---
name: "Gene Kelly"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/gene-kelly"
fi1m_id: "gene-kelly"
imdb_id: "nm0000037"
tmdb_id: 13294
wikidata_id: "Q73089"
roles: ["Actor","Director"]
born: "23 August 1912"
died: "2 February 1996"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 7
average_fi1m_score: 67
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-09-26T16:21:20.677562+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Gene Kelly

## Identity

Gene Kelly

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/gene-kelly
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** gene-kelly
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000037
- **TMDB ID:** 13294
- **Wikidata ID:** Q73089
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Kelly, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q73089, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000037/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/13294

Actor and director. Born 23 August 1912 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Died 2 February 1996.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor, Director
- **Born:** 23 August 1912, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- **Died:** 2 February 1996
- **Active:** 1945–1980
- **Also known as:** 진 켈리, جین کلی, Eugene Curran Kelly
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 7: 4 acting, 3 directing
- **Frequently works with:** [Arthur Freed](https://film.one/person/arthur-freed.md), [Adolph Green](https://film.one/person/adolph-green.md), [Betty Comden](https://film.one/person/betty-comden.md), [Frank Sinatra](https://film.one/person/frank-sinatra.md), [Stanley Donen](https://film.one/person/stanley-donen.md)
- **Golden Globes:** 1 Golden Globe (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 67, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1940s 77 (2), 1950s 84 (2), 1960s 70 (2), 1980s 38 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 66 to 64 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 2 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Romance 4, Comedy 3, Music 2, Drama 1, Fantasy 1, Science Fiction 1
- **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $37m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Kelly, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q73089, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000037/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/13294

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Singin' in the Rain*](https://film.one/film/singin-in-the-rain.md) (93), [*The Young Girls of Rochefort*](https://film.one/film/the-young-girls-of-rochefort.md) (84)
- **Tubi:** [*On the Town*](https://film.one/film/on-the-town.md) (84), [*Anchors Aweigh*](https://film.one/film/anchors-aweigh.md) (70)
- **Disney+:** [*Hello, Dolly!*](https://film.one/film/hello-dolly.md) (56)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Gene Kelly

> Gene Kelly danced in sailor whites and wet streets and made the hardest craft in the studio musical look like a man getting up because a tune had come into his head. Given the right film, nothing in the genre gave us more pleasure.

Watch his hands in *Anchors Aweigh* (1945). He is dancing with a cartoon mouse who was never on the set, and he pats a head at exactly the height where a head would be, and plays every step to Jerry as though he were a small, difficult partner. That is the whole of Gene Kelly. Other dancers of the period let you feel the discipline; Kelly hid it. In our review of *Singin' in the Rain* (1952) we said he never seems to be counting steps, and we have not found a film in which he does.

He came from Broadway, where he had starred in *Pal Joey* (1940), and made his film debut at MGM in *For Me and My Gal* (1942) opposite Judy Garland. The style was fixed early: tap, ballet and modern movement mixed together and performed in ordinary clothes, without asking the audience to know which was which. He said it himself: "I wanted to dance in a pair of jeans. I wanted to dance like the man in the streets." Then came the run with Stanley Donen, co-directing and starring in *On the Town* (1949), which opened on the streets of New York, *An American in Paris* (1951), with its long closing ballet, and *Singin' in the Rain*. Those three took the film musical out of the theatre and put it on location and inside the story.

The ease was manufactured, and the people who manufactured it deserve naming. In *Anchors Aweigh* the mouse's feet land where Kelly's land because Kelly choreographed them that way and Adrienne Fazan cut the sequence so that no join shows. In *Singin' in the Rain* Donald O'Connor lets us feel the effort of a physical joke, and the film needs him to, because Kelly will not; Debbie Reynolds holds her place alongside them without becoming an accessory. The title number is the measure of him: one man, a street, a downpour, and no second joke to justify the scene. It made us happier than we expected, and the reason is on the screen. His pleasure in moving is so plain that we stopped looking for the trick.

The limits are the vehicles'. *Anchors Aweigh* runs 143 minutes around three great numbers and its story is a sailor suit with nobody much inside it. The romance in *Singin' in the Rain* is thin. He was at his best in the MGM musicals Arthur Freed produced, with Donen beside him; by *Xanadu* (1980) he was the one relaxed presence in a roller-disco fantasy that otherwise looks effortful. His duet with Olivia Newton-John is among the few things in it that work, because he looks comfortable beside her. The film is poor. He is not the reason.

Start with *Singin' in the Rain*. Go to *Anchors Aweigh* for the mouse and be patient with the rest of it.

## Biography

Gene Kelly was an American actor, dancer, singer, choreographer and director. He was born Eugene Curran Kelly on 23 August 1912 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and died on 2 February 1996 in Beverly Hills, California.

He made his film debut in *For Me and My Gal* (1942) and went on to star in and often choreograph or co-direct musicals including *On the Town* (1949), *An American in Paris* (1951) and *Singin' in the Rain* (1952), in which he played Don Lockwood and co-directed with Stanley Donen. Other notable credits include *Hello, Dolly!* (1969) as director and appearances in *Inherit the Wind* (1960) and *The Young Girls of Rochefort* (1967).

*Sources: britannica.com, en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (7)

### Performed in (4) — the average rests on these

- *Xanadu* (1980), Fi1m 38, as Danny McGuire — [page](https://film.one/film/xanadu.md)
- *The Young Girls of Rochefort* (1967), Fi1m 84, as Andy Miller — [page](https://film.one/film/the-young-girls-of-rochefort.md)
- *An American in Paris* (1951), Fi1m 76, as Jerry Mulligan — [page](https://film.one/film/an-american-in-paris.md)
- *Anchors Aweigh* (1945), Fi1m 70, as Joseph Brady — [page](https://film.one/film/anchors-aweigh.md)

### Directed (3)

- *Hello, Dolly!* (1969), Fi1m 56, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/hello-dolly.md)
- *Singin' in the Rain* (1952), Fi1m 93, as Don Lockwood — [page](https://film.one/film/singin-in-the-rain.md)
- *On the Town* (1949), Fi1m 84, as Gabey — [page](https://film.one/film/on-the-town.md)

## Complete filmography (70)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Royal Rascal Talkie* (2024), Writer
- *True Blue* (2024), as (Archive Footage)
- *Starstruck: Gene Kelly's Love Letter to Ballet* (2021), Choreographer
- *La La La* (2018), as Various Roles (archive footage)
- *Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing* (2009), as (archive footage)
- *Summer Stock: Get Happy!* (2006), as Joe D. Ross (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Happy Again* (2006), as Don Lockwood (archive footage)
- *AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies* (2004), as Don Lockwood
- *Cats Don't Dance* (1997), Thanks
- *Sins* (1986), series, as Eric Hovland
- *North and South* (1985), series, as Sen. Charles Edwards
- *Olympic Gala* (1984), Actor
- *Showbiz Goes to War* (1982), as (archive footage)
- *Xanadu* (1980), as Danny McGuire — Fi1m 38, [page](https://film.one/film/xanadu.md)
- *Cinderella at the Palace* (1978), as Host
- *Ersatz* (1978), as Don Lockwood (voice) (archive sound)
- *Viva Knievel!* (1977), as Will Atkins
- *That's Entertainment, Part II* (1976), Director
- *40 Carats* (1973), as Billy Boylan
- *The Cheyenne Social Club* (1970), Director, Producer
- *Hello, Dolly!* (1969), Director — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/hello-dolly.md)
- *A Guide for the Married Man* (1967), Director
- *The Young Girls of Rochefort* (1967), as Andy Miller — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-young-girls-of-rochefort.md)
- *Jack and the Beanstalk* (1967), as Jeremy Keen, the Peddler · Director, Choreographer, Producer
- *American in Paris* (1964), Director
- *What a Way to Go!* (1964), as Pinky Benson · Choreographer
- *Vacation Playhouse* (1963), series, Director
- *Gigot* (1962), Director
- *Going My Way* (1962), series, as Father Chuck O'Malley
- *Let's Make Love* (1960), as Gene Kelly (uncredited)
- *Inherit the Wind* (1960), as E.K. Hornbeck
- *Dancing, a Man's Game - Gene Kelly* (1958), Director
- *The Tunnel of Love* (1958), Director
- *Badman's Country* (1958), as Art Direction
- *Marjorie Morningstar* (1958), as Noel Airman
- *Les Girls* (1957), as Barry Nichols
- *The Happy Road* (1957), as Michael J. Andrews · Producer, Director
- *The Life You Save May Be Your Own* (1957), as Tom T. Triplett
- *Invitation to the Dance* (1956), as Host / Pierrot / The Marine / Sinbad · Writer, Director, Choreographer
- *MGM Parade* (1955), series, as Performer in 'Ziegfeld Follies' (archive footage)
- *It's Always Fair Weather* (1955), as Ted Riley · Choreographer, Director
- *Deep in My Heart* (1954), as Performer (segment "Dancing Around")
- *Brigadoon* (1954), as Tommy Albright · Choreographer
- *Seagulls Over Sorrento* (1954), as Lieutenant Bradville
- *The Devil Makes Three* (1952), as Jeff Eliot
- *Singin' in the Rain* (1952), as Don Lockwood · Choreographer, Director — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/singin-in-the-rain.md)
- *Love Is Better Than Ever* (1952), as Gene Kelly (uncredited)
- *It's a Big Country* (1951), as Icarus Xenophon
- *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, as Tom T. Triplett
- *An American in Paris* (1951), as Jerry Mulligan · Choreographer — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/an-american-in-paris.md)
- *Summer Stock* (1950), as Joe D. Ross
- *Black Hand* (1950), as Giovanni E. 'Johnny' Columbo
- *On the Town* (1949), as Gabey · Director — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/on-the-town.md)
- *Take Me Out to the Ball Game* (1949), as Eddie O'Brien · Choreographer, Story
- *Words and Music* (1948), as Gene Kelly
- *The Three Musketeers* (1948), as D'Artagnan
- *The Pirate* (1948), as Serafin · Choreographer
- *Living in a Big Way* (1947), as Leo Gogarty · Choreographer
- *The Story of Submarine Warfare in the Pacific* (1945), as Narrator (voice)
- *Ziegfeld Follies* (1945), as Gentleman (segment "The Babbit and the Bromide")
- *Anchors Aweigh* (1945), as Joseph Brady · Choreographer — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/anchors-aweigh.md)
- *Combat Fatigue Irritability* (1945), as Seaman Bob Lucas · Director
- *Christmas Holiday* (1944), as Robert Manette
- *Cover Girl* (1944), as Danny McGuire
- *Twenty Years After* (1944), as (archive footage)
- *The Cross of Lorraine* (1943), as Victor
- *Thousands Cheer* (1943), as Eddie Marsh
- *Du Barry Was a Lady* (1943), as Alec Howe / Black Arrow
- *Pilot #5* (1943), as Vito S. Alessandro
- *For Me and My Gal* (1942), as Harry Palmer

## Gallery

- ![Gene Kelly](https://film.one/media/person/59274/gallery-66b8f08d16a8.jpg) Gene Kelly — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Gene_kelly.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Producer Arthur Freed, center, received the Screen Producers Guild's Milestone Award at a dinner in Beverly Hilton. Julie Andrews, Fred Astaire, left, and Gene  (1964)](https://film.one/media/person/59274/gallery-f01f42cda805.jpg) Producer Arthur Freed, center, received the Screen Producers Guild's Milestone Award at a dinner in Beverly Hilton. Julie Andrews, Fred Astaire, left, and Gene  (1964) — Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Arthur_Freed_receiving_the_Screen_Producers_Guild%27s_Milestone_Award.jpg/1280px-Arthur_Freed_receiving_the_Screen_Producers_Guild%27s_Milestone_Award.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Committee for Free Spain. Portrait of M. Woolf and Jack [possibly Captain Jack White] Taken for the Committee. [Includes photo of film star Gene Kelly].: Sep 19 (1946)](https://film.one/media/person/59274/gallery-fe2116257475.png) Committee for Free Spain. Portrait of M. Woolf and Jack [possibly Captain Jack White] Taken for the Committee. [Includes photo of film star Gene Kelly].: Sep 19 (1946) — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Committee_for_Free_Spain._Portrait_of_M._Woolf_and_Jack_%28possibly_Captain_Jack_White%29_Taken_for_the_Committee._%28Includes_photo_of_film_star_Gene_Kelly%29._Sep_1946_Slide_2.png/1280px-thumbnail.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Committee for Free Spain. Portrait of M. Woolf and Jack [possibly Captain Jack White] Taken for the Committee. [Includes photo of film star Gene Kelly].: Sep 19 (1946)](https://film.one/media/person/59274/gallery-c7fb4e10941f.png) Committee for Free Spain. Portrait of M. Woolf and Jack [possibly Captain Jack White] Taken for the Committee. [Includes photo of film star Gene Kelly].: Sep 19 (1946) — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Committee_for_Free_Spain._Portrait_of_M._Woolf_and_Jack_%28possibly_Captain_Jack_White%29_Taken_for_the_Committee._%28Includes_photo_of_film_star_Gene_Kelly%29._Sep_1946_Slide_2_Trim.png/1280px-thumbnail.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Gene Kelly](https://film.one/media/person/59274/gallery-4a4181a9b306.jpg) Gene Kelly — Image via TMDB
- ![Gene Kelly](https://film.one/media/person/59274/gallery-481d459de53e.jpg) Gene Kelly — Image via TMDB
- ![Gene Kelly](https://film.one/media/person/59274/gallery-7bbb883b7296.jpg) Gene Kelly — Image via TMDB
- ![Committee for Free Spain. Portrait of M. Woolf and Jack [possibly Captain Jack White] Taken for the Committee. [Includes photo of film star Gene Kelly].: Sep 19 (1946)](https://film.one/media/person/59274/gallery-438e69ff8958.png) Committee for Free Spain. Portrait of M. Woolf and Jack [possibly Captain Jack White] Taken for the Committee. [Includes photo of film star Gene Kelly].: Sep 19 (1946) — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Committee_for_Free_Spain._Portrait_of_M._Woolf_and_Jack_%28possibly_Captain_Jack_White%29_Taken_for_the_Committee._%28Includes_photo_of_film_star_Gene_Kelly%29._Sep_1946_Slide_2_Trim_Edit.png/1280px-thumbnail.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![One of the theatrical release posters for For Me and My Gal (1942).](https://film.one/media/person/59274/gallery-41a9d82b35b1.jpg) One of the theatrical release posters for For Me and My Gal (1942). — MGM, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/For_Me_and_My_Gal.jpg/1280px-For_Me_and_My_Gal.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Gene Kelly](https://film.one/media/person/59274/gallery-6958a16fafea.jpg) Gene Kelly — Image via TMDB
- ![Gene Kelly](https://film.one/media/person/59274/gallery-e72b8ff9a2e5.jpg) Gene Kelly — Image via TMDB
- ![Gene Kelly](https://film.one/media/person/59274/gallery-4dc7ec1cc5f2.jpg) Gene Kelly — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1946: Best Actor (nominated), for *Anchors Aweigh*

### Golden Globes — 1 won

- 1981: Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award (won)

### Berlin International Film Festival — 1 won

- 1956: Golden Bear (won), for *Invitation to the Dance*

### Other awards — 3 won

- AFI Life Achievement Award 1985: AFI Life Achievement Award (won)
- Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Animated Program 1967: Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Animated Program (won), for *Jack and the Beanstalk*
- Academy Honorary Award 1951: Academy Honorary Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/gene-kelly