Fred Norbert Kelly

Fred Norbert Kelly (June 29, 1916 was an American choreographer, dancer, actor and director.

Early life Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1916, Kelly was the youngest of five children of James Patrick Kelly and his wife, Harriet. His father was a sales executive with Thomas Edison's phonograph company, and his mother worked with stock theater as a hobby. She ensured that all of the children took lessons in music and dancing. He also worked on a showboat each summer of his eighth-12th grade years. for this role—one for acting, one for choreography and one for comedy. He also appeared in the Broadway version of This Is the Army.

Military After Pearl Harbor, Fred enlisted in the Army and served from 1942 to 1945. He was chosen by Irving Berlin to work on the This is the Army production as choreographer and dancer. While performing Kelly also served as head of the medical detachment and was pressed into service in hospitals in England at the beginning of the second Blitz and again in Italy when the big push was on at Monte Cassino to push the Germans above Rome.

Film Fred only performed with his brother Gene in one film, Deep in My Heart in 1954 in the musical number "I Love to Go Swimmin' with Wimmen".

Teaching As a dance instructor, Kelly's students included his brother Gene, to whom he taught tap dancing.

Recognition On April 3, 2004, the University of Pittsburgh dedicated the Fred Kelly Lobby in the Stephen Foster Memorial performing arts center and museum. The university also has a Fred Kelly Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theatre.