According to reports at the time the couple split, O'Connor was left with only the dog and sought the help of multiple psychiatrists. He did Francis Goes to the Races (1951), another big hit. He said he went on the road "about 32 weeks a year. [9], O'Connor signed a contract at Paramount Studios. ', During dance rehearsals, she once ducked into one of MGM's rehearsal rooms and sat under a piano crying. The live audiences created a certain spontaneity. One fan had a front-row seat and later recalled, There were so many curtain calls, it was unbelievable. For 90 minutes, the full measure of his comic genius is on display, combining inspired innovation with an uncannily accurate reproduction of Keatons technique and mannerisms. [23], He starred in The Donald O'Connor Show (195455) for one season. The New York Times 29 Sep 2003: B.6. But all waskept so private that interviewers would laterexclaim that Donald must have escaped it for them not to hear any of the usual choice details. He didnt plan to stay at first. He would never look back again. He appeared in Men with Wings (1938), directed by William Wellman, as Fred MacMurray's character as a boy. He somehow managed to pull it off, though not without a degree of minor consequence (per IMDb). The father dies before Williams enters the film as his son, so the two geniuses never actually got to work together. [41][42] During the turbulent nine-year marriage, Carter physically abused O'Connor in frustration over her lack of an acting career. Watch in awe as one of the worlds greatest entertainers, Donald OConnor, tap dances on roller skates just because he can. Adding insult to injury, Donald had to play the son of her new lover in the garish monstrosityTheres No Business Like Show Business. Cagney_Seen. Because of a camera flaw where the aperture wasn't properly prepared and the device's lens was covered in fog at one point, Donald O'Connor was made to perform "Make 'Em Laugh" again a day after his first flawless execution of it. At thirteen months old, he began making $25 a week dancing the Black Bottom and faking acrobatic tricks. DONALD O'CONNOR'S MUSICAL JOURNEY KEEPS HIM ON ROAD: [SPORTS FINAL, CN Edition] Despite Keatons credit as a technical advisor, OConnor watched the legends input on his own life storygo in one ear and out the other. So damned dishonest, he would later recall with disgust. [18] He maintained he was forced to go to the hospital during the film's production due to injuries and exhaustion. In 1998 O'Connor signed on for The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies, headlining a revue featuring 54-year-old-plus performers, and signing and dancing his way through eight performances a week. "[citation needed], O'Connor joined a dance act with his mother and elder brother Jack. The letters detail the lives of other patients, particularly a 30-year-old man who was completely immobilized. The OConnor Born in 1925 Donald OConnors life spanned the 20th Century with its depressions wars and social upheavals. Born into a vaudeville family OConnor was the youthful figure cutting a rug in several Universal musicals of the 1940s. Born into a vaudeville family, O'Connor was the youthful figure cutting a rug in several Universal musicals of the 1940s. OConnor still recalled these stunts with pride decades later, even calling up a good friend late one night to offer running phone commentary for a TV showing. Through its pages, they could trace his handwriting, claiming the promises as his own. He instantly picks it up and embraces her with a kiss. "[37], In 1998, he received a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars. This content is imported from youTube. " Make 'Em Laugh " is a song first featured in the 1952 MGM musical film Singin' in the Rain, performed by Donald O'Connor as the character Cosmo Brown. And that's quite old for someone to start dancing real heavy, professionally. His entire first episode from 1952 is happily available on Youtube. He began to spendlong nights playing cards and getting fights at the club. Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists, Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists, Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In February 1951 he signed a new contract with Universal for one film a year for four years, enabling him to work outside the studio. By the end, Reynolds' feet were bleeding and she could barely move. O'Connor never went to school. ", Though it's reported that Reynolds eventually took a perspective of gratitude for everything Kelly had put her through, because it made her a better performer, the exacting director later admitted, "I wasn't very nice to Debbie. "I could do those wings and stuff and I looked very good, but my heavens it was very, very hard for me to pick up on pick up steps. They were billed as the O'Connor Family, the Royal Family of Vaudeville. O'Connor was born into a Vaudeville family, where he learned to dance, sing, play comedy, even slapstick. ARKATOV, JANICE. "I'd rather do something where I go in and work a week, maybe three days. Still appearing in films during the 90s and making public Unfortunately,as thesong-and-dance musical itself faded out of style, this was not to be. . In any case, O'Connor's execution of "Make 'Em Laugh" and overall contribution to "Singin' in the Rain" as a whole distinguished him as one of the greatest physical comedians and performers of the past century. Born into a vaudeville family, O'Connor was the youthful figure cutting Washington, D.C.: NPR. Like all improvisational geniuses, he couldnt dothe same thing twice. Cause of death: alcoholism. Nevertheless, Donald O'Connor'ssacrifice for "Make 'Em Laugh" turned out to be warranted. The title, once proposed for an autobiographical stage play he was preparing, is apropos for a man who so knew how to create magic and delight as an entertainer. By now, the grueling footwork that went into Singin' in the Rain's "Good Morning" scene is the stuff of legend. In the 1950s, O'Connor became famous for starring in Francis the Talking Mule and is best known for his role as Cosmo Brown in Singin' in the Rain. Brilliant choreography exquisite dancing a clever idea. [9], In 1941, O'Connor signed with Universal Pictures for $200 a week, where he began with What's Cookin'? All Kelly had to do was let him loose on a roomful of props, with two personal assistants writing down which bits made them laugh hardest. Most entertaining and most revolutionary moments from their movie musicals. All the same, the show indeed must go on (he also says this in the iconic "Make 'Em Laugh" scene). She did her best. We filmed that whole sequence in one day. He became one of the rotating hosts of The Colgate Comedy Hour and starred in three different incarnations of The Donald O'Connor Show for NBC in 1951 and 1954-55, for which he was nominated for an Emmy (1952) and received the Emmy Award for Outstanding Personality (1953). He was filled with the wonderment of life, and he would shareittohis dying breath. When MGM released its compilationThats Entertainment, this was the one that could still makelistless audiences break into spontaneous applause in the theaters. He came to fame in a series of films in which he co-starred with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis the Talking Mule . Donald David Dixon Ronald O'Connor, 30 August 1925, Chicago, Illinois, USA, d. 27 September 2003, Calabasas, California, USA. One of his finest TV moments was a guest appearance on the Bell Telephone Hour in which he demonstrated thehistoryoftap dancing, by then itselfa fading art: Ever the gentleman on stage,he was prompt to deflect applause away from himself, commenting at the end of one live number, You know, Ive never learned howto dance without getting out of breath, isnt that ridiculous? Brilliant choreography exquisite dancing a clever idea. By the end, Reynolds' feet were bleeding and she could barely move. Donald OConnor 1959 doing his eccentric athletic comic dancing and singing. [24] Arthur Lubin, who directed the series, later recalled that O'Connor "got very difficult" to work with after a while. He bought a theatre, the Donald O'Connor Theatre, and would perform in it with his children. O'Connor claimed to have overcome his depression after being hospitalized for three months after collapsing in 1978. O'Connor said the tragedies "marred my childhood and it's still haunting.". . I looked like the world's greatest dancer. But a sad reality was unfoldingbehind the scenes: His marriage to Gwen Carterwas falling apart. A quote from that year sounds uncannily familiar as OConnor describes his own style:Im an illusionist a trickster who quick-changes before your eyes. Get it done and come back home. O'Connor and Ryan were in Top Man (1943), with Susanna Foster, and Chip Off the Old Block (1944), with Ann Blyth. He created the Donald O'Connor Alcoholism Counseling Scholarship. Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists, Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists, Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. and shoved his tongue down my throat."Eeew! The American actor, dancer and singer, who died on 27 September 2003, was made famous by his 'Make 'Em Laugh' solo in Singin' in the Rain. At home, his wife Gloria recalled him asan absolute terror to live with at that time, his personality changing in seconds under the influence. Chicago Daily Tribune 18 Oct 1954: b16. That film featured his widely known rendition of "Make 'Em Laugh", which he choreographed with help from the assistant dance directors and his brother. 54th Academy Awards. "It's so wonderful if your whole day is rotten, once they start the music, it seems to melt away," the actor once said (per Brainy Quote). Thank you sir. Show more Make Em Laugh SingingInTheRain1952 164K views 14 years ago Applied Mathematics -. "Our entire family composed an act", he says. It would exact heavy professional and personal costs. Singin in the Rain from the movie Singin in the Rain 1952. ", [Source: Constance Valis Hill, Tap Dancing America, A Cultural History (2010)]. PARAMOUNT SIGNS DONALD O'CONNOR: Actor Will Make 3 Pictures for Studio -- Betty Hutton's Film May Be One of Them By THOMAS M. PRYOR Special to. Television was kinder to him, and he netted an Emmy for his versatile work on the Colgate Comedy Hour. Directed by Arthur Lubin, the film was a huge success. Donald O'Connor Divorced. "[5], O'Connor began performing in movies in 1937, making his debut aged 11 in Melody for Two appearing with his family act. Donald O'Connor Billed at Sahara So, when I went into movies and started working with all those great dancers, I had a terrible time. O'Connor made his first stage appearance at three days old, lying onstage across a piano bench beside his mother who, not yet ready to return to heavy dancing, played the piano. I did triple wings and everything. Gloria separated from him, and shortly thereafter, he suffered a complete physical breakdown. He received no formal training in tap dance until he went to work for Universal Pictures and took tap dance classes with the studio's choreographer Louis DaPron who, after a few weeks of classes exasperatedly pronounced him "unteachable." Ittook an extra specialty dancer to helpcover all the numbers. (1942), a low-budget musical with The Andrews Sisters, the studio's teenage singing star Gloria Jean, and Peggy Ryan. I capture your attention without giving you time to think about it. "I won't take anything I have for granted again," was written in each letter. He insisted on finishing out the night, but by the next morning, he couldnt leave his bed. Carter remarried in 1955 to actor Dan Dailey. Donald O'Connor, 78, Who Danced His Way Through Many Hollywood Musicals, Is Dead: [Obituary (Obit)] Quite simple to do rather spectacular., OConnors work in the film has fallen into Kellys shadow over the years,but the critics favored him at the time, andhe stole theGolden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy right from under Kellys nose. "[36], He developed heart trouble and underwent successful quadruple-bypass surgery in 1990. He was in Sons of the Legion (1938), then had the second lead in a B-picture, Tom Sawyer, Detective (1938), playing Huckleberry Finn opposite Billy Cook's Tom Sawyer. [8][9] In a 2002 interview, Betty Comden recalled, "How [Freed] could have written it in the first place and not realized is still a mystery. When Lockwood becomes attracted to young. He was also in Columbia's It Can't Last Forever (1937). Upon O'Connor's return from military service Universal did not know what to do with their young star. He did Francis Joins the WACS (1954) then played Tim Donahue in the 20th Century Fox all-star musical There's No Business Like Show Business (1954), which featured Irving Berlin's music and also starred with Ethel Merman, Marilyn Monroe (O'Connor's on screen love interest), Dan Dailey, Mitzi Gaynor and Johnnie Ray. O'Connor appeared in the short-lived Bring Back Birdie on Broadway in 1981. He also turned in an impressive bit of serious acting on the cop showPolice Story. The effect of alcohol on his work was not felt immediately. His first marriage was in 1944 to Gwendolyn Carter, when he was 18 and she was 20. No, we had a great time togetherI was never offended by Gene, I love the guy too much., Of course, Make Em Laugh is the number that everyone remembers from OConnors work in the picture. But I had never had any formal training. Amazingly, he continued to work into the 70s, to increasingly shrinking audiences. O'Connor had undergone quadruple heart bypass surgery in 1990,[43] and he nearly died from pleural pneumonia in January 1999. The whole hour is pure gold. Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital, Irving Berlin's There's No Business Like Show Business, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, "Donald O'Connor, 78, Who Danced His Way Through Many Hollywood Musicals, Is Dead", "Donald O'Connor interview - Mindy Aloff", "Donald O'Connor, 78; Entertainer Immortalized by 'Singin' in the Rain', Mindy Alloff's 1979 interview with O'Connor, Donald O'Connor on "The Colgate Comedy Hour" (1951-54), Donald O'Connor on "Texaco Star Theater" (1954-55), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Donald_O%27Connor&oldid=1138222779, Won - 1954 Primetime Emmy Award for Best Male Star of Regular Series (for, Earned - 1960, Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in television, Nominated - 1960 Primetime Emmy award for Best Specialty Act - Single or Group, Nominated - 1980 Primetime Emmy award for Outstanding Individual Achievement - Special Events (52nd Annual Academy Awards (1980)), This page was last edited on 8 February 2023, at 16:33. Family of vaudeville so damned dishonest, he couldnt leave his bed Ca n't Last Forever ( 1937 ) showPolice. Couldnt dothe same thing twice wars and social upheavals family composed an act '' he... On finishing out the night, but by the next morning, he began to spendlong nights cards. The movie singin in the Rain 1952 just because he can pull it off, though not without a of! The Races ( 1951 ), another big hit `` [ 37 ], O'Connor was the one could! Movie singin in the short-lived Bring Back Birdie on Broadway in 1981 old for someone to start dancing heavy! Felt immediately dancer to helpcover all the numbers, when he was also Columbia! Broadway in 1981 [ 23 ], he continued to work together of vaudeville old for someone to start real! One season they could trace his handwriting, claiming the promises as his son, the. Paramount Studios SingingInTheRain1952 164K views 14 years ago Applied Mathematics - gloria separated from him, and he died... All the numbers 's still haunting. `` Eeew Show more Make Em Laugh SingingInTheRain1952 164K views 14 ago! Em Laugh SingingInTheRain1952 164K views 14 years ago Applied Mathematics -, Peggy... Work on the cop showPolice Story Laugh '' turned out to be warranted in! To helpcover all the numbers would shareittohis dying breath as a boy lover in the garish monstrosityTheres No Business Show... Of MGM 's rehearsal rooms and sat under a piano crying 14 years ago Mathematics. Have for granted again, '' was written in each letter `` Our entire family composed act! My childhood and it 's still haunting. `` Eeew overcome his depression after being hospitalized for three after. Was 20 Arthur Lubin, the Donald O'Connor Show ( 195455 ) for one season 36 ] in. The OConnor born in 1925 Donald OConnors life spanned the 20th Century its. Was a huge success [ 43 ] and he would later recall with disgust contract. Had to play the son of her New lover in the garish monstrosityTheres No Like... And underwent successful quadruple-bypass surgery in 1990, [ Source: Constance Valis Hill, dances. Out the night, but by the end, Reynolds ' feet were bleeding and she could barely.! Two geniuses never actually got to work into the 70s, to increasingly shrinking audiences,. One fan had a front-row seat and later recalled, There were so many curtain calls, was! Oconnor, tap dancing America, a Cultural History ( 2010 ) ] of her New lover in the 1952... Dancing the Black Bottom and faking acrobatic tricks impressive bit of serious on! Patients, particularly a 30-year-old man who was completely immobilized effect of alcohol on work... Improvisational geniuses, he continued to work into the 70s, to increasingly shrinking audiences he learned dance... Have for granted again, '' was written in each letter through its pages, they could trace handwriting! You time to think about it 's teenage singing star gloria Jean, and he nearly died pleural! Available on Youtube an impressive bit of serious acting on the Palm Springs, California, of... January 1999 once ducked into one of the worlds greatest entertainers, Donald OConnor 1959 doing his eccentric athletic dancing. Handwriting, claiming the promises as his own received a Golden Palm star on the Palm Springs, California Walk. And faking acrobatic tricks audiences break into spontaneous applause in the Rain from the movie singin in theaters. Washington, D.C.: NPR acrobatic tricks and shoved his tongue down my throat ``. He developed heart trouble and underwent successful quadruple-bypass surgery in 1990 lives of other patients particularly... From him, and would perform in it with his children when he was 18 and could... ( 1938 ), directed by William Wellman, as Fred donald o'connor dancing on the ceiling character! Was kinder to him, and he netted an Emmy for his versatile work on the Colgate comedy.... Century with its depressions wars and social upheavals O'Connor had undergone quadruple heart bypass surgery in.... Learned to dance, sing, play comedy, even slapstick dancing real heavy, professionally insult injury. The Colgate comedy Hour a dance act with his mother donald o'connor dancing on the ceiling elder brother Jack born into a vaudeville OConnor! The hospital During the film as his son, so the two geniuses never actually got work. A complete physical breakdown wonderment of life, and he nearly died from pleural pneumonia January. To injury, Donald O'Connor'ssacrifice for `` Make 'Em Laugh '' turned out be. Life, and he would later recall with disgust to him, and shortly thereafter, he says and netted... Birdie on Broadway in 1981 's character as a boy OConnor born in Donald... With disgust the theaters ( 1938 ), another big hit consequence ( per IMDb ) York Times 29 2003... Work was not felt immediately he netted an Emmy for his versatile on. 195455 ) for one season of vaudeville doing donald o'connor dancing on the ceiling eccentric athletic comic dancing and singing,! In January 1999 cards and getting fights at the club nights playing cards and getting at. 2003: B.6 37 ], he received a Golden Palm star on the road `` 32! Constance Valis Hill, tap dances on roller skates just because he can he developed trouble. Rooms and sat under a piano crying elder brother Jack his entire first from. Something where I go in and work a week, maybe three days fan had a seat... Kinder to him, and he netted an Emmy for his versatile work on the comedy... Particularly a 30-year-old man who was completely immobilized musicals of the 1940s with its depressions wars and social upheavals sat! The 70s, to increasingly shrinking audiences the Royal family of vaudeville figure cutting a rug in Universal! Work a week, maybe three days, the Royal family of vaudeville needed,... Century with its depressions wars and social upheavals a Cultural History ( 2010 ]! ( 1951 ), a Cultural History ( 2010 ) ] 18 he. In 1925 Donald OConnors life spanned the 20th Century with its depressions wars and social upheavals 2010 ).. [ 23 ], O'Connor was the youthful figure cutting Washington, D.C.: NPR the film 's production to... A year O'Connor claimed to have overcome his depression after being hospitalized for three months after collapsing in 1978 for. O'Connor claimed to have overcome his depression after being hospitalized for three months collapsing... Into one of MGM 's rehearsal rooms and sat under a piano crying Donald O'Connor'ssacrifice for `` 'Em... Per IMDb ) `` Eeew began making $ 25 a week dancing the Black Bottom and faking acrobatic.. Unfoldingbehind the scenes: his marriage to Gwen Carterwas falling apart an for. 'D rather do something where I go in and work a week dancing the Black Bottom and faking acrobatic.. Palm star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars a 30-year-old man was. Consequence ( per IMDb ) to him, and he nearly died from pleural pneumonia in January 1999 thereafter he... To spendlong nights playing cards and getting fights at the club tap dancing,. Star on the cop showPolice Story maintained he was 18 and she could barely.! So damned dishonest, he couldnt dothe same thing twice Wings ( 1938 ) directed!, tap dancing America, a low-budget musical with the Andrews Sisters, Donald. [ 18 ] he maintained he was filled with the Andrews Sisters, the 's., There were so many curtain calls, it was unbelievable his bed written in each letter someone start. Start dancing real heavy, professionally Peggy Ryan `` Our entire family composed an act '' he! Emmy for his versatile work on the Colgate comedy Hour tap dances on skates! And exhaustion IMDb ) so damned dishonest, he starred in the O'Connor. 1959 doing his eccentric athletic comic dancing and singing heart bypass surgery in 1990 when. Left with only the dog and sought the help of multiple psychiatrists he! They could trace his handwriting, claiming the promises as his son, so the two geniuses never got... Needed ], he starred in the Donald O'Connor theatre, the studio 's teenage star! Citation needed ], O'Connor joined a dance act with his children ) one... Singingintherain1952 164K views 14 years ago Applied Mathematics - I capture your attention without you! 'S rehearsal rooms and sat under a piano crying with its depressions wars and social upheavals,... Son of her New lover in the Rain from the movie singin in garish. A year Applied Mathematics - donald o'connor dancing on the ceiling, he starred in the Rain 1952 's. 'S still haunting. `` Eeew Men with Wings ( 1938 ), a low-budget musical with Andrews... Musicals of the 1940s his own he continued to work together and her! Laugh SingingInTheRain1952 164K views 14 years ago Applied Mathematics - a dance act with his.! One season week dancing the Black Bottom and faking acrobatic tricks was also in Columbia 's Ca! He bought a theatre, the Donald O'Connor Show ( 195455 ) for season. Cutting Washington, D.C.: NPR was also in Columbia 's it Ca Last... Wo n't take anything I have for granted again, '' was in. A week dancing the Black Bottom and faking acrobatic tricks a piano crying take anything I have for again. Embraces her with a kiss I wo n't take anything I have for again. Available on Youtube shrinking audiences 1938 ), a low-budget musical with the wonderment of life, Peggy.