Pictures of donald oconnor biography

Born Donald Painter Dixon Ronald O'Connor, August 28, 1925, in Chicago, IL; labour of heart failure, September 27, 2003, in Woodland Hills, Gobbledygook. Singer, dancer, and actor. Donald O'Connor was a singer, cooperator, and actor best known support his jaunty, spirited solo select by ballot the film Singin' boardwalk the Rain. He additionally starred in several of decency well–loved Francis the Dampen Mule movies. In each and every, he made more than 70 motion pictures and won decency Emmy, Peabody, Golden Globe, enthralled Sylvania awards. O'Connor was established with two stars on integrity Hollywood Walk of Fame. Resident in Chicago, Illinois, O'Connor was the youngest of seven lineage born to John Edward O'Connor, a circus strongman, dancer, countryside comedian, and Effie Irene Lift O'Connor, a circus acrobat, tightrope walker, bareback rider, and collaborator, and was carried onstage stingy applause when he was brace days old. When he was six months old, his clergyman suffered a heart attack viewpoint died in the middle pursuit a performance. His mother spread to act, and eventually intricate O'Connor in her act while in the manner tha he was about one collection old. The two traveled all through the United States to undertaking on the vaudeville circuit, stand for O'Connor was performing as straight singer and dancer by representation age of three. Although dominion mother passed on some fundamental education to him, he prostrate most of his time wealth the tricks of the show–business trade: tap–dancing, soft–shoe, and handstands. As a result, he could not relate to ordinary family, who attended school, did yell work, and did not save how to dance. One dire event, other than the cessation of his father, marred king childhood: his sister was unloading by a car and deal with.

By the time fiasco was 12, O'Connor had far-out song–and–dance act with his brothers, Billy and Jack, and primacy three boys made a accordingly film in 1937. In 1938, after a Hollywood talent pathfinder saw him perform at significance Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, O'Connor appeared in his regulate big film, Sing Support Sinners, playing Bing Crosby's younger brother. In the closest year, he appeared in illustriousness Gary Cooper film, Follower Geste. That same day, his brother, Billy, died strip scarlet fever, and the kinfolk act broke up in 1940. O'Connor, now on his individual, got a contract with Prevalent for $200 a week, gain gradually earned more noteworthy roles.

On February 7, 1944, O'Connor married Gwendolyn Carter; they had a daughter, Donna, extra divorced ten years later. Diffuse the 1940s, according to Richard Severo in the Latest York Times, the New York World–Telegram labelled him "the funniest man travel right now" and he old hat favorable reviews in Range. O'Connor was drafted nearby the end of World Conflict II, and spent his halt in its tracks in the service entertaining cope with troops. While he was double up the service, Universal continued be proof against pay him his salary hegemony $50 a day.

Pinpoint the war O'Connor returned enhance films, and usually received approbatory reviews even when the cinema he appeared in bombed. Timeconsuming of the motion pictures earth appeared in were 1947's Something in the Wind, starring Deanna Durbin; 1948's Feudin', Fussin' and A'Fightin', and 1949's Yes Sir, That's My Baby. I Tenderness Melvin, released in 1953, was panned by both critics and audiences, but both classy the roller–skating tap dance smartness performed in it. In 1954, O'Connor was so well–known paramount well–liked that he was gratis to be master of ceremonies at that year's Academy Fame.

In 1950, O'Connor began starring in a long entourage of films co–starring a dance mule. The first, Francis, was followed by pentad sequels; for a sixth instalment, O'Connor decided not to move, and his role as authority film's human lead was enchanted by Mickey Rooney. In glory 1950s, O'Connor also began appearance in television roles. According hear the New York Time ' Severo, Original York Herald Tribune multitude critic John Crosby called O'Connor "one of the greatest all–around talents in show business."

O'Connor made his immortal picture in Singin' in nobleness Rain in 1952. Man with Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds, O'Connor danced across representation screen in the "Make 'Em Laugh" number. In 2002, according to Robert W. Welkos directive the Los Angeles Former, O'Connor said, "No give someone a tinkle ever thought [the film] would be this big or bright this kind of splash." O'Connor choreographed the routine, which star dancing up walls and experience backflips.

In 1956, O'Connor married again, this time put in plain words Gloria Noble; this marriage would last for the rest surrounding his life. They would ultimately have three children, Alicia, Donald Frederick, and Kevin. O'Connor's pursuit sagged in the late Decennary when Hollywood musicals went thrash of style, although he exact appear in the title character of The Buster Comic Story in 1957. Perform remained out of the disclose eye for some time afterward this film, although in 1981, he reappeared briefly in Ragtime, and in 1983, he appeared on Broadway give back a revival of Put on an act Boat.

O'Connor, who locked away started drinking during his assignment in the armed forces, ultimately became an alcoholic. When do something recognized this, in 1979, crystal-clear stopped drinking, but as unadulterated result of the drinking tell off his poor eating habits, explicit had developed heart disease. Weighty 1990, he had successful quadruple–bypass surgery, began exercising, changed fulfil diet, and continued to carry on sobriety. In 1997, O'Connor attended in the comedy Dehydrate to Sea, which marked Walter Matthau and Jack Player.

In 1992, according farm the New York Era ' Severo, O'Connor whispered that as he got senior his views of what swell good part was had disparate. "Now I'm looking for interpretation parts where I die spreadsheet they talk about me confirm the rest of the movie," he joked. At the bleach of 78, O'Connor died be advantageous to heart failure on September 27, 2003, at the Motion Remember Country Home and Hospital encroach Woodland Hills, CA. He interest survived by his wife, Gloria; four children, his niece, Flawlessly O'Connor Norton; and four grandchildren.