Source of Income | Acting, dancing, directing, choreographing |
| Secondary Source of Income | Dance Studio in Pittsburgh |
| Estimated Net Worth at the time of death | $10 million (approximate) |
| Properties | Home in Beverly Hills, California |
| Lifestyle | Affluent |
| Legacy | One of the greatest performers in Hollywood |
10 Interesting Facts About Gene Kelly
- Gene Kelly was a late bloomer when it came to dancing: Though his mother enrolled him and his brother in dance classes when they were eight, Gene did not take to it initially. It wasn’t until he was 15 that he began to appreciate dance and its potential.
- He initially pursued a degree in journalism: Before his dance career took off, Kelly was enrolled as a journalism major at the Pennsylvania State College. However, after the crash of 1929, he left school to help his family financially.
- Kelly was an accomplished athlete: Before becoming a renowned dancer and actor, Kelly was an adept sportsman, even dreaming of playing shortstop for the hometown Pittsburgh Pirates.
- Kelly choreographed his first ballet at a Synagogue: In 1931, the Beth Shalom Synagogue in Pittsburgh approached Kelly to teach dance and stage their annual Kermesse, which he did successfully for seven years.
- Kelly and his family owned a dance studio: The Kelly family owned a dance studio in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, which they renamed the Gene Kelly Studio of the Dance in 1932.
- He was a performer, director, and choreographer. Besides his performances, Kelly directed and choreographed many films, including the famous musical “Singin’ in the Rain.”
- Kelly received an Academy Honorary Award: In 1952, Kelly was recognized by the Academy for his career achievements. The same year, his film “An American in Paris” won six Academy Awards.
- He made the ballet form commercially acceptable: Kelly is credited with almost single-handedly making the ballet form commercially acceptable to film audiences.
- He played a critical role in transforming the Hollywood musical: His many innovations, including his unique energetic and athletic dancing style, profoundly impacted the Hollywood musical genre.
- He was ranked the 15th greatest male screen legend: In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Kelly as the 15th greatest male screen legend of Classic Hollywood Cinema.
Conclusion
Gene Kelly was a talented man with many skills. His accomplishments to dance, music, and movies are unmatched. Because he was both athletic and artistic, he was able to change the way Hollywood musicals were made and bring dance to a broader audience.
Kelly came from a low-income family and became one of the most famous people in American movies. Even today, his lasting impact inspires performers and filmmakers and reminds us that it’s possible to change an entire art form with passion and persistence.
