Climbing up Gene Kelly’s Family Tree | What's Past is Prologue What's Past is Prologue September 3, 2010 by Donna Pointkouski This month’s COG (for which I am late…the dog ate my homework, Teacher Jasia!) asked us to Research From Scratch by starting a search on someone else’s family tree. When I began my own family research about 21 years ago, there were not any records available on the internet. Lately I’ve wondered how much I could have found if I had waited until today to begin my search and how much easier it would have been. This challenge was an opportunity to find out. The subject of my experiment: actor-singer-dancer-director Gene Kelly. As most visitors to this site have since surmised, Gene Kelly is what I call my “other gene hobby.” Gene was well known for his smiling “Irish eyes”, but I was curious about his Canadian and German ancestry as well. Starting from scratch, how much could I find in a few hours? In that short amount of time, I learned a lot about his ancestry. But I also learned some research lessons that I’d like to share.

Start by interviewing your family, but don’t believe everything they say as fact. When I began my own research, I started by asking my parents questions about their parents and grandparents, and I also referred to an interview with my grandmother when I was in grade school and needed to complete a family history project. That same advice holds true today – you need basic facts about a family to begin your research. In the case of my subject, I couldn’t actually talk to Mr. Kelly. So instead I turned to the only biography that was written during his lifetime in which the author interviewed Kelly himself. The book is Gene Kelly by Clive Hirschhorn (Chicago : H. Regnery, 1975). While it is not entirely accurate – especially since it begins with the incorrect birth date of its subject – it was a way to get basic information about his brothers and sisters, parents, and grandparents – as close as I can get to acquring the info from Gene himself. From the first chapter of the biography, I learned enough basic facts to begin my research on the Kelly family: Gene’s parents were James Patrick Joseph Kelly and Harriet Curran. They married in 1906.

Both came from large families; James was one of eleven children, and Harriet one of 13. Harriet’s father, Billy Curran, “had emigrated to New York from Londonderry in 1845…via Dunfermline in Scotland.” Billy met “Miss Eckhart”, of German descent, married and moved to Houtzdale, PA. They later moved to Pittsburgh. Billy died before 1907 from pneumonia after he was left in the cold at night after being robbed. There were 9 Curran children, and 4 who died, but only 7 are named: Frank, Edward, Harry, John, Lillian, Harriet, and Gus. James Kelly was born in Peterborough Canada in 1875 James died in 1966, and Harriet died in 1972. Of Harriet, Mr. Hirschhorn says, “No one quite knows whether she was 85, 87, or 89.” In addition to Gene’s parents’ info were the basics about their children. In birth order, the Kelly family included Harriet, James, Eugene Curran, Louise, and Frederic.

Gene was born on August 23, 1912. This is plenty of information to begin a search. But, don’t believe everything you read or everything your family members tell you – sometimes the “facts” can be wrong, and only research will find the truth! Census records are a great place to begin your research. Back in 1989, my research began at the National Archives with the U.S. Federal Census records. Of course, back then the first available census was from 1910, and none of the records were digitized. Today, I still think census records are the best place to start researching a family. I used Ancestry.com and began with the 1930 census. Despite many “James Kelly” families in Pittsburgh, PA, it was relatively easy to find the entire Kelly clan. As I continued backward with earlier census records and Harriet Kelly’s Curran family, I found some similarities to issues I had in my own family research: Names can be misspelled. I expected this with Zawodny and Piontkowski, but not with Curran! The Curran family is listed as “Curn” on the 1900 census.

Ages are not necessarily correct. It seems that Harriet Curran Kelly has a similar condition to many of my female ancestors – she ages less than ten years every decade and grows younger! Information can differ from census to census, and these conflicts can only be resolved by using other record resources. Despite birth year variations for both Gene’s mother and father, James Kelly’s immigration year differed on each census as did Harriet’s father’s birthplace (Pennsylvania, Ireland, or Scotland?). Finding in-laws is a bonus, and a great way to discover maiden names. If I didn’t already know that Harriet’s maiden name was Curran (from Gene’s biography – and it is also Gene’s middle name), I would have discovered it on the 1930 census since her brother Frank Curran was living with the Kelly family. Also, I knew Harriet’s mother’s maiden name was “Eckhart” from the biography, and the 1880 census of the Curran family lists her brother and sisters – James, Jennie, and Josephine Eckerd. In the few hours of research on census records alone, I was able to trace Gene’s father only to 1910 after his marriage to Harriet.

In 1900 he was single, and I was unable to find a recent Canadian immigrant named James Kelly. Gene’s maternal line ran dry with the Curran’s in 1880. William Curran and Mary Elizabeth “Eckhart” married after 1870. There are too many William Curran’s from Ireland to determine the correct one, and I was unable to locate the Eckhart family prior to 1880. Naturalization records provide the best information – after 1906. The signature of Gene Kelly’s father from his “declaration of intention” petition in 1913. Ancestry.com also provided James Kelly’s naturalization record. In addition to confirming his birth in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada in 1875 (also found in Ancestry’s World War 1 Draft records), the petition lists his immigration information and the birthdates of the first 4 Kelly children (youngest son Fred was not born at the time of his father’s naturalization). Unfortunately the record does not list the birthplace of Harriet other than as Pennsylvania. Was it in Houtzdale, PA, where her parents resided in 1880 or elsewhere?

Although Ancestry has Canadian census records, I was unable to definitely find James Kelly in Ontario on the 1881 or 1891 census. The internet helps you find a lot of information, but not everything is online. Census records can only get you so far before you need vital records. While many states also have these records online, Gene Kelly’s ancestors settled in the same state as mine, Pennsylvania, which is not one of the “friendlier” states when it comes to accessing vital records. If I were to continue with the Kelly research, vital records would have to be obtained offline. It would be useful to obtain the marriage record for William Curran and Mary Elizabeth Eckhart, which may have occurred in Clearfield County since that was their residence in 1880. Finding this record would reveal both sets of parents’ names and possibly birth information for William and Mary Elizabeth. For the Kelly side of the family, I would likely attempt to obtain James Kelly’s birth record in Peterborough. [Side note: I have met several of Kelly’s relatives. One cousin has delved deeper into the Peterborough roots of the Kelly family as well as James Kelly’s maternal line, the Barry family.

There is an interesting newspaper article on a house that may have belonged to the Canadian Kelly’s called One Little House Leads to Many Connections .] Conclusion I was able to confirm many of the intial facts I started with, but I didn’t learn any essential information in addition to those facts. Specifically, I hoped to learn more about Gene’s maternal grandmother’s German roots, but I was unable to find out anything more about the Eckhart – Eckerd family using Ancestry.com alone. More offline research is learn more about this branch of the family. I did learn more about Gene’s aunts and uncles – this is important because researching collateral lines can lead to important information about shared direct ancestors. Finally, I learned that it is much easier to start from scratch now than it was 21 years ago. Even though the record sources I used were the same, digitization and the internet has made it much faster to find information! And easier, which is great because it will hopefully prompt more people to start from scratch! What are you waiting for? Start researching your family!

[Submitted (late) for the 97th Carnival of Genealogy: Research from Scratch ] Rate this: “The internet helps you find a lot of information, but not everything is online.” I hear you, I so hear you! Very interesting read! Gene Kelly Biography - life, family, childhood, children, school, mother, son, information, born, college Gene Kelly Biography Beverly Hills, California American dancer, actor, and choreographer Although Gene Kelly established his reputation as an actor and a dancer, his contribution to the Hollywood, California, musical also includes choreography (creating dances) and movie direction. Athletic childhood Eugene Curran Kelly was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on August 23, 1912, the middle son of five children. His father was Canadian-born and loved sports, especially hockey. Every winter Kelly Sr. would flood the family backyard and make an ice rink for hockey. Kelly Jr. later credited hockey for some of his dance steps, which he described as "wide open and close to the ground." At fifteen Kelly played with a semiprofessional ice hockey team. He also played football, baseball, and participated in gymnastics.

Turns to dancing Kelly's other major influence was his mother, who loved the theater. She was the one who sent him to dancing lessons. At first Kelly did not want to continue with his dance lessons because the other students made fun of him. But then he discovered that the girls liked a boy who could dance, so he decided to stick with the lessons. In 1929 Kelly left for Pennsylvania State College, but because of the Great Depression, his family lost their money. The Great Depression (1929–39) was a time of worldwide economic trouble that led to global unemployment and poverty. Kelly had to move back home and attend the University of Pittsburgh in order to save the cost of room and board. While at the university, Kelly worked at a variety of odd jobs to pay his tuition: he dug ditches, worked at a soda fountain, and pumped gas. Kelly's mother began to work as a receptionist at a local dance school. She came up with the idea of the family running its own dance studio. They did and the studio was a big success. After Kelly graduated from the University of Pittsburgh he taught dance for another six years. In 1937 he left for New York City.

He believed that he was talented enough to find work and he was right. He got a job in theater his first week in New York. Kelly's big break came in 1940, when he was cast as the lead in the Rodgers and Hart musical Pal Joey. Goes to Hollywood Producers from Hollywood saw the show in New York and offered Kelly a contract with Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM). He worked for MGM for the next sixteen years. His first Hollywood film was For Me and My Gal (1942), in which he starred opposite Judy Garland (1922–1969). Garland was only twenty, but already a major star. She had seen Kelly's work and insisted that Kelly have the role. She tutored (taught) him how to act for the movies. Kelly made a breakthrough with Cover Girl (1944). At one point in the film, his character dances with a mirror image of himself. It caught all the critics' attention. Kelly told Interview magazine, "[That is] when I began to see that you could make dances for cinema that weren't just photographed stage dancing. That was my big insight into Hollywood, and Hollywood's big insight into me." Gene Kelly.

Gene Kelly - IMDb IMDb Actor | Soundtrack | Director Eugene Curran Kelly was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the third son of Harriet Catherine (Curran) and James Patrick Joseph Kelly, a phonograph salesman. His father was of Irish descent and his mother was of Irish and German ancestry. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer was the largest and most powerful studio in Hollywood when Gene Kelly arrived in town in ... See full bio » Born: a list of 26 people created 13 Jan 2012 a list of 36 people created 26 Jun 2013 a list of 43 people created 12 Aug 2013 a list of 35 images created 4 months ago a list of 37 people created 2 weeks ago Do you have a demo reel? Add it to your IMDbPage How much of Gene Kelly's work have you seen? User Polls Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 10 wins & 8 nominations. See more awards » Known For 1984 The Love Boat (TV Series) Charles Dane 1957 Schlitz Playhouse (TV Series) Tom T.

Triplet 2015 My Hindu Friend (performer: "Singin' in the Rain") 2015/I The Intern (performer: "You Were Meant For Me") 2015 Dough (performer: "Singin' in the Rain" from tt0045152) Dancing with the Stars (TV Series) (2 episodes, 2006 - 2014) (performer - 1 episode, 2009) - Round Three: Results Show (2009) ... (performer: "Singin' in the Rain" - uncredited) - Round 7 (2006) ... ("Singin' in the Rain") 2014 Call the Midwife (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Episode #3.4 (2014) ... (performer: "You Were Meant for Me" - uncredited) 2012 Sawako no asa (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Jay Kabira (2012) ...

(performer: "Singin' in the Rain") 2012 Gintberg på kanten (TV Series documentary) (performer - 1 episode) - Rigshospitalet (2012) ... (performer: "Singin' in the Rain" - uncredited) 2012 The Neighbors (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Pilot (2012) ... (performer: "Good Morning" - uncredited) 2011 Gent de paraula (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Episode #1.17 (2011) ... (performer: "New York, New York") 2010 Wishful Drinking (TV Movie documentary) (performer: "Singing in the Rain") 2009 50 años de (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Calle (2009) ...

(performer: "Singin' In the Rain") 2009 Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing (Video documentary) (performer: "New York, New York", "Make Way for Tomorrow" - uncredited) 2008 Parashat Ha-Shavua (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - VaYakhel (2008) ... (performer: "Singin' in the Rain") 2008 Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical Treasure (TV Movie documentary) (performer: "New York, New York", "An American in Paris Ballet", "Good Morning", "Alter Ego Dance", "Dig-Dig-Dig Dig for Your Dinner", "Our Love Is Here to Stay", "Singin' in the Rain" - uncredited) 2007 Por Toda Minha Vida (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Nara Leão (2007) ...

(performer: "Singing in the Rain") 2007 American Masters (TV Series documentary) (performer - 1 episode) 2007 The Pirate: A Musical Treasure Chest (Video documentary short) (performer: "Be a Clown") 2007 Family Guy (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Road to Rupert (2007) ... (performer: "The King Who Couldn't Dance (The Worry Song)) 2000 Strangers with Candy (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Blank Relay (2000) ...

(performer: "I Love to Go Swimmin' with Wimmen" - uncredited) 1998 The Object of My Affection (performer: "You Were Meant for Me") 1997 MGM Sing-Alongs: Friends (Video short) (performer: "Take Me Out to the Ballgame") 1997 MGM Sing-Alongs: Searching for Your Dreams (Video short) (performer: "The Worry Song") 1995 Friends (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - The One with Phoebe's Husband (1995) ... (performer: "Singing in the Rain" - uncredited) 1995 Forget Paris (performer: "Love Is Here To Stay") 1994 Léon: The Professional (performer: "I Like Myself") 1994 That's Entertainment!

III (Documentary) (performer: "On the Town" (1944), "Ballin' the Jack" (1913), "You Wonderful You" (1950), "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" (1936), "An American in Paris Ballet" (1936), "Fit as a Fiddle" (1932), "The Heather on the Hill" (1947) - uncredited) 1992 MGM: When the Lion Roars (TV Mini-Series documentary) (performer - 1 episode) - The Lion in Winter (1992) ...

(performer: "The King Who Couldn't Dance (The Worry Song)", "New York, New York", "Be a Clown", "An American in Paris Ballet", "Singin' in the Rain", "Good Morning", "I'll Go Home with Bonnie Jean" - uncredited) 1991 Great Performances (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) 1989 Somebody or The Rise and Fall of Philosophy (Short) (performer: "You Are My Lucky Star") 1986 Frankenstein Punk (Short) (performer: "Singin' in the Rain") 1986 Precious Images (Documentary short) (performer: "Singin' in the Rain") 1985 Moonlighting (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Knowing Her (1985) ... (performer: "Singin' in the Rain") 1985 That's Dancing!

(Documentary) (performer: "Moses", "Sinbad the Sailor", "The Binge") 1981 The Muppet Show (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Gene Kelly (1981) ... (performer: "You Wonderful You" - uncredited) 1980 Xanadu (performer: "Whenever You're Away From Me") 1979 Der ganz normale Wahnsinn (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Viertes Kapitel (1979) ...

(performer: "Singin' in the Rain" - uncredited) 1976 That's Entertainment, Part II (Documentary) (performer: "For Me and My Gal" (1917), "Be a Clown" (1948), "Color Change" (1976), "Shubert Alley" (1976), "Good Morning" (1939), "I Got Rhythm" (1930), "I Begged Her" (1944), "Love Is Here to Stay" (1938), "Cartoon Sequence" (1976), "Sinbad the Sailor" (1956), "Broadway Rhythm" (1935), "I Like Myself" (1954), "Finale" (1976) - uncredited) 1976 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Episode dated 4 May 1976 (1976) ...

(performer: "I've Got A Crush On You", "For Me and My Gal" - uncredited) 1976 It's Showtime (Documentary) (performer: "Fido and Me" - uncredited) 1974 That's Entertainment!

(performer: "Singin' in the Rain" (1929), "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" (1908), "The Babbitt and the Bromide" (1927), "Be a Clown" (1948), "The Pirate Ballet" (1948), "New York, New York" (1944), "The King Who Couldn't Dance (The Worry Song)" (1945), "The Broadway Ballet" (1935), "An American in Paris Ballet" (1951) - uncredited) 1973 Magnavox Presents Frank Sinatra (TV Special documentary) (performer: "We Can't Do That Anymore", "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", "For Me and My Gal", "New York, New York", "Nice and Easy") 1971 A Clockwork Orange (performer: "Singin' In the Rain") 1967 The Young Girls of Rochefort (performer: "Andy Amoureux", "De Hambourg à Rochefort", "Les Rencontres", "Concerto (ballet)" - un

credited) 1967 Jack and the Beanstalk (TV Movie) (performer: "Half Past April, and a Quarter to May", "A Tiny Bit of Faith", "It's Been Nice", "The Woggle-Bird Song", "One Starry Moment" (Reprise)) 1964 What a Way to Go!

(performer: "I Think that You and I Should Get Acquainted", "Musical Extravaganza") 1963 The Danny Kaye Show (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Episode #1.5 (1963) ... (performer: "Ballin' the Jack") 1959 The Gene Kelly Show (TV Movie) (performer: "For Me and My Gal") 1957 Les Girls (performer: "Les Girls", "You're Just Too Too!", "Why Am I So Gone (About that Gal)?", "The Rope Dance" - uncredited) 1956 Invitation to the Dance (performer: "Circus", "Ring Around The Rosy", "Sinbad the Sailor") 1955-1956 MGM Parade (TV Series) (performer - 4 episodes) - Episode #1.19 (1956) ... (performer: "The Babbitt and the Bromide") - Episode #1.11 (1955) ...

(performer: "For Me and My Gal" - uncredited) - Episode #1.10 (1955) ... (performer: "For Me and My Gal" - uncredited) - Episode #1.2 (1955) ...

(performer: "I Like Myself" - uncredited) 1955 It's Always Fair Weather (performer: "March, March" (1955), "The Time for Parting" (1955), "Once Upon a Time" (1955), "I Shouldn't Have Come" (1955), "I Like Myself" (1955) - uncredited) 1954 Deep in My Heart (performer: "I Love to Go Swimmin' with Wimmen") 1954 Brigadoon (performer: "I'll Go Home with Bonnie Jean", "The Heather on the Hill", "Almost Like Being in Love", "The Heather on the Hill" (reprise) - uncredited) 1952 Singin' in the Rain (performer: "Fit as a Fiddle" (1932), "You Were Meant For Me" (1929), "Moses Supposes" (1952), "Good Morning" (1939), "Singin' in the Rain" (1929), "Broadway Rhythm Ballet" (

1952), "Singin in the Rain (in A-Flat)" (1929), "You Are My Lucky Star" (1935), "Main Title" (uncredited), "Would You?

(End Title)" (uncredited)) 1951 An American in Paris (performer: "Our Love Is Here to Stay" (1937), "By Strauss" (1936), "Tra-la-la (This Time It's Really Love)" (1922), "I Got Rhythm" (1930), "'S Wonderful" (1927), "An American in Paris Ballet" - uncredited) 1950 Summer Stock (performer: "All for You", "Dig-Dig-Dig Dig For Your Dinner", " (Howdy Neighbor) Happy Harvest", "Heavenly Music", "You Wonderful You", "Portland Fancy" - uncredited) 1949 On the Town (performer: "New York, New York", "A Day in New York", "Prehistoric Man" (uncredited), "Main Street" (uncredited), "On the Town" (uncredited), "Count on Me" (uncredited), "That's All There Is, Folks" (uncredited)) 1949 Take Me Out to the Ball Game (performer: "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", "Yes, Inde

edy" (uncredited), "O'Brien to Ryan to Goldberg" (uncredited), "Strictly U.S.A." (uncredited), "The Hat My Dear Old Father Wore upon St.

Patrick's Day" (uncredited)) Gene Kelly - Biography - IMDb Gene Kelly Biography Showing all 72 items Jump to: Overview (4) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (3) | Trade Mark (1) | Trivia (45) | Personal Quotes (18) Overview (4) 5' 8" (1.73 m) Mini Bio (1) Eugene Curran Kelly was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the third son of Harriet Catherine (Curran) and James Patrick Joseph Kelly, a phonograph salesman. His father was of Irish descent and his mother was of Irish and German ancestry. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer was the largest and most powerful studio in Hollywood when Gene Kelly arrived in town in 1941. He came direct from the hit 1940 original Broadway production of "Pal Joey" and planned to return to the Broadway stage after making the one film required by his contract. His first picture for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer was For Me and My Gal (1942) with Judy Garland . What kept Kelly in Hollywood were "the kindred creative spirits" he found behind the scenes at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

The talent pool was especially large during World War II, when Hollywood was a refuge for many musicians and others in the performing arts of Europe who were forced to flee the Nazis. After the war, a new generation was coming of age. Those who saw An American in Paris (1951) would try to make real life as romantic as the reel life they saw portrayed in that musical, and the first time they saw Paris, they were seeing again in memory the seventeen-minute ballet sequence set to the title song written by George Gershwin and choreographed by Kelly. The sequence cost a half million dollars (U.S.) to make in 1951 dollars. Another Kelly musical of the era, Singin' in the Rain (1952), was one of the first 25 films selected by the Library of Congress for its National Film Registry. Kelly was in the same league as Fred Astaire , but instead of a top hat and tails Kelly wore work clothes that went with his masculine, athletic dance style. Gene Kelly died at age 83 of complications from two strokes on February 2, 1996 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Dale O'Connor <daleoc@worldnet.att.net> Spouse (3) Known for his innovative, athletic style of dancing Trivia (45) During World War II, he was a sailor stationed at the United States Naval Photographic Center in Anacostia, D.C. (where the documentary Victory at Sea (1952) was later assembled for NBC-TV). He starred in several Navy films while on active duty there and in "civilian" films while on leave. Attended Peabody High School in the East Liberty section of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ranked #26 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997] Inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame in 1992. Kelly's father was Al Jolson 's road manager in the 1920s. Had three children: Kerry Kelly , with Betsy Blair , in 1942, and Bridget Kelly and Tim Kelly, with Jeanne Coyne , in the 1960s.

Had a half-moon shaped scar on his left cheek caused by a bicycle accident he had as a young boy. Was dance consultant for Madonna 's 1993 "Girlie Show" tour. Attended Penn State University before transferring to University of Pittsburgh, where he graduated. His first two wives were dancers. Actress Betsy Blair met Gene while she was a performer and he a choreographer in the show "Diamond Horseshoe". Second wife Jeanne Coyne was Gene's dancing assistant for many years before they married in 1960. A major talent in her own right, her dazzling footwork can be seen in the "From This Moment On" number alongside partner Bobby Van , Ann Miller , Tommy Rall , Carol Haney and Bob Fosse in Kiss Me Kate (1953) (1953). She died of leukemia in 1973. He and his younger brother Fred Kelly appeared together in a dancing vaudeville act.

When Gene got his big break as Harry the hoofer in the dramatic Broadway production of "The Time of Your Life" in 1939, he was eventually replaced by brother Fred, who took it on the road and won a Donaldson award for his efforts. Working on an autobiography at the time of his death. Graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in economics. Kennedy Center Honoree, 1982 A stage version of "Singin' in the Rain" was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 2001 for Outstanding Musical Production, with choreography by Kelly. Martial arts stars Jackie Chan and David Carradine both cite him as an influence. Awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton in 1994. Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume Two, 1945-1985". Pages 510-515. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1988. He was voted the 42nd Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.

Was named the #15 greatest actor on The 50 Greatest Screen Legends list by the American Film Institute Is one of the many movie stars mentioned in Madonna 's song "Vogue" Biography in: "American National Biography". Supplement 1, pp. 309-312. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1959 Ray Bradbury 's novel "Something Wicked This Way Comes" was dedicated to Kelly. Has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6153 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. His last movie musical was Xanadu (1980) co-starring Olivia Newton-John . Had a fever of 103 degrees while filming the famous rain scene in Singin' in the Rain (1952). Famed producer David O. Selznick signed Gene to his first Hollywood contract after seeing him star in "Pal Joey" while on Broadway. Though Gene had had other offers from studios, he chose to sign with Selznick mostly because his was the only studio that did not insist on a screen test before signing him.

Selznick sold Kelly's contact to MGM before he could find a suitable role for him to appear in. He and MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer shared a long standing feud stemming from even before Kelly entered the motion picture business. One evening after seeing Gene perform in "Pal Joey" on Broadway, Mayer met Kelly backstage and offered to sign him to MGM without a screen test. When Kelly later received a call from a MGM representative requesting a screen test, he insisted there was some sort of mistake saying he had Mayer's word he did not have to make one and told the rep to ask Mayer himself. When the rep did, he called back days later stating that he did talk to Mayer and that he still had to make a test. Gene was furious and wrote a scathing letter to Mayer for retracting his promise. For the first couple of years he worked for Mayer, Kelly was uncertain that Mayer even read the letter until Louis brought it up in an argument one evening. Tony Martin the husband of MGM star/dancer Cyd Charisse said he could tell who she had been dancing with that day on an MGM set.

If she came home covered with bruises on her, it was the very physically-demanding Gene Kelly , if not it was the smooth and agile Fred Astaire . Was originally set to star as Don Hewes alongside Judy Garland in Easter Parade (1948). However, before filming began, he broke his leg, resulting in Fred Astaire coming out of retirement in order to replace him in the film. Bob Fosse originally wanted him for a lead role in a musical film adaptation of the Maurine Dallas Watkins play "Chicago" around the early 1970s. He eventually gave up the choice, and Fosse opted to do a stage musical instead. His death is mentioned in the Dream Theater song "Take Away My Pain" from their album "Falling into Infinity" released in 1997 with the lyric "he said look at poor Gene Kelly, I guess he won't be singing in the rain". Joined the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity while studying at the University of Pittsburgh. He was a lifelong staunch liberal Democrat. Was a fan of the Pittsburg Steelers. His father was of Irish descent and his mother was of half Irish and half German ancestry.

Jeanne Coyne, Kelly's second wife, was previously married to his show-business partner Stanley Donen. Inducted into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame in 2014. His trademark scar on the left side of his face was the result of a bike accident when Gene was 5 years old, which required stitches. The actor-director named "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" as his favorite film for the AFI. In order to secure the film rights to the hit musical "Best Foot Forward," MGM loaned the services of Gene Kelly to Columbia for one picture. Although it was assumed the studio would mount an adaptation of Kelly's stage hit "Pal Joey," for which they owned the screen rights, they instead co-starred him with their top star, Rita Hayworth, in "Cover Girl." Ironically when they did finally film the property over a decade later with Frank Sinatra, Hayworth again co-starred. After his death it was reported that Kelly had donated money to the Provisional IRA in the 1970s. In early 1943 MGM announced Gene Kelly was to appear in the forthcoming production The Human Comedy (1943). He eventually did not appear in the film.

Was one of Heath Ledger's idols. Personal Quotes (18) [on his working experience with Debbie Reynolds while filming Singin' in the Rain (1952) (1952)] I wasn't nice to Debbie. It's a wonder she still speaks to me. There was no model for what I tried to do with dance . . . and the thing Fred Astaire and I used to bitch about was that critics didn't know how to categorize us. They called us tap dancers because that was considered the American style. But neither of us were basically tap dancers. The contract system at Hollywood studios like MGM was a very efficient system in that because we were at the studio all the time we could rehearse a lot. But it also really repressed people. There were no union regulations yet, and we were all indentured servants - you can call us slaves if you want - like ballplayers before free agency. We had seven-year contracts, but every six months the studio could decide to fire you if your picture wasn't a hit. And if you turned down a role, they cut off your salary and simply added the time to your contract.

Kids talk to me and say they want to do musicals again because they've studied the tapes of the old films. We didn't have that. We thought once we had made it, even on film, it was gone except for the archives. I arrived in Hollywood twenty pounds overweight and as strong as an ox. But if I put on a white tails and tux like [ Fred Astaire ], I still looked like a truck driver.

Question: What was Gene Kelly's middle name?
Answer: Curran