Donald O'Connor (1925–2003)

Actor | Director | Producer

Born into a vaudeville family, O'Connor was the youthful figure cutting a rug in several Universal ...

Born: August 28, 1925
Died: September 27, 2003 (age 78)

Photos

Filmography

Known For

Singin' in the Rain Cosmo Brown (1952)
I Love Melvin Melvin Hoover (1953)
Call Me Madam Kenneth Gibson (1953)
Known For

Beau Geste Beau Geste (as a child) (1939)
Actor

Out to Sea Jonathan Devereaux (1997)
Father Frost Baba Yaga (1996)
The Nanny Fred (1996)
Frasier Harlow Safford (1996)
Bandit: Bandit's Silver Angel Uncle Cyrus (1994)
The Building Bonnie's Father (1993)
Toys Kenneth Zevo (1992)
Tales from the Crypt Joseph Renfield (1992)
Murder, She Wrote Barry Barnes (1990)
A Time to Remember Father Walsh (1988)
A Mouse, a Mystery and Me Alex the Mouse (1987)
Highway to Heaven Jackie Clark (1987)
The Love Boat Leo Halbert (1981-1986)
Alice in Wonderland The Lory Bird (1985)
Half Nelson The Director (1985)
Hotel David Connelly (1983)
Great Performances Mock Turtle (1983)
Simon & Simon George Decova (1983)
Pandemonium Glenn's Dad (1982)
Fantasy Island Dr. Watson (1982)
The Littlest Hobo Freddie the Clown (1982)
Ragtime Evelyn's Dance Instructor (1981)
Alice Donald O'Connor (1981)
The Big Fix Francis Joins the Navy (1978)
Hunter (1977)
Police Story Holly Connor (1976)
The Bionic Woman Harry Anderson (1976)
Ellery Queen Kenny Freeman (1975)
The Girl with Something Extra William (1974)
Li'l Abner General Bullmoose (1971)
The Jackie Gleason Show Charlie Ryan (1969)
ABC Stage 67 Hermes (1966)
Vacation Playhouse Donald Dugan (1966)
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre Benjamin Boggs (1966)
That Funny Feeling Harvey Granson (1965)
The Wonders of Aladdin Aladdin (1961)
Cry for Happy Murray Prince (1961)
The Donald O'Connor Show Donald O'Connor (1954-1960)
The Red Skelton Hour Various in Sketch (1958)
The DuPont Show of the Month Johnny Shaw (1958)
Playhouse 90 Dr. Robert Harrison (1957)
The Buster Keaton Story Buster Keaton (1957)
Anything Goes Ted Adams (1956)
Francis in the Navy Lt. Peter Stirling / Slicker Donevan (1955)
There's No Business Like Show Business Tim Donahue (1954)
Francis Joins the WACS Peter Stirling (1954)
Walking My Baby Back Home Clarence 'Jigger' Millard (1953)
Francis Covers the Big Town Peter Stirling (1953)
I Love Melvin Melvin Hoover (1953)
Call Me Madam Kenneth Gibson (1953)
Francis Goes to West Point Peter Stirling (1952)
Singin' in the Rain Cosmo Brown (1952)
Francis Goes to the Races Peter Stirling (1951)
Double Crossbones Davey Crandall (1951)
The Milkman Roger Bradley (1950)
Curtain Call at Cactus Creek Edward Timmons (1950)
Francis 2nd Lt. Peter Stirling (1950)
Yes Sir, That's My Baby William Waldo Winfield (1949)
Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin' Wilbur McMurty (1948)
Are You with It? Milton Haskins (1948)
Something in the Wind Charlie Read (1947)
Bowery to Broadway Specialty Number (1944)
The Merry Monahans Jimmy Monahan (1944)
Patrick the Great Pat Donahue Jr. (1944)
This Is the Life Jimmy Plum (1944)
Follow the Boys Donald O'Connor (1944)
Chip Off the Old Block Donald Corrigan (1944)
Top Man Don Warren (1943)
Mister Big Donald J. O'Connor, Esq. (1943)
It Comes Up Love Ricky Ives (1943)
When Johnny Comes Marching Home Frankie Flanagan (1942)
Get Hep to Love Jimmy Arnold (1942)
Give Out, Sisters Don (1942)
Private Buckaroo Donny (1942)
What's Cookin' Tommy (1942)
On Your Toes Phil Jr. as a Boy (1939)
Death of a Champion Small Fry (1939)
Night Work Butch Smiley (1939)
Beau Geste Beau Geste (as a child) (1939)
Million Dollar Legs Sticky Boone (1939)
Unmarried Ted Streaver - Age 12 (1939)
Boy Trouble Butch Smiley (1939)
Tom Sawyer, Detective Huckleberry Finn (1938)
Sons of the Legion Butch Baker (1938)
Sing, You Sinners Mike Beebe (1938)
Men with Wings Pat Falconer at Age 10 (1938)
It Can't Last Forever Kid Dancer (1937)
Actor

Melody for Two Specialty Act (1937)
Soundtrack

Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (2020)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2019)
Seder-Masochism (2018)
Good Morning Britain (2016)
Breakfast (2016)
Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds (2016)
Gisoku no Moses (2014)
The Neighbors (2012)
Secret Diary of a Call Girl (2010)
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical Treasure (2008)
Dancing with the Stars (2007)
Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults (1997)
That's Entertainment! III (1994)
MGM: When the Lion Roars (1992)
Frank's Place (1987)
That's Dancing! (1985)
Arena (1981)
The 52nd Annual Academy Awards (1980)
Lucy Moves to NBC (1980)
That's Entertainment, Part II (1976)
Fred Astaire Salutes the Fox Musicals (1974)
That's Entertainment! (1974)
The Judy Garland Show (1963)
Arthur Freed's Hollywood Melody (1962)
Anything Goes (1956)
There's No Business Like Show Business (1954)
Francis Joins the WACS (1954)
The 26th Annual Academy Awards (1954)
Walking My Baby Back Home (1953)
I Love Melvin (1953)
Call Me Madam (1953)
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
The Colgate Comedy Hour (1952)
Francis Goes to the Races (1951)
Double Crossbones (1951)
The Milkman (1950)
Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin' (1948)
Are You with It? (1948)
Something in the Wind (1947)
Bowery to Broadway (1944)
The Merry Monahans (1944)
This Is the Life (1944)
Follow the Boys (1944)
Mister Big (1943)
When Johnny Comes Marching Home (1942)
Private Buckaroo (1942)
On Your Toes (1939)
Soundtrack

Sing, You Sinners (1938)
Director

Petticoat Junction (1964)
Director

The Donald O'Connor Show (1954-1955)
Producer

The Donald O'Connor Show (1954-1960)
Writer

The Donald O'Connor Show (1954)
Archive footage

Le doc Stupéfiant (2022)
CBS News Sunday Morning (2018-2022)
The Movies (2019)
Compression (2016)
American Masters (2002-2014)
And the Oscar Goes to... (2014)
Lucy Moves to NBC: A Remembrance (2012)
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical Treasure (2008)
The 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2004)
The 76th Annual Academy Awards (2004)
10th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)
Hollywood Musicals of the 50's (1999)
Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults (1997)
That's Entertainment! III (1994)
Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths (1990)
Great Performances (1985)
Van Kerslig tot Kollig (1982)
Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter (1982)
Bob Hope's World of Comedy (1976)
That's Entertainment, Part II (1976)
It's Showtime (1976)
Columbo (1975)
Fred Astaire Salutes the Fox Musicals (1974)
The Hollywood Palace (1970)
Marilyn (1963)
Archive footage

Film Profile (1957)
The Ed Sullivan Show (1953-1954)
Additional Crew

Hollywood at Your Feet: The Story of the Chinese Theatre Footprints (2000)

Videos

Awards

Did You Know

In 1998, he signed on for The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies, a revue featuring 54-year-old + performers. He was their headliner, dancing and singing his way through eight performances a week. He closed out the season with the Palm Spring Follies, ...

Quotes

[In 1955] I was born and raised to entertain other people. I've heard laughter and applause and known a lot of sorrow. Everything about me is based on show business - I think it will bring me happiness. I hope so.