Fred Astaire was born Frederick Austerlitz in Omaha, Nebraska on May 10, 1899. He and his sister both showed talent in singing and dancing as young children. Their mother encouraged them and soon he appeared in vaudeville act with his sister Adele, on Broadway, and in films. He worked with his sister until she married in 1934

His partnership on screen with Ginger Rogers was legendary and they appeared together in ten films. Other Astaire leading ladies included Judy Garland, Rita Hayworth, Cyd Charisse and Audrey Hepburn. Astaire also performed non-dancing dramatic roles in films such as The Towering Inferno (1974).