Born in 1912, in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene Curran Kelly was the third of five children.
Although he had really hoped to play professional baseball, his mother insisted he take dance lessons.
He began performing with his siblings on the Vaudeville scene as young as eight years of age. Soon, he and his brother Fred were performing for such Vaudeville greats as Cab Collaway.
In 1932, Gene and Fred opened the Gene Kelly Studio of the Dance in Pittsburgh and in Johnstown. The studio was run by all the family members. During this period of his life, Gene earned his degree in economics and choreographed several ventures for the University of Pittsburgh. He even applied for law school, but dance was his first love.
In 1938, he followed his heart and moved onto Broadway. Hi big break came when he got the part of Harry the Hoofer in in William Sarovan’s The Time of Your Life. While on Broadway, he met and eventually married Betsy Blair. Soon Hollywood beckoned and Gene Kelly became a contract actor. Soon his contract was bought by Louse Mayer and his star began to rise.
His first film was For Me and My Gal with Judy Garland. He began a lengthy career with such hits as An American in Paris and of course, Singin’ In The Rain!