- Born
- Died
- Birth nameDaniel James Dailey
- Height6′ 3″ (1.91 m)
- Born in New York City, Dan Dailey started his career in vaudeville, later making his Broadway debut in the stage version of "Babes in Arms".
When signed to MGM, the studio initially casted him as a Nazi in The Mortal Storm (1940). The studio realized their mistake and cast him in musical films, thereafter. Then, after serving in World War II, Dailey later returned to acting to make more musicals.- IMDb Mini Biography By: rocknrollunderdawg - A child performer, by the early 1950s Dan Dailey's life was under considerable strain. In 1951, he checked himself into the Menninger Clinic for five months and, after his return to Hollywood presented his experiences there frankly to Hedda Hopper and other reporters, pointing out that the necessity of this break from his hectic show business career was prompted by his "cracking up" over a period of time. During this period of excessive strain, he was performing in the serio-comic I Can Get It for You Wholesale (1951) at 20th Century Fox. Director Michael Gordon, in an interview with film scholar Ronald Davis in "Just Making Movies", said that he had found him "enormously gratifying" to work with and was later surprised to learn that Dailey later admitted that "he didn't even remember doing some of the scenes...Yet he worked hard on the picture and gave a fine dramatic performance".
The performer later explained that "Work, any amount of it, even too much work is all right if the rest of your life O.K. But when work is the only thing you have, when you bury yourself in it 24 hours a day -- well, that's dangerous". The actor-dancer's unusual candor in Hollywood may have made it easier for him to continue his career, which ended in 1978 after his unexpected death following a hip replacement. Unfortunately, psychological problems may have contributed to the suicide in 1975 of his only child, Dan Dailey III.- IMDb Mini Biography By: anonymous - His father ran a hotel for show people on Long Island so being star struck was natural for Dan. As soon as he was old enough he went to New York to seek his big break which started as a a dancer in burlesque shows and playing in a band on a tourist ship. He often found himself competing for work with Gene Kelly. In between times he worked as a grocery clerk, a golf caddy and a shoe salesman.His first real role was in the Broadway musical 'Babes in Arms' which ran for a year and led to featured spots then the starring role in 'I Married an Angel' The day after opening he signed a Hollywood contract and made his screen debut as a storm trooper in 'A Mortal Storm' which won him an 'Oscar' nomination. After a number of other roles he was called up for army service and on completion signed with 20th Century Fox where he got star billing in various films.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Tonyman 5
- SpousesCarol F. Warner(December 24, 1968 - September 1972) (divorced)Gwen Carter(February 5, 1955 - August 24, 1962) (divorced)Elizabeth Jane Hofert(December 25, 1942 - May 25, 1951) (divorced, 1 child)Esther Claire Rodier(September 12, 1937 - 1941) (divorced)
- Broke his hip in a fall while performing in the play "The Odd Couple" in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 1977. Confined to a wheelchair, he later continued to perform despite his confinement.
- Signed by MGM in 1940, the song-and-dance man was instead put into straight acting roles that went nowhere. His career was interrupted by military service. At first making training films in Long Island, he later served with the Cavalry at Fort Riley, Kansas, where he taught recruits how to ride horses. He was eventually sent overseas and served with the 88th Infantry Regiment in northern Italy.
- Lectured on the college circuit in later years speaking on dance and motion, the art of acting in dance and the importance of acting to the dancer.
- As an expert horseman, Dan won 75 ribbons at horse shows. He especially enjoyed training horses for jumping competitions.
- According to an in-depth article written by Frances Ingram in the January 2001 issue of Classic Images film magazine, Dan was buried in his favorite pink hunting jacket and singer and long-time friend John Raitt sang at his funeral.
- In Hollywood, after you get a little success, the next thing you usually get is a divorce.
- A great place Hollywood. I come here in 1939, sign a movie contract, make pictures -- and seven years later, I'm discovered. DD, recalling his breakthrough film role in Mother Wore Tights (1947).
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content