The King of the Ballroom
FRED ASTAIRE

Real Name: Frederick Austerlitz

Date of Birth: May 10, 1899

Claim(s) to Fame:
 

• Male counterpart of the most famous dance team in history, Astaire and Rogers,
• His famous first interview with a movie studio resulted on an impression like this: "Can't act. Can't sing. Balding. Can dance a little.". Boy, did he show them!
• Best friend of the great Irving Berlin.
• Was nominated for an Academy Award® for his performance in "The Towering Inferno" (1974).
• He danced on the ceiling. . . .
• Retired in 1946 but was persuaded out of it by a petition of over 10,000 names.

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LINKS:

 Classic Movies
 Elizabeth's Fred Astaire Page
 Fred Astaire at the IMDb