Donald O'Connor Biography (1925-)

Full name, Donald David Dixon Ronald O'Connor; born August 28, 1925, in Chicago, IL; son of John Edward (a circus strong man) and Effie Irene (a circus acrobat; maiden name, Crane) O'Connor; married Gwendolyn Carter (an actress), 1944 (divorced, 1954); married Gloria Noble, November, 1956; children: (firstmarriage) Donna; (second marriage) Alicia, Donald Frederick, Kevin. Addresses: Agent--Gold/Marshak/Liedtke Talent and Literary Agency, 3500 West Olive Ave., Suite 1400, Burbank, CA 91505.

Nationality
American
Gender
Male
Birth Details
August 28, 1925
Chicago, Illinois, United States

Famous Works

  • Credits; Film Appearances
  • Specialty performer, Melody for Two, Warner Bros., 1937.
  • Mike Beebe, Sing, You Sinners, Paramount, 1938.
  • Butch Baker, Sons of the Legion, Paramount, 1938.
  • Pat Falconer at age 10, Men with Wings, Paramount, 1938.
  • Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer, Detective, Paramount, 1938.
  • Ted Streaver at age 12, Unmarried (also known as Night Club Hostess), Paramount, 1939.
  • "Small Fry," Death of a Champion, Paramount, 1939.
  • Sticky Boone, Million Dollar Legs, Paramount, 1939.
  • Butch Smiley, Night Work, Paramount, 1939.
  • Phil Dolan, On Your Toes, Warner Bros., 1939.
  • Beau at age 12, Beau Geste, Paramount, 1939.
  • Butch, Boy Trouble, Paramount, 1939.
  • Donny, Private Buckaroo, Universal, 1942.
  • Tommy, What's Cookin'? (also known as Wake Up and Dream), Universal, 1942.
  • Don, Give Out, Sisters, Universal, 1942.
  • Jimmy Arnold, Get Hep to Love (also known as She's My Lovely), Universal,1942.
  • Frankie, When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Universal, 1942.
  • Strictly in the Groove, Universal, 1943.
  • Ricky, It Comes up Love, Universal, 1943.
  • Donald, Mister Big, Universal, 1943.
  • Don Warren, Top Man, Universal, 1943.
  • Donald Corrigan, Chip off the Old Block, Universal, 1944.
  • Jimmy Plum, This Is the Life, Universal, 1944.
  • Himself, Follow the Boys, Universal, 1944.
  • Jimmy Monahans, The Merry Monahans, Universal, 1944.
  • Specialty performer, Bowery to Broadway, Universal, 1944.
  • Pat Donahue, Jr., Patrick the Great, Universal, 1945.
  • Charlie Read, Something in the Wind, Universal, 1947.
  • Milton Haskins, Are You with It?, Universal, 1948.
  • Wilbur McMurty, Feudin', Fussin' and a-Fightin', Universal, 1948.
  • William Waldo Winfield, Yes Sir, That's My Baby, Universal, 1949.
  • Peter Stirling, Francis (also known as Francis the Talking Mule), Universal, 1949.
  • Edward Timmons, Curtain Call at Cactus Creek (also known as Take the Stage), Universal, 1950.
  • Roger Bradley, The Milkman, Universal, 1950.
  • Dave Crandell, Double Crossbones, Universal, 1950.
  • Peter Stirling, Francis Goes to the Races, Universal, 1951.
  • Cosmo Brown, Singin' in the Rain, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1952.
  • Peter Stirling, Francis Goes to West Point, Universal, 1952.
  • Kenneth, Call Me Madam, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1953.
  • Melvin Hoover, I Love Melvin, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1953.
  • Peter Stirling, Francis Covers the Big Town, Universal, 1953.
  • Jigger Millard, Walking My Baby Back Home, Universal, 1953.
  • Peter Stirling, Francis Joins the WACs, Universal, 1954.
  • Tim Donahue, There's No Business Like Show Business, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1954.
  • Peter Stirling, Francis in the Navy, Universal, 1955.
  • Ted Adams, Anything Goes, Paramount, 1956.
  • Buster Keaton, The Buster Keaton Story, Paramount, 1957.
  • Murray Prince, Cry for Happy, Columbia, 1961.
  • Aladdin, The Wonders of Aladdin, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1961.
  • Harvey Granson, That Funny Feeling, Universal, 1965.
  • Narrator (with others), That's Entertainment!, United Artists, 1974.
  • That's Entertainment, Part II, United Artists, 1976.
  • The Big Fix, Universal, 1979.
  • Evelyn's dance instructor, Ragtime, Paramount, 1981.
  • Glenn's dad, Pandemonium (also known Thursday the 12th), United Artists,1982.
  • Father Walsh, A Time to Remember, Filmworld Distributors, 1984.
  • Kenneth Zevo, Toys, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1992.
  • Performer, That's Entertainment!, Part III, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1994.
  • Jonathon, Out to Sea, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1997.
  • Credits; Television Appearances; Series
  • Host, Colgate Comedy Hour (also known as Colgate Variety Hour), NBC, 1951-55.
  • Host, The Donald O'Connor Texaco Show (also known as The Texaco Star Theater Starring Donald O'Connor), NBC, 1954-55.
  • Host, The Donald O'Connor Show, syndicated, 1968.
  • Credits; Television Appearances; Episodic
  • "The Red Mill," The Du Pont Show of the Month, CBS, 1958.
  • Guest host, The Tonight Show, NBC, 1962.
  • The Judy Garland Show, CBS, 1963.
  • The clown, "Freddie the Clown," The Littlest Hobo, syndicated, 1981.
  • Himself, "Guinness on Tap," Alice, CBS, 1981.
  • Barry Barnes, Murder, She Wrote, CBS, 1989.
  • Debbie Reynolds's Movie Memories, AMC, 1991.
  • "Strung Along," Tales from the Crypt, HBO, 1992.
  • Bonnie's father, The Building, CBS, 1993.
  • Fred, The Nanny, CBS, 1996.
  • Harlow Stafford, "Crane vs. Crane," Frasier, NBC, 1996.
  • Also appeared in The Dinah Shore Show, The Hollywood Palace, The Carol Burnett Show, The Julie Andrews Show, Ellery Queen, Highway to Heaven, The LoveBoat, and Hotel.
  • Credits; Television Appearances; Movies
  • Lory Bird, Alice in Wonderland, CBS, 1985.
  • Uncle Cyrus, Bandit: Bandit's Silver Angel (also known as Action Pack), syndicated, 1994.
  • Credits; Television Appearances; Specials
  • Master of ceremonies, Academy Awards Presentation, 1954.
  • Hermes, "Olympus 7-0000," ABC Stage '67, 1967.
  • NBC's 60th Anniversary Celebration, NBC, 1986.
  • "Irving Berlin's America," Great Performances, PBS, 1986.
  • Remembering Bing, PBS, 1987.
  • Happy Birthday, Hollywood!, ABC, 1987.
  • "Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow," American Masters, PBS, 1987.
  • Voice of Alex, A Mouse, a Mystery and Me (also known as The Littlest Detective; animated), NBC, 1987.
  • Happy Birthday, Bob--50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC, NBC, 1988.
  • America's Tribute to Bob Hope (also known as America at Its Finest: A Tribute to Bob Hope Cultural Center), NBC, 1988.
  • Legend to Legend Night, NBC, 1993.
  • Bob Hope: The First Ninety Years, NBC, 1993.
  • The Golden Globe's 50th Anniversary Celebration, NBC, 1994.
  • Also appeared in The Red Mill and Hollywood Melody.
  • Credits; Stage Appearances
  • (New York debut) Albert Peterson, Bring Back Birdie, Martin Beck Theatre,1981.
  • Cap'n Andy Hawks, Show Boat, Minskoff Theatre, New York City, 1984.
  • Credits; Albums
  • Singin' in the Rain, original soundtrack, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Call Me Madam, original soundtrack; There's No Business Like Show Business, original soundtrack, Decca; Anything Goes, original soundtrack, Decca; Olympus 7-0000, original soundtrack, Command Records; and Bring Back Birdie, original cast, Original Cast Recordings.