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Fred Astaire
Photo: Studio publicity still · Public domain

Dancer

Fred Astaire American Dancer (1899–1987)

Fred Astaire · film actor and choreographer · American

48credits listed

Known for

Biography

Born on 10 May 1899 in Omaha, Fred Astaire was an American dancer. Fred Astaire died on 22 June 1987 at the age of 88. The recorded cause of death is pneumonia. He was known for The Towering Inferno (1974) and On the Beach (1959).

Career

Released between 1930 and 1979, 11 albums and 2 singles carry his name. Puttin' On the Ritz / Crazy Feet (1930) is the oldest release listed, Holiday Inn (1979) the newest. He worked mainly in traditional pop and jazz. He has released music through MGM Records.

Ava Gardner appears in two of his listed titles, including The Band Wagon (1953). Other co-stars who recur in his credits are Judy Garland (two titles) and Bing Crosby (two titles).

Recognition

Among his honours is an Academy Honorary Award, won in 1949. Other wins include two Golden Globe Awards (1950 and 1974) and four Primetime Emmy Awards (1959, 1961 and 1978). Among his nominations is the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1975 for The Towering Inferno. In all, Fred Astaire won 22 awards and received 11 nominations.

Personal life

Marriages on record are to Phyllis Livingston Potter (1933 to 1954, widowed) and Robyn Smith (1980 to 1987, widowed). He had 2 children on record.

Discography

13 releases
YearTitleType
1979Holiday InnAlbum
1976They Can't Take These Away from MeAlbum
1975A Couple of Song and Dance MenAlbum
1957Funny FaceAlbum
1953The Astaire StoryAlbum
1949Easter ParadeAlbum
1948It Only Happens When I Dance with YouSingle
1946Blue SkiesAlbum
1942Holiday InnAlbum
1930Puttin' On the Ritz / Crazy FeetSingle
Easy to Dance WithAlbum
Now Fred AstaireAlbum
Three Evenings with Fred AstaireAlbum

Awards and nominations

22 won, 11 nominated
YearAwardForResult
2008Grammy Hall of FameTop Hat, White Tie and TailsWon
2006Grammy Hall of FameWon
2005Grammy Hall of FameThey Can't Take That Away from MeWon
2004Grammy Hall of FameNight and DayWon
2000Grammy Hall of FameCheek to CheekWon
1999Grammy Hall of FameThe Astaire StoryWon
1998Grammy Hall of FameThe Way You Look TonightWon
1989Grammy Lifetime Achievement AwardWon
1987Capezio Dance AwardWon
1981AFI Life Achievement AwardWon
1978Kennedy Center HonorsWon
1978Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a MovieA Family Upside DownWon
1976BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting RoleThe Towering InfernoWon
1974Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion PictureThe Towering InfernoWon
1961Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music ProgramWon
Show all 33 entries
YearAwardForResult
1960Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille AwardWon
1960star on Hollywood Walk of FameWon
1959Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a MovieAn Evening with Fred AstaireWon
1959Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety SeriesAn Evening with Fred AstaireWon
1950Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or ComedyThree Little WordsWon
1949Academy Honorary AwardWon
David di Donatello Award for Lifetime AchievementWon
1976BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting RoleThe Towering InfernoNominated
1975Academy Award for Best Supporting ActorThe Towering InfernoNominated
1974Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion PictureThe Towering InfernoNominated
1968Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or ComedyFinian's RainbowNominated
1961Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or ComedyThe Pleasure of His CompanyNominated
1961Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music ProgramNominated
1960Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille AwardNominated
1960Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music ProgramNominated
1959Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion PictureOn the BeachNominated
1959Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety SeriesAn Evening with Fred AstaireNominated
1950Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or ComedyThree Little WordsNominated

Filmography

48 credits
YearTitleRoleType
2000Billy ElliotFilm
1981Ghost StoryFilm
1979The Man in the Santa Claus SuitFilm
1978–Battlestar GalacticaTV series
1977The Purple TaxiFilm
1976That's Entertainment, Part IIFilm
1976The Amazing DobermansFilm
1975Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?Film
1974That's Entertainment!Film
1974The Towering InfernoHarlee ClaiborneFilm
1972ImagineFilm
1970Santa Claus Is Comin' to TownFilm
1969Midas RunFilm
1968Finian's RainbowFilm
1962The Notorious LandladyFilm
Show all 48 credits
YearTitleRoleType
1961The Pleasure of His CompanyFilm
1959On the BeachFilm
1957Funny FaceFilm
1957Silk StockingsFilm
1955Daddy Long LegsFilm
1953The Band WagonFilm
1952The Belle of New YorkFilm
1951Royal WeddingFilm
1950Let's DanceFilm
1950Some of the Best: Twenty-Five Years of Motion Picture LeadershipFilm
1950The Barkleys of BroadwayFilm
1950Three Little WordsFilm
1948Easter ParadeFilm
1946Blue SkiesDirector, WriterFilm
1945Yolanda and the ThiefFilm
1945Ziegfeld FolliesFilm
1943The Sky's the LimitFilm
1942Holiday InnWriterFilm
1942You Were Never LovelierFilm
1941You'll Never Get RichFilm
1940Broadway Melody of 1940Film
1940Second ChorusFilm
1939The Story of Vernon and Irene CastleFilm
1938CarefreeFilm
1937A Damsel in DistressFilm
1937Shall We DanceFilm
1936Follow the FleetFilm
1936Swing TimeFilm
1935RobertaFilm
1935Top HatFilm
1934The Gay DivorceeFilm
1933Dancing LadyFilm
1933Flying Down to RioFilm

Fred Astaire Photos

  • Fred Astaire (1977)
    Photo: New York Amsterdam News · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
  • Fred Astaire (1970)
    Photo: Nate Cutler · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
  • Fred Astaire (1962)
    Photo: ABC Television · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
  • Fred Astaire at a debutante ball in Los Angeles, Calif (1959)
    Photo: Los Angeles Times · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
  • Fred Astaire at the 30th Annual Academy Awards held at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles (1958)
    Photo: Los Angeles Times · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
  • Fred Astaire at ranch in Los Angeles, Calif (1953)
    Photo: Los Angeles Daily News · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
  • Fred Astaire (1946)
    Photo: Whitey Schafer · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
  • Fred Astaire (1941)
    Photo: Studio publicity still · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
  • Fred Astaire (1936)
    Photo: Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
  • Fred Astaire (1935)
    Photo: Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Frequently asked questions

How old was Fred Astaire at the time of death?

Fred Astaire died on 22 June 1987 at the age of 88. He was born on 10 May 1899.

What was Fred Astaire’s cause of death?

According to Wikidata, Fred Astaire died on 22 June 1987; the recorded cause of death is pneumonia.

What is Fred Astaire known for?

Fred Astaire was known for The Towering Inferno (1974) and On the Beach (1959).

What is Fred Astaire’s nationality?

Fred Astaire was American, born in Omaha.

How tall was Fred Astaire?

Fred Astaire was 177 cm (5 ft 10 in) tall.

Who was Fred Astaire married to?

Fred Astaire’s marriages on record are to Robyn Smith (1980 to 1987) and Phyllis Livingston Potter (1933 to 1954).

Sources

  • Wikidata (Q100937), accessed October 2026
  • Photo: Studio publicity still · Public domain

Last checked by the Wiki of Celebs editorial team

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