The Gay Divorcee (1934) - Turner Classic Movi

Contents:

• WAS FRED ASTAIRE GAY? GET TO KNOW THE TTH ABOUT ASTAIRE’S SEXUAILY!
• WAS FRED ASTAIRE GAY? UNRAVELG THE TTH BEHD THE SPECULATN
• WAS FRED ASTAIRE A GAY? EVERYTHG ABOUT ‘THE GAY DIVORCEE’ ACTOR
• THE GAY DIVORCEE
• FRED {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}FRED ASTAIRE WAS AN AMERIN DANCER OF STAGE AND FILM WHO IS BT KNOWN FOR A NUMBER OF SUCCSFUL MIL EDY FILMS WHICH HE STARRED WH GGER {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: JUL 24, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1899-1987){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO WAS FRED ASTAIRE?FRED ASTAIRE IS REGARD BY MANY AS THE GREATT POPULAR MIC DANCER OF ALL TIME. ASTAIRE IS UALLY REMEMBERED FOR HIS PAIRGS WH GGER ROGERS, WHO STARRED SEVERAL FILMS WH HIM, CLUDG SWG TIME (1936).EARLY YEARSLIGHT ON HIS FEET, FRED ASTAIRE REVOLUTNIZED THE MOVIE MIL WH HIS ELEGANT AND SEEMGLY EFFORTLS DANCE STYLE. HE MAY HAVE MA DANCG LOOK EASY, BUT HE WAS A WELL-KNOWN PERFECTNIST, AND HIS WORK WAS THE PRODUCT OF ENDLS HOURS OF PRACTICE. ASTAIRE STARTED PERFORMG AS A CHILD, PARTNERG UP WH HIS OLR SISTER ALE. THE TWO TOURED THE VVILLE CIRCU BEFORE MAKG TO BROADWAY 1917. AMONG THEIR MANY PRODUCTNS THE BROTHER-SISTER TEAM STARRED THE 1927 GEE AND IRA GERSHW MIL FUNNY FACE. FOR ALL HIS EARLY SUCCS, THOUGH, REER THE MOVI ELUD ASTAIRE. HE HAD DONE A SCREEN TT, BUT HE FAILED TO ATTRACT ANY TERT. A STUD EXECUTIVE WROTE AT THE TIME, "CAN'T SG. CAN'T ACT. SLIGHTLY BALDG. CAN DANCE A LTLE." IN 1932, ASTAIRE SUFFERED A REER SETBACK. HIS SISTER ALE RETIRED OM THE ACT TO MARRY A BRISH ARISTOCRAT. HE FLOUNRED A B PROFSNALLY WHOUT HIS UAL PARTNER, BUT THEN CID TO GO TO HOLLYWOOD TO TRY ONCE MORE TO BREAK TO FILM.FILM CAREERFALLY, ASTAIRE LAND A SMALL ROLE 1933'S DANCG LADY WH {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}JOAN CRAWFORD. THE ROLE OPENED THE DOOR TO NEW OPPORTUNI, AND ASTAIRE SIGNED A NTRACT WH RKO RAD PICTUR. HE WAS MATCHED UP WH ANOTHER BROADWAY TALENT, GGER ROGERS, FOR FLYG DOWN TO R, ALSO 1933. CAST AS SUPPORTG PLAYERS, THEIR DANCE NUMBER STOLE THE MOVIE. ASTAIRE AND ROGERS APPEARED SEVERAL MORE FILMS TOGETHER, CLUDG THE GAY DIVORCEE (1934) AND TOP HAT (1935). THE DUO BEME FILM'S MOST BELOVED DANCE TEAM. THEIR ROUT FEATURED A HYBRID OF STYL—BORROWG ELEMENTS OM TAP, BALLROOM AND EVEN BALLET. KATHARE HEPBURN ONCE SCRIBED WHAT EACH OF THEM BROUGHT THEIR SUCCSFUL PARTNERSHIP: "FRED GAVE GGER CLASS, AND GGER GAVE FRED SEX." OFF-SCREEN, ASTAIRE WAS KNOWN FOR HIS RELENTLS PURSU OF PERFECTN. HE THOUGHT NOTHG OF REHEARSG A SCENE FOR DAYS, AND ROGERS EVENTUALLY TIRED OF THE GELG SCHLE. THE PAIR WENT THEIR SEPARATE WAYS AFTER 1939'S THE STORY OF VERNON AND IRENE CASTLE. YEARS LATER, THEY RNED ONCE MORE FOR 1949'S THE BARKLEYS OF BROADWAY. AFTER THE SPL WH ROGERS 1939, ASTAIRE PERFORMED WH SUCH LEADG LADI AS RA HAYWORTH, CYD CHARISSE, JUDY GARLAND, LLIE CARON AND AUDREY HEPBURN. SOME OF HIS MOST FAMO MILS OM HIS LATER REER CLU EASTER PARA WH GARLAND AND FUNNY FACE WH HEPBURN.LATER YEARS AND DEATHAS HIS MOVIE ROL TAPERED OFF, ASTAIRE WORKED MORE TELEVISN. HE OFTEN APPEARED AS HIMSELF FOR SPECIAL TRIBUTE SHOWS. ASTAIRE HAD A GROWG TERT DRAMATIC PARTS, WORKG ON SUCH SERI AS DR. KILDARE. HE ALSO WORKED WH ANOTHER LEGENDARY DANCER, GENE KELLY, ON THE DOCUMENTARY THAT'S ENTERTAMENT, WHICH EXPLORED THE GOLN ERA OF THE MOVIE MIL. AROUND THIS TIME, ASTAIRE RECEIVED HIS ONLY AMY AWARD NOMATN FOR HIS SUPPORTG ROLE THE 1974 DISASTER FILM THE TOWERG INFERNO. HE ALSO WON AN EMMY AWARD FOR HIS WORK ON THE TELEVISN SPECIAL A FAY UPSI DOWN 1978. MORE ACLAS SOON FOLLOWED. ASTAIRE RECEIVED A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD OM THE AMERIN FILM INSTUTE 1981. A FEW YEARS LATER, ASTAIRE WAS HOSPALIZED FOR PNMONIA. HE DIED ON JUNE 22, 1987, LOS ANGEL, CALIFORNIA. WH HIS PASSG, HOLLYWOOD HAD LOST ONE OF S GREATT TALENTS. FORMER ACTOR AND PRINT RONALD REAGAN, UPON LEARNG THE NEWS, LLED ASTAIRE "AN AMERIN LEGEND" AND "THE ULTIMATE DANCER." ROGERS SAID ASTAIRE "WAS THE BT PARTNER ANYONE ULD EVER HAVE."PERSONAL LIFE AND WIFEOFF-SCREEN, ASTAIRE WAS MORE SUAL THAN HIS UPPER-CST CHARACTERS. HE WAS VOTED TO HIS FAY. ASTAIRE AND HIS FIRST WIFE, SOCIALE PHYLLIS BAKER POTTER, MARRIED 1933 AND HAD TWO CHILDREN TOGETHER, FRED JR. AND AVA. HE ALSO HELPED RAISE HER SON OM AN EARLIER UNN. FRED AND PHYLLIS REMAED A UPLE UNTIL HER ATH 1954. ASTAIRE SHOCKED IENDS AND FAY WHEN HE REMARRIED 1980. HIS SEND WIFE WAS ROBYN SMH, A FAMO JOCKEY. DPE A MORE THAN 40-YEAR AGE DIFFERENCE, THE PAIR'S MUTUAL TERT HORS AND RACG TURNED TO ROMANCE. AFTER HIS ATH 1987, HIS WIDOW HAS BEEN A FIERCE PROTECTOR OF HIS NAME AND IMAGE. SHE HAS FILED NUMERO LAWSUS TO PREVENT ANY UNTHORIZED OF HIS LIKENS OR NAME. IN 1997, HOWEVER, SHE GRANTED PERMISSN FOR FILM CLIPS OF ASTAIRE TO BE CHANGED AND ED FOR A SERI OF VACUUM CLEANER MERCIALS.VIOSRELATED {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS

WAS FRED ASTAIRE GAY? GET TO KNOW THE TTH ABOUT ASTAIRE’S SEXUAILY!

Was Fred Astaire Gay? Was he heterosexual or gay? Contue readg to disver whether Fred Astaire was homosexual or heterosexual.

Acrdg to one theory, Astaire was homosexual or at the very least bisexual and mataed relatnships wh men throughout his entire existence. This theory is supported by his close relatnships wh several openly homosexual men, his feme personaly, and his cisn to work wh male dancers. There are no nfirmed rerds of his sexual teractns wh men or women outsi of his marriag, and he never intified himself as homosexual, bisexual, or heterosexual.

Many dividuals who knew him well, cludg his fay and associat, have nied claims that he is homosexual or bisexual.

WAS FRED ASTAIRE GAY? UNRAVELG THE TTH BEHD THE SPECULATN

For stance, he was mored to have had timate relatnships wh openly gay mal such as choreographer Jack Cole and fashn signer Orry-Kelly. Several of his performanc, such as his famo duet wh Gene Kelly the film Ziegfeld Folli, have also been terpreted as havg homosexual them.

Read More: Is Neil Patrick Gay? It is also nceivable that he was straight but had close relatnships wh homosexual men bee he preferred to work wh men as a choreographer.

WAS FRED ASTAIRE A GAY? EVERYTHG ABOUT ‘THE GAY DIVORCEE’ ACTOR

Mt Read: Was Chuck Connors Gay?

THE GAY DIVORCEE

Public mand pelled RKO to feature the pair a classic seri of starrg vehicl throughout the 1930s, wh The Gay Divorcee (1934), Top Hat (1935), and Swg Time (1936) often ced as the bt of the lot.

FRED {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}FRED ASTAIRE WAS AN AMERIN DANCER OF STAGE AND FILM WHO IS BT KNOWN FOR A NUMBER OF SUCCSFUL MIL EDY FILMS WHICH HE STARRED WH GGER {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: JUL 24, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1899-1987){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO WAS FRED ASTAIRE?FRED ASTAIRE IS REGARD BY MANY AS THE GREATT POPULAR MIC DANCER OF ALL TIME. ASTAIRE IS UALLY REMEMBERED FOR HIS PAIRGS WH GGER ROGERS, WHO STARRED SEVERAL FILMS WH HIM, CLUDG SWG TIME (1936).EARLY YEARSLIGHT ON HIS FEET, FRED ASTAIRE REVOLUTNIZED THE MOVIE MIL WH HIS ELEGANT AND SEEMGLY EFFORTLS DANCE STYLE. HE MAY HAVE MA DANCG LOOK EASY, BUT HE WAS A WELL-KNOWN PERFECTNIST, AND HIS WORK WAS THE PRODUCT OF ENDLS HOURS OF PRACTICE. ASTAIRE STARTED PERFORMG AS A CHILD, PARTNERG UP WH HIS OLR SISTER ALE. THE TWO TOURED THE VVILLE CIRCU BEFORE MAKG TO BROADWAY 1917. AMONG THEIR MANY PRODUCTNS THE BROTHER-SISTER TEAM STARRED THE 1927 GEE AND IRA GERSHW MIL FUNNY FACE. FOR ALL HIS EARLY SUCCS, THOUGH, REER THE MOVI ELUD ASTAIRE. HE HAD DONE A SCREEN TT, BUT HE FAILED TO ATTRACT ANY TERT. A STUD EXECUTIVE WROTE AT THE TIME, "CAN'T SG. CAN'T ACT. SLIGHTLY BALDG. CAN DANCE A LTLE." IN 1932, ASTAIRE SUFFERED A REER SETBACK. HIS SISTER ALE RETIRED OM THE ACT TO MARRY A BRISH ARISTOCRAT. HE FLOUNRED A B PROFSNALLY WHOUT HIS UAL PARTNER, BUT THEN CID TO GO TO HOLLYWOOD TO TRY ONCE MORE TO BREAK TO FILM.FILM CAREERFALLY, ASTAIRE LAND A SMALL ROLE 1933'S DANCG LADY WH {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}JOAN CRAWFORD. THE ROLE OPENED THE DOOR TO NEW OPPORTUNI, AND ASTAIRE SIGNED A NTRACT WH RKO RAD PICTUR. HE WAS MATCHED UP WH ANOTHER BROADWAY TALENT, GGER ROGERS, FOR FLYG DOWN TO R, ALSO 1933. CAST AS SUPPORTG PLAYERS, THEIR DANCE NUMBER STOLE THE MOVIE. ASTAIRE AND ROGERS APPEARED SEVERAL MORE FILMS TOGETHER, CLUDG THE GAY DIVORCEE (1934) AND TOP HAT (1935). THE DUO BEME FILM'S MOST BELOVED DANCE TEAM. THEIR ROUT FEATURED A HYBRID OF STYL—BORROWG ELEMENTS OM TAP, BALLROOM AND EVEN BALLET. KATHARE HEPBURN ONCE SCRIBED WHAT EACH OF THEM BROUGHT THEIR SUCCSFUL PARTNERSHIP: "FRED GAVE GGER CLASS, AND GGER GAVE FRED SEX." OFF-SCREEN, ASTAIRE WAS KNOWN FOR HIS RELENTLS PURSU OF PERFECTN. HE THOUGHT NOTHG OF REHEARSG A SCENE FOR DAYS, AND ROGERS EVENTUALLY TIRED OF THE GELG SCHLE. THE PAIR WENT THEIR SEPARATE WAYS AFTER 1939'S THE STORY OF VERNON AND IRENE CASTLE. YEARS LATER, THEY RNED ONCE MORE FOR 1949'S THE BARKLEYS OF BROADWAY. AFTER THE SPL WH ROGERS 1939, ASTAIRE PERFORMED WH SUCH LEADG LADI AS RA HAYWORTH, CYD CHARISSE, JUDY GARLAND, LLIE CARON AND AUDREY HEPBURN. SOME OF HIS MOST FAMO MILS OM HIS LATER REER CLU EASTER PARA WH GARLAND AND FUNNY FACE WH HEPBURN.LATER YEARS AND DEATHAS HIS MOVIE ROL TAPERED OFF, ASTAIRE WORKED MORE TELEVISN. HE OFTEN APPEARED AS HIMSELF FOR SPECIAL TRIBUTE SHOWS. ASTAIRE HAD A GROWG TERT DRAMATIC PARTS, WORKG ON SUCH SERI AS DR. KILDARE. HE ALSO WORKED WH ANOTHER LEGENDARY DANCER, GENE KELLY, ON THE DOCUMENTARY THAT'S ENTERTAMENT, WHICH EXPLORED THE GOLN ERA OF THE MOVIE MIL. AROUND THIS TIME, ASTAIRE RECEIVED HIS ONLY AMY AWARD NOMATN FOR HIS SUPPORTG ROLE THE 1974 DISASTER FILM THE TOWERG INFERNO. HE ALSO WON AN EMMY AWARD FOR HIS WORK ON THE TELEVISN SPECIAL A FAY UPSI DOWN 1978. MORE ACLAS SOON FOLLOWED. ASTAIRE RECEIVED A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD OM THE AMERIN FILM INSTUTE 1981. A FEW YEARS LATER, ASTAIRE WAS HOSPALIZED FOR PNMONIA. HE DIED ON JUNE 22, 1987, LOS ANGEL, CALIFORNIA. WH HIS PASSG, HOLLYWOOD HAD LOST ONE OF S GREATT TALENTS. FORMER ACTOR AND PRINT RONALD REAGAN, UPON LEARNG THE NEWS, LLED ASTAIRE "AN AMERIN LEGEND" AND "THE ULTIMATE DANCER." ROGERS SAID ASTAIRE "WAS THE BT PARTNER ANYONE ULD EVER HAVE."PERSONAL LIFE AND WIFEOFF-SCREEN, ASTAIRE WAS MORE SUAL THAN HIS UPPER-CST CHARACTERS. HE WAS VOTED TO HIS FAY. ASTAIRE AND HIS FIRST WIFE, SOCIALE PHYLLIS BAKER POTTER, MARRIED 1933 AND HAD TWO CHILDREN TOGETHER, FRED JR. AND AVA. HE ALSO HELPED RAISE HER SON OM AN EARLIER UNN. FRED AND PHYLLIS REMAED A UPLE UNTIL HER ATH 1954. ASTAIRE SHOCKED IENDS AND FAY WHEN HE REMARRIED 1980. HIS SEND WIFE WAS ROBYN SMH, A FAMO JOCKEY. DPE A MORE THAN 40-YEAR AGE DIFFERENCE, THE PAIR'S MUTUAL TERT HORS AND RACG TURNED TO ROMANCE. AFTER HIS ATH 1987, HIS WIDOW HAS BEEN A FIERCE PROTECTOR OF HIS NAME AND IMAGE. SHE HAS FILED NUMERO LAWSUS TO PREVENT ANY UNTHORIZED OF HIS LIKENS OR NAME. IN 1997, HOWEVER, SHE GRANTED PERMISSN FOR FILM CLIPS OF ASTAIRE TO BE CHANGED AND ED FOR A SERI OF VACUUM CLEANER MERCIALS.VIOSRELATED {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS

Fred Astaire’s close iendships wh gay men and his numero workg partnerships wh male dancers have led to persistent speculatn regardg his sexualy. Was he gay, then? Fred Astaire’s sexualy has been the topic of much speculatn; some have even hypothized that he was gay or bisexual.