Eugene Curran "Gene" Kelly (August 23, 1912 – February 2, 1996) was an American dancer, actor, singer, film
director, producer and choreographer. He was known for his energetic and athletic dancing style, his good looks,
and the likeable characters that he played on screen. Best known today for his performances in films such as An
American in Paris (1951), Anchors Aweigh (1945), and Singin' in the Rain (1952), he was a dominant force in
musical films until they fell out of fashion in the late 1950s. His many innovations transformed the Hollywood
musical and he is credited with almost single-handedly making the ballet form commercially acceptable to film
audiences.