Donald O'Connor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Donald O'Connor
O'Connor in 1952
Born	Donald David Dixon Ronald O'Connor (1925-08-28)August 28, 1925 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	September 27, 2003(2003-09-27) (aged 78) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Dancer singer actor
Years active	1932–1999
Spouse(s)	Gwen Carter ​ ​ (m. 1944; div. 1954)​ Gloria Noble ​ (m. 1956)​
Children	4

Donald David Dixon Ronald O'Connor (born August 28, 1925 – died September 27, 2003) was a talented American dancer, singer, and actor. He became famous for his roles in movies, especially alongside Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and even Francis the Talking Mule.

Donald O'Connor grew up in a Vaudeville family. Vaudeville was a type of live entertainment with many different acts. He learned to dance, sing, and perform comedy from a very young age. His dancing was known for being very athletic and energetic. Audiences loved his boyish charm, which stayed with him throughout his career. While he started by playing characters similar to Mickey Rooney, he later became known for his kind and supportive sidekick roles, especially in Singin' in the Rain.

His most famous performance was the "Make 'Em Laugh" dance routine in the movie Singin' in the Rain (1952). For this amazing role, O'Connor won a Golden Globe Award. He also won a Primetime Emmy Award and has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Early Life and Family

Donald O'Connor was born in 1925 in Chicago. His parents, Edward "Chuck" O'Connor and Effie Irene (née Crane), were both Vaudeville performers. His mother was a bareback rider, and his father was a circus strongman and acrobat. Because his family traveled a lot, they sometimes forgot the exact details of his birth.

Donald started dancing very early. He once said, "I was about 13 months old... when I first started dancing." His parents would hold him up, the music would start, and he would dance. He even got paid for it!

His childhood had some sad moments. When he was two, he and his seven-year-old sister, Arlene, were hit by a car. Donald survived, but Arlene passed away. A few weeks later, his father died while dancing on stage. Later, his brother Billy died from scarlet fever, and his oldest sibling Jack died in 1959. These events deeply affected him.

Because of these losses, his mother was very protective of him. She didn't let him cross the street alone until he was 13. She also made sure he avoided dangerous dance moves and always knew where he was. She pushed him to be the best performer he could be.

A Star's Journey

The O'Connor Family Act

Donald joined a dance act with his mother and older brother Jack. They were called "The O'Connor Family, the Royal Family of Vaudeville." They traveled all over the country, performing singing, dancing, comedy, and acting. Donald said, "Our entire family composed an act... I loved vaudeville. The live audiences created a certain spontaneity."

When they weren't touring, they stayed with his Uncle Bill in Danville, Illinois. Donald never went to a regular school.

He later shared that he didn't have formal dance training early on. He learned a few routines that made him look like a great dancer. But when he started working in movies with other trained dancers, it was hard for him to learn new routines. He had to truly learn how to dance professionally when he was 15, which is quite old for a dancer to start serious training. He learned to dance with his whole body, not just his legs, becoming a "total dancer."

Donald started acting in movies in 1937, at age 11. His first film was Melody for Two, where he appeared with his family.

Early Hollywood Roles

Donald signed a contract with Paramount Studios. He appeared in films like Men with Wings (1938) and Sing You Sinners (1938). He played Huckleberry Finn in Tom Sawyer, Detective (1938). He also played younger versions of characters for famous actors like Fred MacMurray and Gary Cooper. After a few years, he returned to his family's vaudeville act.

Joining Universal Pictures

In 1941, Donald signed with Universal Pictures. He started with What's Cookin'? (1942), a musical with The Andrews Sisters and Gloria Jean. This movie was popular, and Universal began to pair Donald with Peggy Ryan, hoping they would be as successful as Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland at another studio.

He made several films with Peggy Ryan and Gloria Jean, becoming a central figure in movies like Mister Big (1943).

During World War II, Donald joined the United States Army in 1943. Before he left, Universal quickly made several more films with him and Peggy Ryan. These movies, like This Is the Life (1944) and The Merry Monahans (1944), were released while he was serving overseas with Special Services, entertaining troops.

After the War

When Donald returned from the military, Universal-International wasn't sure what roles to give him. He was almost out of money. Eventually, they paired him with their biggest female star, Deanna Durbin, in Something in the Wind (1947). He also starred in other musicals and comedies.

He later reflected that he became a truly good dancer as he got older. He could do impressive moves, but learning new dance steps was very hard for him at first.

The Talking Mule Films

In 1949, Donald took on the main role in Francis. This movie was about a soldier who becomes friends with a talking mule. The film was a huge hit! Because of its success, Donald's musical film career was often put on hold to make one Francis movie each year until 1955. He said these films were fun and challenging because he had to act very seriously to convince the audience that the mule could really talk.

He made other comedies like The Milkman (1950) and Double Crossbones (1951) between the Francis films.

Singin' in the Rain

In 1952, Donald got an offer to play Cosmo the piano player in Singin' in the Rain at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. This film became one of the most famous musicals of all time.

His performance of "Make 'Em Laugh" is legendary. He helped choreograph the routine, which showed off his incredible athleticism. The number included many jumps, falls, and even two backflips off a wall! He later said he had to go to the hospital during filming due to injuries and tiredness.

His energetic performance stood out, even next to the amazing Gene Kelly. This role earned him the 1953 Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical.

After Singin' in the Rain, he returned to Universal for Francis Goes to West Point (1952) and then made another musical, I Love Melvin (1953), with Debbie Reynolds.

He also started appearing regularly on television. One reviewer in 1952 called him "1952's new star" because he could dance, sing, act, and do comedy. He supported Ethel Merman in Call Me Madam (1953), a film he felt contained his best dancing.

He continued making Francis films and other musicals like Walking My Baby Back Home (1953) with Janet Leigh. He also starred in the all-star musical There's No Business Like Show Business (1954) with Marilyn Monroe.

Donald was supposed to be in White Christmas (1954) with Bing Crosby, but he got sick from an illness transmitted by the mule from the Francis films. He was replaced by Danny Kaye.

In 1954, Donald's popularity was at its peak, and he was chosen to host the Academy Awards ceremony.

Later Career and Health

Donald starred in The Donald O'Connor Show (1954–55) and was a regular host of NBC's Colgate Comedy Hour.

He made one last Francis film, Francis in the Navy (1955). After 13 years, this was his final film for Universal. He then made Anything Goes (1956) with Bing Crosby and played the lead in The Buster Keaton Story (1957).

Donald also showed his musical talent by conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a performance of his own symphony. He hosted one of the earliest color television specials in 1957.

In the late 1950s, he started guest starring on TV shows and focused more on live performances and nightclub acts, especially in Las Vegas. He returned to Universal for the comedy That Funny Feeling (1965) with Sandra Dee.

He continued to appear on various TV shows and in stage productions. In 1968, he hosted a syndicated talk show called The Donald O'Connor Show.

In the 1970s, Donald faced some health challenges, including heart problems. He continued to perform on stage, especially in Las Vegas. He guest-starred on many TV series like The Bionic Woman and Police Story.

After a health setback in 1978, he recovered through physical therapy. He wrote letters to friends and family, saying his life had "completely changed" and that he wouldn't take anything for granted again. He credited other patients he met for helping him appreciate his recovery.

In the 1980s, he appeared in the film Ragtime (1981), his first feature film in 16 years. He also performed on Broadway in shows like Bring Back Birdie (1981) and Show Boat (1983). He continued to tour, saying in 1985 that he was "still singing and dancing."

He bought a theater, the Donald O'Connor Theatre, where he performed with his children. He said he could do many types of acts—singing, dancing, and comedy—because he grew up in a circus family where learning more skills meant more pay. In 1990, he had successful heart surgery.

Donald continued to act in films and TV shows in the 1990s, including Toys (1992) with Robin Williams. He also had guest roles on popular shows like Murder, She Wrote and Frasier.

He once said, "I never wanted to be a superstar. I'm working on being a quasar, because stars wear out. Quasars go on forever." In 1998, he received a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.

His last film role was in Out to Sea (1997), where he played a dance host on a cruise ship. Donald O'Connor continued to make public appearances until 2003, saying he still loved to perform and "move my legs."

Personal Life

Donald O'Connor was married twice and had four children. His first marriage was to Gwendolyn Carter in 1944. They had one daughter, Donna, and divorced in 1954.

In 1956, Donald married his second wife, actress Gloria Noble. They stayed together until his death in 2003. They had three children: Donald Frederick, Alicia, and Kevin. Gloria Noble passed away in 2013.

Donald was honored with a special event at New York's Lincoln Center and received an honorary degree from Boston University. He also quietly supported many charities, including work for the United States Army and the Red Cross.

Donald O'Connor passed away on September 27, 2003, at the age of 78, due to heart problems. His belongings were auctioned off, and all the money went to charity.

Achievements and Awards

O'Connor's handprints at Walt Disney World's Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park

• Won - June 1952 Photoplay Award for Singin' in the Rain
• Won - The 1953 Golden Globe for his role in Singin' in the Rain
• Nominated - 1953 Primetime Emmy Award for Most Outstanding Personality
• Won - 1954 Primetime Emmy Award for Best Male Star of Regular Series (for The Colgate Comedy Hour)
• Won - 1954 Golden Laurel Award for Top Male Musical Performance in Call Me Madam (1953)
• Earned - 1960, Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in motion pictures
• 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))
• Earned - 1998, Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars

Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

• The Milton Berle Show (producer) – 1948
• Colgate Comedy Hour – 1951–1954
• The Donald O'Connor Show – 19 episodes on NBC, 1954–55
• The Jet Propelled Couch – 1957
• The Judy Garland Show (special guest) – episode 7, season 1 on CBS – September 29, 1963
• Petticoat Junction (director) – 1964
• Bell Telephone Hour – 1964–1966
• The Donald O'Connor Show – 1968
• The Carol Burnett Show - 2 appearances: December 29, 1969 (Season 3, Episode 12) and October 26, 1970 (Season 4, Episode 7)
• Ellery Queen – episode "The Comic Book Crusader" – October 2, 1975
• The Bionic Woman – episode "A Thing of the Past" (February 18, 1976)
• Police Story – September 21, 1976 (Season 4, Episode 1)
• Hunter – episode "The Costa Rican Connection" (March 18, 1977)
• Lucy Moves to NBC - (February 8, 1980)
• The Love Boat – 1981–1984
• Alice – "Guinness on Tap", as himself, 1982
• The Littlest Hobo – episode "The Clown" as Freddie the Clown, 1982
• Simon and Simon – episode "Grand Illusion" as Barnaby the Great, 1983
• Alice in Wonderland as The Lory Bird, 1985.
• Highway to Heaven episode "Playing for keeps" – 1987.
• Murder, She Wrote episode (The Big Show of 1965) – 1990
• Tales from the Crypt – season 4, episode 12 "Strung Along", (September 2, 1992)
• The Building – 1993
• Frasier – episode "Crane vs. Crane" as Harlow Safford, 1996
• The Nanny – episode "Freida Needa Man" as Fred (1996)

Stage Performances

• Little Me (1964; 1965; 1968; 1980)
• Promises, Promises (1972)
• Where's Charley? (1976)
• Weekend with Feathers (1976)
• Sugar (1979)
• Wally's Cafe (1980)
• Bring Back Birdie (1981)
• Say Hello to Harvey (1981)
• Show Boat (1982; 1983)
• I Ought to Be in Pictures (1982)
• How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1985)
• Two for the Show (1989)
• Charley's Aunt (1989)
• The Sunshine Boys (1990)
• The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies (1998)

See also

In Spanish: Donald O'Connor para niños