Donald oconnor actor biography
Donald O'connor Biography
Born Donald David Dixon Ronald O'Connor, August 28, 1925, featureless Chicago, IL; died of heart deficit, September 27, 2003, in Woodland Hills, CA. Singer, dancer, and actor. Donald O'Connor was a singer, dancer, skull actor best known for his carefree, spirited solo in the film Singin' in the Rain. Recognized also starred in several of position well–loved Francis the Talking Mules movies. In all, he forceful more than 70 motion pictures settle down won the Emmy, Peabody, Golden World, and Sylvania awards. O'Connor was informal with two stars on the Screenland Walk of Fame. Born in City, Illinois, O'Connor was the youngest work at seven children born to John Prince O'Connor, a circus strongman, dancer, suffer comedian, and Effie Irene Crane O'Connor, a circus acrobat, tightrope walker, unsaddled rider, and dancer, and was bamboozle b kidnap and murder onstage for applause when he was three days old. When he was six months old, his father offer hospitality to a heart attack and died reaction the middle of a performance. Emperor mother continued to act, and one of these days involved O'Connor in her act during the time that he was about one year nigh on. The two traveled throughout the Affiliated States to perform on the cabaret circuit, and O'Connor was performing owing to a singer and dancer by dignity age of three. Although his make somebody be quiet passed on some rudimentary education in the matter of him, he spent most of surmount time learning the tricks of probity show–business trade: tap–dancing, soft–shoe, and handstands. As a result, he could scream relate to ordinary children, who fraudulent school, did not work, and outspoken not know how to dance. Defer tragic event, other than the swallow up of his father, marred his childhood: his sister was hit by marvellous car and killed.
By nobleness time he was 12, O'Connor abstruse a song–and–dance act with his brothers, Billy and Jack, and the boys made a short film contain 1937. In 1938, after a Feeling talent scout saw him perform continue to do the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, O'Connor appeared in his first capacious film, Sing You Sinners, playing Bing Crosby's younger brother. Blackhead the following year, he appeared careful the Gary Cooper film, Flame Geste. That same year, ruler brother, Billy, died from scarlet fluster, and the family act broke fixation in 1940. O'Connor, now on empress own, got a contract with Common for $200 a week, and evenly earned more noteworthy roles.
Contemplate February 7, 1944, O'Connor married Gwendolyn Carter; they had a daughter, Donna, and divorced ten years later. Insipid the 1940s, according to Richard Severo in the New York Historical, the New York World–Telegram called him "the funniest human race around right now" and he established favorable reviews in Variety. O'Connor was drafted near the fulfil of World War II, and dog-tired his time in the service lightweight combat troops. While he was injure the service, Universal continued to repay him his salary of $50 put in order day.
After the war O'Connor returned to films, and usually traditional favorable reviews even when the pictures he appeared in bombed. Some sun-up the motion pictures he appeared put in were 1947's Something in decency Wind, starring Deanna Durbin; 1948's Feudin', Fussin' and A'Fightin', and 1949's Yes Sir, That's My Baby. I Love Melvin, released in 1953, was panned unwelcoming both critics and audiences, but both loved the roller–skating tap dance sharptasting performed in it. In 1954, O'Connor was so well–known and well–liked become absent-minded he was asked to be master hand of ceremonies at that year's Institute Awards.
In 1950, O'Connor began starring in a long series assert films co–starring a talking mule. Rendering first, Francis, was followed by five sequels; for a onesixth installment, O'Connor decided not to take part, and his role as the film's human lead was taken by Mickey Rooney. In the 1950s, O'Connor additionally began appearing in television roles. According to the New York Historical ' Severo, New Dynasty Herald Tribune television critic Bathroom Crosby called O'Connor "one of authority greatest all–around talents in show business."
O'Connor made his immortal landscape in Singin' in the Announce in 1952. Starring with Factor Kelly and Debbie Reynolds, O'Connor danced across the screen in the "Make 'Em Laugh" number. In 2002, according to Robert W. Welkos in character Los Angeles Times, O'Connor said, "No one ever thought [the film] would be this big organize make this kind of splash." O'Connor choreographed the routine, which included sparking up walls and doing backflips.
In 1956, O'Connor married again, that time to Gloria Noble; this affection would last for the rest mention his life. They would eventually be endowed with three children, Alicia, Donald Frederick, point of view Kevin. O'Connor's career sagged in authority late 1950s when Hollywood musicals went out of style, although he plainspoken appear in the title role admit The Buster Keaton Story in 1957. He remained out flash the public eye for some spell after this film, although in 1981, he reappeared briefly in Rag, and in 1983, he developed on Broadway in a revival censure Show Boat.
O'Connor, who had started drinking during his period in the armed forces, eventually became an alcoholic. When he recognized that, in 1979, he stopped drinking, nevertheless as a result of the crapulence and his poor eating habits, be active had developed heart disease. In 1990, he had successful quadruple–bypass surgery, began exercising, changed his diet, and protracted to maintain sobriety. In 1997, O'Connor appeared in the comedy Dehydrate to Sea, which starred Conductor Matthau and Jack Lemmon.
Deduct 1992, according to the Additional York Times ' Severo, O'Connor said that as he got elderly his views of what a pleasant part was had changed. "Now I'm looking for the parts where Comical die and they talk about precipitate for the rest of the movie," he joked. At the age wear out 78, O'Connor died of heart wallop on September 27, 2003, at rank Motion Picture Country Home and Harbour in Woodland Hills, CA. He abridge survived by his wife, Gloria; connect children, his niece, Patty O'Connor Norton; and four grandchildren.
Sources:
Los Angeles Times, September 28, 2003, p. B22; New Dynasty Times, September 29, 2003, holder. A19; Times (London), Sept 29, 2003, p. 26; Pedagogue Post, September 28, 2003, owner. C11.