- Born
- Died
- Birth nameDonald David Dixon Ronald O'Connor
- Height5′ 7″ (1.70 m)
- Born into a vaudeville family, O'Connor was the youthful figure cutting a rug in several Universal musicals of the 1940s. His best-known musical work is probably Singin' in the Rain (1952), in which he did an impressive dance that culminated in a series of backflips off the wall. O'Connor was also effective in comedic lead roles, particularly as the companion to Francis the Talking Mule in that film series.
- IMDb mini biography by: Ray Hamel
- SpousesGloria Noble(October 11, 1956 - September 27, 2003) (his death, 3 children)Gwen Carter(February 7, 1944 - July 2, 1954) (divorced, 1 child)
- ParentsJohn Edward O'ConnorEffie Irene O'Connor
- His ability to do somersault against walls during a musical number in films
- In 1994, he and his wife, Gloria Noble, had a close brush with death. It was about four in the morning and he had just finished reading something in bed. All at once, the house started to shake (earthquake). The house started sliding off its foundation. Luckily, the house wedged up against a big tree and that kept it from crashing into a canyon.
- Posthumously inducted into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame in 2004.
- Had to have three days bed rest after the "Make 'Em Laugh" sequence in Singin' in the Rain (1952).
- Allegedly did not enjoy working with Gene Kelly while filming Singin' in the Rain (1952), because he found him to be rather a tyrant on set.
- Was supposed to co-star with Bing Crosby in the perennial film classic White Christmas (1954) but was sidelined with pneumonia and replaced by Danny Kaye.
- Revivals are so popular now. But doing one would mean being out in cold, cold New York for a year, a year and a half," he said. "I'd rather do something where I go in and work a week, maybe three days. Get it done and come back home.
- O'Connor quit the Francis series in 1955, saying, "When you've made six pictures and the mule still gets more fan mail than you do...".
- 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.".
- [In 1998, on his Singin' in the Rain (1952) co-star Gene Kelly] It's not easy working with a genius - but Gene was very patient with me.
- [In 1992] I know what you're thinking, and the answer is yes. I can still leap over the furniture and dance on the wall. And recite 24 bars of that popular tongue twister "Moses Supposes".
- The Buster Keaton Story (1957) - $200,000
- Singin' in the Rain (1952) - $50,000
- Francis (1950) - $30,000
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