Trivia – Did You Know This About Gene Kelly?
** During World War II he was a sailor stationed at the U S Naval Photographic Center in Anacostia, DC 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.
** 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.
** 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 with a degree in economics.
** 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 1942, he was eventually replaced by brother Fred, who took it on the road and won a Donaldson award for his efforts.
** Kennedy Center Honoree, 1982
** Singin’ in the Rain was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 2001 for Outstanding Musical Production, with choreography by Kelly.
** Awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton in 1994.
** 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
** His last movie musical was Xanadu 1980 co-starring Olivia Newton-John.
Enjoy this clip from the 1950 film Summer Stock.