Donald O’Connor was also an exceptional dancer, using extraordinary athletic skills to build a reputation as a peerless dancing performer.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, O’Connor boxed as a child to defend himself from bullies and carried what he learned into his long Hollywood career. He did the same with other sports, including baseball, swimming, and tennis.
O’Connor seemingly flying through the air (photo courtesy of Frame Dance)
Athletic versatility and endurance helped him become a great dancer. Soon, he performed gravity-defying acrobatics, backflips, and slapstick that required rigorous training, intense focus, and a range of skills.
During his movie career, O’Connor applied that to sports-related films, including his role as Sticky Boone in Million-Dollar Legs (1939). Set at Middleton College, Boone joins a group planning to revive the school’s lagging rowing program. He also starred in Unmarried (1939), where O’Connor played Ted Streaver, a football hero. But then a dishonest boxing promoter enters the scene and tries to convince Ted to enter the ring.
O’Connor with Francis (photo courtesy of Golden Age of Film)
O’Connor starred in many other films during that era, including a set that featured him as Peter Sterling, who owns “Francis the Talking Mule.” The popular series included Francis (1950), Francis Goes to the Races (1951), Francis Goes to West Point (1952), Francis Covers the Big Town (1953), Francis Joins the WACS (1954), and Francis in the Navy (1955).
Among O’Connor’s most memorable performances was 1953, when he played Melvin Hoover in the musical comedy I Love Melvin. The film featured Debbie Reynolds and O’Connor in a variety of dance routines, including one dance sequence in which O’Connor turns into a football on the football field.
Those were just a few of the many films in which O’Connor appeared over a six-decade career. Others included included Sing You Sinners (1938), Tom Sawyer, Detective (1938), Beau Geste (1939), On Your Toes (1939), Top Man (1943), Follow the Boys (1944), The Merry Monahans (1944), Bowery to Broadway (1944), Feudin’, Fussin’, and A-Fightin’ (1948), Yes Sir That’s My Baby (1949), The Milkman (1950), Singin’ in the Rain (1952), Call Me Madam (1953), Walking My Baby Back Home (1953), There’s No Business Like Show Business (1954), Anything Goes (1956), That’s Entertainment (1974), and Out to Sea (1997).
He also appeared in Broadway productions, including Promises, Promises (1972), Where’s Charley? (1976), Show Boat (1982-1983), I Ought to Be in Pictures (1982), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1985), and The Sunshine Boys (1990).
A tireless and popular performer, Donald O’Connor lived an amazing life. He died in 2003 at 78.
