Fred Astaire: The Dance Legend is About To Be Discovered All Over Again

In recent years Hollywood has made several biographical movies about people who were prominent during LIFE’s original run as a magazine from 1936 to 1972. The trend started with Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster Robert Oppenheimer biopic, and continued with movies about conductor Leonard Bernstein and opera star Maria Callas.

Next up: Fred Astaire. The life of the dancer will be getting the major movie treatment with a film starring Tom Holland (who, before he gained fame as Spider-man, starred in the dance musical Billy Elliott.) The Astaire movie is scheduled to begin filming in January 2027.

Way back in 1940 LIFE magazine made the case that Astaire was not just a big star but an important artist. A major story on Astaire carried the headline “Fred Astaire: He is the No. 1 Exponent of America’s Only Native and Original Dance Form.” In describing his skills as a tap dancer, the story explained what made Astaire such an innovator and original.

Astaire was the first American tap dancer consciously to employ the full resources of his arms, hands and torso for visual ornamentation….he decorates his tap steps with tour jetés, pirouets, entrechats, and other maneuvers of the classic ballet….Astaire dances to American rhythms and with such an air of gay spontaneity that consummately reflects the folk origins of his art.

LIFE’s photographers over the years did their best to capture the exuberance and poetry of Astaire’s movements, usually visiting him on movie sets. As the photos document, Astaire often performed with a partner. His most famous counterpart was Ginger Rogers, but others shown in these pictures include Rita Hayworth, Cyd Charisse, Judy Garland and Barrie Chase. Astaire also posed for LIFE photographer Gjon Mili dancing with his sister Adele Douglass, who was Astaire’s original dance partner—the two began in vaudeville together and premiered on Broadway as a duo in 1917. Adele retired from performing when she married Lord Charles Cavendish and went to live on his family estate in Ireland.

Adele should be a major character in the upcoming movie, which is being adapted from the 2014 book The Astaires: Fred & Adele by Kathleen Riley. Margaret Qualley has been cast as Adele. Meanwhile Sabrina Carpenter will take on the role of Ginger Rogers.

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the 1938 film ‘Carefree.’

Rex Hardy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire in the 1938 film “Carefree.”

Rex Hardy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth danced together in the 1942 film “You Never Were Lovelier.”

John Florea/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth starred in the 1942 film “You Never Were Lovelier.”

John Florea/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Fred Astaire performed the number Puttin’ on the Ritz for the 1945 movie “Blue Skies.”

Bob Landry/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Fred Astaire and his sister, fellow dancer Adele Douglass, also known as Lady Cavendish, 1947. Early in their careers the siblings performed together on stage.

Gjon Mili/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Fred Astaire and his sister, fellow dancer Adele Douglass, also known as Lady Cavendish, 1947.

Gjon Mili/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Fred Astaire and Judy Garland, both dressed as male hobos, performed a comic dance for the 1948 film “Easter Parade.”

Allan Grant/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock