Actor · Director
Gene Kelly
Born 23 August 1912 · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA — died 2 February 1996
Gene Kelly (1912–1996) was an American dancer, actor, singer, choreographer and director. His athletic, down-to-earth dance style set him apart from more elegant contemporaries. He helped shape the Hollywood musical at MGM in the 1940s and 1950s, notably as co-director of On the Town and Singin' in the Rain.
Key films
Singin' in the Rain (1952)On Cinespective
His most celebrated film, which he co-directed and starred in; often named among the greatest movie musicals.
An American in Paris (1951)
Showcased his choreography, including a long closing ballet, in a lavish musical built around Gershwin's music.
On the Town (1949)
His directorial debut, co-directed with Stanley Donen, with song and dance filmed on real New York locations.
Anchors Aweigh (1945)
A hit that earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and featured a famous dance with an animated mouse.
Cover Girl (1944)
A Technicolor musical that raised his profile as a leading man and as an inventive choreographer.
Key awards
- 1951 Honorary Academy Award (presented 1952) for versatility and choreography
- 1957 Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award
- 1982 Kennedy Center Honors
- 1985 AFI Life Achievement Award
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 118
- 1942For Me and My Gal · as Harry PalmerActor
- 1943The Cross of Lorraine · as VictorActor
- 1943Thousands Cheer · as Eddie MarshActor
- 1943Du Barry Was a Lady · as Alec Howe / Black ArrowActor
- 1943Pilot #5 · as Vito S. AlessandroActor
- 1944Cover Girl · as Danny McGuireActor
- 1944Christmas Holiday · as Robert ManetteActor
- 1944Twenty Years After · as (archive footage)Actor
- 1945Anchors Aweigh · as Joseph BradyActor
- 1945Ziegfeld Follies · as Gentleman (segment "The Babbit and the Bromide")Actor
- 1945Combat Fatigue Irritability · as Seaman Bob LucasActor
- 1945Combat Fatigue IrritabilityDirector
- 1945The Story of Submarine Warfare in the Pacific · as Narrator (voice)Actor
- 1947Living in a Big Way · as Leo GogartyActor
- 1948The Three Musketeers · as D'ArtagnanActor
- 1948The Pirate · as SerafinActor
- 1948Words and Music · as Gene KellyActor
- 1949On the TownDirector
- 1949On the Town · as GabeyActor
- 1949Take Me Out to the Ball Game · as Eddie O'BrienActor
- 1950Summer Stock · as Joe D. RossActor
- 1950Black Hand · as Giovanni E. 'Johnny' ColumboActor
- 1950The Costume Designer · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1951An American in Paris · as Jerry MulliganActor
- 1951It's a Big Country · as Icarus XenophonActor
- 1952Singin' in the Rain · as Don LockwoodActor
- 1952Singin' in the RainDirector
- 1952The Devil Makes Three · as Jeff EliotActor
- 1952Love Is Better Than Ever · as Gene Kelly (uncredited)Actor
- 1954Brigadoon · as Tommy AlbrightActor
- 1954Deep in My Heart · as Performer (segment "Dancing Around")Actor
- 1954Seagulls Over Sorrento · as Lieutenant BradvilleActor
- 1955It's Always Fair WeatherDirector
- 1955It's Always Fair Weather · as Ted RileyActor
- 1956Invitation to the DanceDirector
- 1956Invitation to the Dance · as Host / Pierrot / The Marine / SinbadActor
- 1957Les Girls · as Barry NicholsActor
- 1957The Happy Road · as Michael J. AndrewsActor
- 1957The Happy RoadDirector
- 1957The Life You Save May Be Your Own · as Tom T. TriplettActor
- 1958The Tunnel of LoveDirector
- 1958Marjorie Morningstar · as Noel AirmanActor
- 1958Dancing, a Man's Game - Gene Kelly · as SelfActor
- 1958Dancing, a Man's Game - Gene KellyDirector
- 1960Inherit the Wind · as E.K. HornbeckActor
- 1960Let's Make Love · as Gene Kelly (uncredited)Actor
- 1961Hollywood: The Golden Years · as Self - HostActor
- 1962GigotDirector
- 1964What a Way to Go! · as Pinky BensonActor
- 1964American in ParisDirector
- 1965The Julie Andrews Show · as SelfActor
- 1966Behind the screens : Les demoiselles de Rochefort · as SelfActor
- 1967The Young Girls of Rochefort · as Andy MillerActor
- 1967A Guide for the Married ManDirector
- 1967Jack and the Beanstalk · as Jeremy Keen, the PeddlerActor
- 1967Jack and the BeanstalkDirector
- 1969Hello, Dolly!Director
- 1970The Cheyenne Social ClubDirector
- 1972Hollywood: The Dream Factory · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 197340 Carats · as Billy BoylanActor
- 1973The Men Who Made the Movies: Vincente Minnelli · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1973Frank Sinatra: Ol' Blue Eyes is Back · as Self - Guest PerformerActor
- 1974That's Entertainment! · as Self - Host / NarratorActor
- 1974The Sandy Duncan Special · as SelfActor
- 1975The Lion Roars Again · as SelfActor
- 1976That's Entertainment, Part II · as Self - HostActor
- 1976That's Entertainment, Part IIDirector
- 1976It's Showtime · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1976NBC: The First Fifty Years · as SelfActor
- 1977Viva Knievel! · as Will AtkinsActor
- 1977An Evening with Gene Kelly · as SelfActor
- 1977Yabba Dabba Doo! The Happy World of Hanna-Barbera · as Self - HostActor
- 1978Mickey's 50 · as SelfActor
- 1978Cinderella at the Palace · as HostActor
- 1978The Carpenters: A Christmas Portrait · as SelfActor
- 1978Ersatz · as Don Lockwood (voice) (archive sound)Actor
- 1979Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years · as SelfActor
- 1980Xanadu · as Danny McGuireActor
- 1980Olivia Newton-John: Hollywood Nights · as SelfActor
- 1980Lucy Moves to NBC · as SelfActor
- 1981Reporters · as SelfActor
- 1982Night of 100 Stars · as SelfActor
- 1982The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell · as Self - Narrator (voice)Actor
- 1982Showbiz Goes to War · as (archive footage)Actor
- 1982Sylvie Vartan: Live in Las Vegas · as SelfActor
- 1983James Bond: The First 21 Years · as SelfActor
- 1984Olympic GalaActor
- 1985That's Dancing! · as Self - HostActor
- 1986The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1987James Stewart: A Wonderful Life · as SelfActor
- 1987The Movie Palaces · as SelfActor
- 1988Roger Rabbit and the Secrets of Toon Town · as Self – IntervieweeActor
- 1988Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues · as SelfActor
- 1990Tom & Jerry's 50th Birthday Bash · as SelfActor
- 1990You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story · as SelfActor
- 1993The Young Girls Turn 25 · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1994That's Entertainment! III · as Self - HostActor
- 1995The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies · as SelfActor
- 1998A Bing Crosby Christmas · as Self / Narrator (archive footage)Actor
- 2000Hollywood Musicals of the 40's · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2002Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2003Cole Porter in Hollywood: Ça c'est l'amour · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2004Judy Garland: By Myself · as Self - Actor (archive sound)Actor
- 2004AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies · as Don LockwoodActor
- 2005Reunited at MGM: Astaire and Rogers Together Again · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2005Easter Parade: On the Avenue · as Self (Archive Footage)Actor
- 2005Get Aboard! 'The Band Wagon' · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2006Happy Again · as Don Lockwood (archive footage)Actor
- 2006Summer Stock: Get Happy! · as Joe D. Ross (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 2009Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing · as (archive footage)Actor
- 2009Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1950s: The Golden Era of the Musical · as Self (archive)Actor
- 2011Frank Sinatra: Around the World · as Self - GuestActor
- 2013Directing Dolly: Gene Kelly Remembered · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2017JFK: The Lost Inaugural Gala · as SelfActor
- 2018La La La · as Various Roles (archive footage)Actor
- 2019Sid & Judy · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2024True Blue · as (Archive Footage)Actor
- 2025Gene Kelly: An American in Hollywood · as Self - Portrait Subject & Interviewee (archive footage)Actor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.