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Gene Kelly was an iconic American dancer, actor, singer, director, and choreographer, renowned for revolutionizing the Hollywood musical with his energetic, athletic dance style and innovative filmmaking techniques.Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kelly studied economics before pursuing dance. He achieved Broadway success before moving to Hollywood in 1941, signing with MGM. He starred in and often choreographed numerous classic musicals, including 'An American in Paris' (1951) and 'Singin' in the Rain' (1952), which he also co-directed. Kelly broke away from the formal, elegant dance traditions of predecessors like Fred Astaire, introducing a more athletic, acrobatic, and accessible style. He pioneered the integration of dance with cinema through inventive camera work, special effects, and location shooting. He received an Honorary Academy Award in 1952 for his achievements and continued acting, directing, and choreographing for film and television until the 1980s.

• Kelly initially refused MGM's standard seven-year contract, demanding the freedom to work on Broadway projects; he signed only after they agreed to his terms, an unusual concession at the time.
• He pushed boundaries technically: for 'Anchors Aweigh' (1945), he performed the groundbreaking live-action/animated dance sequence with Jerry Mouse; for 'Invitation to the Dance' (1956), he created three purely dance-based stories without dialogue.
• Despite being legendary for the 'Singin' in the Rain' number, Kelly filmed it while suffering from a high fever (103°F/39.4°C). The water used in the scene was mixed with milk to make the rain more visible on camera.
• His athletic, "everyman" dance style (often in street clothes like loafers and sweaters) contrasted sharply with the tuxedo-clad elegance of Fred Astaire. Kelly saw dance as accessible to the common man.
• He received an Honorary Oscar in 1952 "in appreciation of his versatility as an actor, singer, director and dancer, and specifically for his brilliant achievements in the art of choreography on film."
• Kelly directed and choreographed the ambitious, critically acclaimed ballet film 'Invitation to the Dance' (1956), though it was a box office failure.
• He was an early advocate for filming dance sequences on real locations (like the 'I Like Myself' number on roller skates in 'It's Always Fair Weather') and using the camera as an active participant in the dance.