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A Tribute to Fred Astaire Buy Fred Astaire Prints (This article was originally written in May, 1999, in celebration of the Astaire Centennial. It has been updated several times since then.) Many say he was the greatest dancer in movie history. Some even say he was one of the greatest jazz singers. His acting ability improved with age; in fact, his first and only Oscar nomination came in 1975, for Best Supporting Actor in The Towering Inferno, when he was 76 years old. On the other hand, there was the studio drone whose opinion reportedly was, "Can't act. Slightly bald. Also dances." Balding or not, there has never been anybody else quite like Fred Astaire. He made 51 theatrical films and TV movies, and not one of them could be called "bad." Even The Over-the-Hill-Gang Rides Again (1970) and The Amazing Dobermans (1976) were enlivened by his presence. With Ginger Rogers, who did everything Fred did, but backwards, he was one-half of the most famous dance team ever. He was also a master choreographer, known for a perfectionism that was in stark contrast to what appeared to be an almost effortless grace on the screen. You can learn almost anything you want to about Fred Astaire and his long career by visiting the sites listed in this four-part article. Part I: Introduction Part II: Fred Astaire Tributes and Other Pages Part III: Movie Reviews & Where to Find His Movies Part IV: Photos, Art, and Posters

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June Allyson Jean Arthur Fred Astaire Lauren Bacall Lucille Ball Anne Bancroft Brigitte Bardot Ingrid Bergman Milton Berle Humphrey Bogart Ernest Borgnine Marlon Brando Lloyd Bridges James Cagney Eddie Cantor Frank Capra Charlie Chaplin John Carradine James Coburn Claudette Colbert Gary Cooper Jackie Cooper Joan Crawford Tony Curtis Bette Davis Doris Day Olivia de Havilland James Dean Marlene Dietrich Walt Disney Kirk Douglas Melvyn Douglas Clint Eastwood Errol Flynn Henry Fonda Glenn Ford Clark Gable Greta Garbo Ava Gardner Judy Garland Betty Grable Cary Grant Alec Guinness Jean Harlow Richard Harris Rita Hayworth Helen Hayes Audrey Hepburn Katharine Hepburn Charlton Heston Alfred Hitchcock William Holden Bob Hope John Huston Van Johnson Buster Keaton Gene Kelly Grace Kelly Deborah Kerr Stanley Kubrick Burt Lancaster Janet Leigh Vivien Leigh Jack Lemmon Sophia Loren Ida Lupino Marx Brothers Shirley MacLaine Walter Matthau Roddy McDowall Robert Mitchum Marilyn Monroe Paul Newman Jack Nicholson Kim Novak Margaret O'Brien Donald O'Connor Maureen O'Hara Laurence Olivier Maureen O'Sullivan Gregory Peck Sidney Poitier Cole Porter William Powell Tyrone Power Elvis Presley Vincent Price Anthony Quinn Ronald Reagan Christopher Reeve Debbie Reynolds Jason Robards Edward G. Robinson Richard Rodgers Ginger Rogers Roy Rogers Mickey Rooney George C. Scott Peter Sellers Jean Simmons Frank Sinatra Barbara Stanwyck Rod Steiger Jimmy Stewart Gloria Swanson Elizabeth Taylor Shirley Temple Spencer Tracy Rudy Vallee Eli Wallach John Wayne Orson Welles Richard Widmark Billy Wilder Shelley Winters Natalie Wood Jane Wyman Loretta Young Robert Young

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