Bio
Gene was the third son of James Kelly, a phonograph salesman, and Harriet Curran, who were both children of Irish Catholic immigrants.
He graduated from Peabody High School and attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he joined the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity and he got a degree in Economics.
Early in his Broadway career, he appeared in Cole Porter's Leave It To Me as an Eskimo who supports Mary Martin while she sings "My Heart Belongs to Daddy."
In 1940 he was given the leading role in Rodgers and Hart's Pal Joey, which brought him to national attention.
During this period he also choreographed several hit plays, including the 1941 production of Best Foot Forward.
Gene Kelly died on February 2, 1996.