His first two wives were dancers. Actress Betsy Blair met Gene while she was a performer and he a choreographer in the show "Diamond Horseshoe". Second wife Jeanne Coyne was Gene`s dancing assistant for many years before they married in 1960. A major talent in her own right, her dazzling footwork can be seen in the "From This Moment On" number alongside partner Bobby Van, Ann Miller, Tommy Rall, Carol Haney and Bob Fosse in Kiss Me Kate (1953) (1953). She died of leukemia in 1973.

He and his younger brother Fred Kelly appeared together in a dancing vaudeville act. When Gene got his big break as Harry the hoofer in the dramatic Broadway production of "The Time of Your Life" in 1942, he was eventually replaced by brother Fred, who took it on the road and won a Donaldson award for his efforts.

"Singin` in the Rain" was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 2001 for Outstanding Musical Production, with choreography by Kelly.

Awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton in 1994.

Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume Two, 1945-1985". Pages 510-515. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1988.

Was named the #15 greatest actor on The 50 Greatest Screen Legends list by the American Film Institute

Biography in: "American National Biography". Supplement 1, pp. 309-312. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.

Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1959

Ray Bradbury`s novel "Something Wicked This Way Comes" was dedicated to Kelly.

He was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1994 by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington D.C.

His last movie musical was Xanadu (1980) co-starring Olivia Newton-John.

Tony Martin the husband of MGM star/dancer Cyd Charisse said he could tell who she had been dancing with that day on an MGM set. If she came home covered with bruises on her, it was the very physically-demanding Gene Kelly, if not it was the smooth and agile Fred Astaire.

Was originally set to star as Don Hewes alongside Judy Garland in Easter Parade (1948). However before filming began he broke his leg, resulting in Fred Astaire coming out of retirement in order to replace him in the film.

He and MGM studio head Louis B Mayer shared a long standing feud stemming from even before Kelly entered the motion picture business. One evening after seeing Gene perform in Pal Joey on Broadway, Mayer met Kelly backstage and offered to sign him to MGM without a screen test. When Kelly later received a call from a MGM representative requesting a screen test he insisted there was some sort of mistake saying he had Mayer`s word he did not have to make one and told the rep to ask Mayer himself. When the rep did, he called back days later stating that he did talk to Mayer and that he still had to make a test. Gene was furious and wrote a scathing letter to Mayer for retracting his promise. For the first couple of years he worked for Mayer, Kelly was uncertain that Mayer even read the letter until Louis brought it up in an argument one evening.

Famed producer David O Selznick signed Gene to his first Hollywood contract after seeing him star in "Pal Joey" while on Broadway. Though Gene had had other offers from studios he chose to sign with Selznick mostly because his was the only studio that did not insist on a screen test before signing him. Selznick sold Kelly`s contact to MGM before he could find a suitable role for him to appear in.

Had a fever of 103 degrees while filming the famous rain scene in Singing In The Rain.

His last movie musical was "Xanadu" (1980) co-starring Olivia Newton John.

He wore a hairpiece (toupee).

Is one of the many movie stars mentioned in Madonna`s song "Vogue"

He was voted the 42nd Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.

Martial arts stars Jackie Chan and David Carradine both cite him as an influence.

Singin` in the Rain (1952) was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 2001 for Outstanding Musical Production, with choreography by Kelly.

Kennedy Center Honoree, 1982

Graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in economics.

Working on an autobiography at the time of his death.

Attended Penn State University before transferring to University of Pittsburgh, where he graduated.

Was dance consultant for Madonna`s 1993 "Girlie Show" tour.

Had a half-moon shaped scar on his left cheek caused by a bicycle accident he had as a young boy.

Had three children: Kerry Kelly, with Betsy Blair, in 1942, and Bridget Kelly and Tim Kelly, with Jeanne Coyne, in the 1960s.

Kelly`s father was Al Jolson`s road manager in the 1920s.

He was awarded the National Medal of Freedom from President Bill Clinton in 1994.

Inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame in 1992.

Ranked #26 in Empire (UK) magazine`s "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]

Attended Peabody High School in Highland Park, PA.

During World War II he was a sailor stationed at the U S Naval Photographic Center in Anacostia, DC (where the documentary "Victory at Sea" (1952) was later assembled for NBC-TV). He starred in several Navy films while on active duty there and in "civilian" films while on leave.

Known for his innovative, athletic style of dancing

Married 3 times.