Gene Kelly was an American actor, singer, choreographer, dancer, and director. He was well-known for his attractive appearance, his athletic and energizing dancing, and the likable roles he played in movies. Some of the most acclaimed musical films of the 1940s and 1950s featured him as the lead, and he also choreographed and co-directed them with Stanley Donen. In For Me and My Gal (1942), Kelly made his film debut alongside Judy Garland, with whom he also shared roles in The Pirate (1948) and Summer Stock (1950). Additionally, he was praised by critics for his roles in the dramas Black Hand (1950) and Inherit the Wind (1960).
Shortly after getting married to Patricia Ward Kelly, his third wife, the renowned actor, and dancer passed away at the age of 83. In an exclusive interview with Starts at 60, she has now revealed what his dying days were actually like behind closed doors and why he decided not to follow custom in the weeks that followed his death.
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How Did Gene Kelly Die?
Here is How Did Gene Kelly Die? Gene Kelly experienced the first of two strokes in July 1994. Although the UCLA Medical Center described the stroke as “mild,” it kept him in the hospital for over seven weeks. Kelly experienced a second, considerably lesser stroke in February 1995. The Associated Press reported the next day that “he was neurologically stable, aware, and chatty.” However, Kelly would regrettably never really bounce back from this one. On Friday, February 2, 1996, he passed away.
Many people were undoubtedly startled by Gene Kelly’s widow’s choice to forgo planning a funeral when her husband passed away in 1996, but she had now disclosed that the Singin’ In the Rain actor himself expressed the desire before he died.
Gene Kelly Death Controversy
Even though the passing of Gene Kelly is sad in and of itself—such an active man/body was overcome by such a crippling illness—it is also rife with controversy, at least in the eyes of Kelly’s first wife, Betsy Blair.
Blair recalls, for instance, that Kelly’s children were advised not to go to Los Angeles by Gene’s third wife over the phone a few hours after dad passed away since there was nothing more they could do. But the kids persisted, and they took a plane to California to visit their old home on Rodeo Drive and pay their respects to their father.
According to Blair, Kelly’s grown children arrived at a depressing home with “no food, no friends, no crying, and no hugs. Famous individuals gave them a tour of the flowers as if they were total strangers “. Moreover, the kids never had the chance to say farewell because Gene Kelly’s body was burned that morning. By Blair: “Later, Kerry told me that everyone felt as though “she tossed him away” and should be burned and discarded. Even the ashes are absent “. We haven’t yet heard the other side of this story.
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Tributes To Gene Kelly After Death
In the days and weeks after Gene Kelly’s passing, many tributes were created. For instance, The NY Times praised all the “inventive approaches that enabled Gene Kelly to craft odd and imaginative dance routines,” while People published a comprehensive homage with lots of photos.
Gene Kelly was one of the most significant and necessary individuals in the history of the American film musical, according to The Independent, which also recalled the many roles he played. Kelly was also acknowledged in Time’s “White Socks and Loafers” section. Additionally, honors were paid to Kelly on news stations throughout the world and at the 68th Annual Academy Awards, which featured tap dancer Savion Glover. Finally, Broadway’s lights were turned down in his respect the night of his passing. Salutations, Eugene Curran Kelly.
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