History Creator / FredAstaire

* ThoseTwoActors: Himelf and Creator/GingerRogers.

* BeamMeUpScotty: A comment about an early Screen Test about Astaire supposedly said, "Can't sing. Can't act. Balding. Can dance a little." Astaire's producer of his films with Rogers claims that the note was pure invention while Astaire claimed the note said, "[[ITakeOffenseToThatLastOne Can't act. Slightly bald. Also dances]]." Regardless, it's generally agreed that the test [[ItWillNeverCatchOn did not go well]].

-->-- '''GeneKelly'''

* StageNames: He was born as Frederick Austerlitz.

* BeamMeUpScotty: A comment about an early Screen Test about Astaire supposedly said, "Can't sing. Can't act. Balding. Can dance a little." Astaire's producer of his films with Rogers claims that the note was pure invention while Astaire claimed the note said, "[[NoExceptYes Can't act. Slightly bald. Also dances]]." Regardless, it's generally agreed that the test [[ItWillNeverCatchOn did not go well]].

* ValuesDissonance:[[invoked]] Performing "Bojangles of Harlem" in ''Swing Time''...in {{blackface}}. Whoops. He also did a less-known {{yellowface}} number in a tribute to Florenz Ziegfeld. (Don't ask. The 1945 film was supposedly about the Follies, but was mostly a variety show with random skits and songs.)

* ValuesDissonance:[[invoked]] Performing "Bojangles of Harlem" in ''Swing Time''...in {{blackface}}. Whoops. He also did a less-known {{yellowface}} number in a tribute to Florenz Ziegfeld.

* ShoutOut: Performing "Bojangles of Harlem" in ''Swing Time''...in {{blackface}}. Whoops. He also did a less-known {{yellowface}} number in a tribute to Florenz Ziegfeld.
** Interestingly, people tend to forgive this because of his tribute to Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, in which his admiration for a fellow dancer shines through. Contrast with Al Jolson, who will never live down "[[TheJazzSinger Mammy]]".

* ShoutOut: Performing "Bojangles of Harlem" in ''Swing Time''...in {{blackface}}. Whoops. Interestingly, people tend to forgive this because of the tributes to Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, in which his admiration for a fellow dancer shines through. Contrast with Al Jolson, who will never live down "[[TheJazzSinger Mammy]]".

* The Gay Divorcee (1934)

Eventually, he retired from dancing on film and started a chain of dancing schools, then he returned to dancing musicals and kept going until ''FiniansRainbow'' in 1968. After that, the rest of his career was in straight acting with a light comedic tone, often as an amiable con artist type in works as varied as ''TheToweringInferno'' and the ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|Classic}}'' episode, "The Man With Nine Lives," as Chameleon.

* TheToweringInferno (1974) He doesn't dance, he has a small roll as a con man who tries to swindle widows but isn't very good at it.

Fred Astaire (1899 - 1987) was a film and stage actor, choreographer, singer, musician, and the original dancing machine. He made 31 musical films, and was named the fifth greatest male star of all time by the American Film Institute.

Fred Astaire was a film and stage actor, choreographer, singer, musician, and the original dancing machine. He made 31 musical films, and was named the fifth greatest male star of all time by the American Film Institute.

* Series/ItTakesAThief1968 (Played the RecurringCharacter of Alistair Mundy in several third season episodes)

* BeamMeUpScotty: A comment about an early Screen Test about Astaire supposedly said, "Can't sing. Can't act. Balding. Can dance a little." Astaire's producer of his films with Rogers claims that the note was pure invention while Astaire claimed the note said, "Can't act. Slightly bald. Also dances." Regardless, it's generally agreed that the test [[ItWillNeverCatchOn did not go well]].

* ShoutOut: Performing "Bonjangles of Harlem" in ''Swing Time''...in {{blackface}}. Whoops. Interestingly, people tend to forgive this because of the tributes to Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, in which his admiration for a fellow dancer shines through. Contrast with Al Jolson, who will never live down "[[TheJazzSinger Mammy]]".

* SharpDressedMan: Astaire was a huge influence on 20th Century fashion. The style of clothes he wore in his films (such as the "Isn't It A Lovely Day?" in ''Film/TopHat'') would become extremely popular. He chose and provided his own outfits for the entirity of ''Top Hat''.
* ShoutOut: Performing "Swing Time" in ''Bonjangles of Harlem''...in {{blackface}}. Whoops. Interestingly, people tend to forgive this because of the tributes to Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, in which his admiration for a fellow dancer shines through. Contrast with Al Jolson, who will never live down "[[TheJazzSinger Mammy]]".

Also an originator of the GravityScrew, capable of tap-dancing across the ceiling in a signature scene from ''Royal Wedding'' (1951) (as seen [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8n7WQIXQDs#t=89s here]]). The rotating room/fixed camera trick has since been borrowed by everyone from [[{{Series/LoisAndClark}} Superman]] to [[{{Film/Inception}} Christopher Nolan]].

* TomHanksSyndrome: Didn't often stray from his prescribed 'type', but when he did, the result was some genuinely boffo acting. Fred Astaire's dramatic roles include ''Easter Parade''--if one could even call it 'dramatic'-- in which he plays an imperious dance instructor, and the post-apocalyptic film ''OnTheBeach'' (in which Astaire doesn't dance at all).

* OnTheBeach (1959)

* BeamMeUpScotty: A comment about an early Screen Test about Astaire supposedly said, "Can't sing. Can't act. Balding. Can dance a little." Astaire's producer of his films with Rogers claims that the note was pure invention while Astaire claimed the note said, "Can't act. Slightly bald. Also dances." Regardless, it's generally agreed that the test [[ItWillNeverCatchOn did not go well].

* BeamMeUpScotty: A comment about an early Screen Test about Astaire supposedly said, "Can't sing. Can't act. Balding. Can dance a little." Astaire's producer of his films with Rogers claims that the note was pure invention while Astaire claimed the note said, "Can't act. Slightly bald. Also dances." Regardless, it's generally agreed that the test did not go well.

* Flying Down to Rio (1933)

->''"When Ginger Rogers danced with Astaire, it was the only time in the movies when [[EvenTheGuysWantHim you looked at the man, not the woman]]."''

* AcademyAward: He received an honorary award in 1949/1950 for "for his unique artistry and his contributions to the technique of musical pictures" which was presented to him by Ginger Rogers.
* BeamMeUpScotty: A comment about an early ScreenTest about Astaire supposedly said, "Can't sing. Can't act. Balding. Can dance a little." Astaire's producer of his films with Rogers claims that the note was pure invention while Astaire claimed the note said, "Can't act. Slightly bald. Also dances." Regardless, it's generally agreed that the test did not go well.

* ThoseTwoActors: Himelf and Ginger Rogers.

* ShoutOut: Performing "Swing Time" in ''Bonjangles of Harlem''...in {{blackface}}. Whoops. Interestingly, people tend to forgive this because of the tributes to Bill "Bonjangles" Robinson, in which his admiration for a fellow dancer shines through. Contrast with Al Jolson, who will never live down "[[TheJazzSinger Mammy]]".