Donald O'connor has died

[doxieone]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts/AP-Obit-OConnor.html

[diplomats]

1. I loved him in "Singin' in the Rain"

[qanda]

2. From article...

Entertainer Donald O'Connor Dies at 78
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: September 27, 2003


Filed at 7:23 p.m. ET

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Entertainer Donald O'Connor, who combined comedy and acrobatics in the show-stopping ``Make 'Em Laugh'' number in the classic movie ``Singin' in the Rain,'' died Saturday, his daughter said. He was 78.

O'Connor, who had been in declining health in recent years, died of heart failure at a retirement home in Calabasas, his daughter, Alicia O'Connor, told The Associated Press.

(more)

[Maeve]

3. What a great "final line"!!!

In a brief statement, the family said that among O'Connor's last words was the following quip: ``I'd like to thank the Academy for my lifetime achievement award that I will eventually get.''


Make 'em laugh! Make 'em laugh!..exiting with a joke! Godspeed, Mr O'C.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

4. It sounds as if he kept his sense of humor through the end...

<snip>
In a brief statement, the family said that among O'Connor's last words was the following quip: ``I'd like to thank the Academy for my lifetime achievement award that I will eventually get.''
<snip>

A lot of entertainers have passed this month.
*sigh*
Keep 'em laughing, Don!

[doxieone]

6. He guest starred on one of the comedy shows within the

last few years. Anyone remember which one it was?

[efhmc]

5. Just thinking about him and his ability to entertain makes me smile.

God's speed, donald. Thanks for sharing your talents.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Always make 'em laugh

Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds and Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain from http://dvdscan.com/singin.htm

[kanrok]

15. Donald O'Connor

I wish I had 1/10th of his grace.

[0007]

8. I had a few drinks with him

one night at the "Rocking Horse Ranch" in Vegas in the early 50's. His night club act was pure entertainment and was much on the same level as Sammy Davis Jr. He could entertain the young and the old alike and used no vulgarity in his acts.

[stevedeshazer]

10. Cool story

May he R.I.P.

[rog]

14. He was a gentleman ... the "real deal."

That IS a great story, 0007. I'm a guitar player, and I had the great fortune to play behind him in the 80s when he was touring with Mickey Rooney. Their stage show was like a slice of original vaudeville "song and dance," and Donald had some great ones ... GREAT tunes from his movies and Broadway shows. And you're right ... NO vulgarity and everyone loved him (Mickey, too!). BIG fun and high energy.

Here's the thing about Mr. O'Connor, though. After the show I was bent over packing up my stuff, and I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to stare straight into those crinkly blue eyes! Donald came out after the show and shook hands personally with every musician, had a short chat, and thanked us each for a great show.

That is class.

I miss all the genuine entertainers from that generation, but Donald O'Connor was something else. I'm sad that he's gone.

.rog.

[liberalmuse]

9. 'Make 'em Laugh'...

That's the first thing I think of when the name 'Donald O'Connor' is mentioned. What an incredible moment on film! What is it with the slew of irreplacable entertainers dying these days?

[KharmaTrain]

11. Geesh...Larry King's Running Out Of People To Interview...

n/t

[leesa]

12. What a great dancer! I'm glad he had a long life

[montana_hazeleyes]

13. Another great loss

But what a great last line!
Sorry to see all these wonderful entertainers I remember from chilhood on passing away

[grasswire]

16. yeah....

...it won't be quite the same when the people we're losing are famous for songs such as "Wild, Wild West."

[Pale Blue Dot]

17. My grandfather, Eddie Bracken

and Donald O'Conner were often confused. In fact, a few years ago they did a photo spread for Vanity Fair just to show they were two different people.



Sigh. Two great entertainers, gone. RIP Don.

[rog]

18. Wow!

Eddie Bracken was your grandfather? He's another entertainer I really miss. When I was a kid all those movies were on TV all the time ... that whole generation of entertainers was a HUGE part of my childhood.

Thanks so much for sharing that picture. Apparently the host doesn't allow linking from outside, but if anyone cares to look at it, you can paste the address into your browser address bar and it will come up. I hope you don't mind that I've saved the photo to my hard drive. Although that photo is from '97, Donald O'Connor looks EXACTLY as I remember him from the 80s (see my post above) ... you can see in that picture (and the same thing is true of Eddie) that when you look into those eyes you see the snap of a 20 year old. Amazing.

These guys were both something very special. Thanks again for sharing this great story and photo.

.rog.

[DarbyUSMC]

19. Same photo. I couldn't see it at first so put it on one of my pages.

Great picture. Thank you for the story.

[mndemocrat_29]

20. Donald O'Connor

What a great and funny actor. I always think of him as Cosmo Brown in Singin in the Rain. The Academy should've given it to him that year.

[UTUSN]

21. Kick for ABOVE the Title of KAZAN n/t