Fred Astaire - Lifetime Achievement Award

[mecutetoo64]

When God made Mr. Fred Astaire... He broke the mold! There will never be another. No one can dance like him! One class act!

[etienne818]

My God, as much as I'm loathe to admit it, I well remember seeing this upon its in ititial broadcast! Our dear Fred Astaire was musing on his entire career on this very happy night (and how the hell does anyone do this anyway?) He was as grand and glorious as one might have expected! The CBS television network ran this in prime-time upon its first showing (1981, I believe!) Upon Mr. Astaire's death in June 1987 it was re-ran during the CBS' "prime-time" schedule. Can we say "wow?!"

[InstaKillStudios]

WHO THE FUCK DISLIKED THIS!!!!!

[delyparker777]

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers= A Class Act All of Their Own. A Legend which will NEVER be repeated. America needs to regain its class and morals in order to be great again! Thanks for sharing!

[oiytouy]

i really admire Fred Astaire, but to include "Michael" in same sentence seems odd.

Fred was a normal human being and an superb talent.

Michael was a tortured soul, a pervert man, and a talented freak, sad but true.

[orbison]

@oiytouy Actually, to include Michael in the same sentence is not as weird as you think, "tortured man" that he was. There is a story that the day after Michael's famous "moonwalk" performance on TV at "MOTOWN 25" in 1983, Astaire called him to compliment him on his dancing. For one of the greatest dancers of the 20th century to receive compliment from another of the greatest dancers of the 20th century is not odd.

[JRobbySh]

@orbison Indeed, sad that Michael went so fare off the beam.

[cokeCph]

Gene kelly and Fred astaire are 100% true legends of all time

[britturk123]

What a selfless beautiful man and the greatest dancer ive ever seen.

[jeffrey19621]

A true genetlrman. None exiist today..........

[ormandy]

Fred and Ginger......Perfection, Elegance and Beauty Personified!!

[nelisadaly]

Mr. Fred Astaire was the greatest dancer of all time. For those who don't know him, I recommend to see the movie Royal Wedding. The "dancing on the ceiling scene" still is simply marvelous. Thanks for uploading this video. This award was long overdue. No one deserve it more than Mr. Astaire. I've love him all my life. Through the magic of the movies he'll continue to amaze me till the end. Thank you, Mr. Astaire!

[sapachino]

what did that guy do ? why did he get the award?

[yohannbiimu]

The epitome of class!

[archierice333]

incredible charme and ears!

[Palomablanca2008]

Fabulous clip!!!

[ThePhil909]

so i saw gregory peck and his outstanding speech b4 this and i hav to say omg these guy's r real movie stars not like tdays shit, im 33 but they are all class and their speeches are with integrity and honour and the best iv seen.

[juliepop13]

Could he be any cuter or amazing? He was one of a kind...and they certainly don't make them like that anymore.

[mdshullaw52]

I just wamted to also pay tribute to Fred and Ginger. In the biography I read of Fred Astaire, Fred was caught by surprise by Ginger not being at the awards show for him. and this was why he was trying to find a way to explain her absense. Ginger could not get there in time, but she made up for it by joining Fred a few weeks later at a university where all their films made at RKO pictures were donated. I just know that Fred and Ginger are dancing away in heaven right now. God bless them.

[mdshullaw52]

The world is a better place because of Fred, Ginger, and many others from the greatest generation. We are better people because of them. We can't bring back the past, but thanks to film and video, we can relive the past and not only enjoy what we see and hear, but learn from it also.

[halubalu]

what a beauty audrey was

[funkycatglasses01]

hehe!! Once a cutie, ALWAYS a cutie:)

[tmax45R]

David Niven's slightly slurred voice was the beginning signs of (ALS) Lou Gehrig's disease. This is his last public appearence. He died two years after this. Fred Astaire did not like to be made a fuse over. He was a shy and humble. He never saw himself as one of the greatest performers we will ever see. So, he was uneasy about this award. But, he truly loved receiving it.

[twinstu50]

@tmax45R I heard once, Fred Astair referred to himself as, 'Just a hoofer".

I am inclined to believe that short statement.

Indicative of the man.

[comedyman112]

if u go to IM DB and add com/name/nm0000001/ u will find him. the number 1 means the oldest ?

[septemberkakes]

omg was that audrey hepburn???!!!

he is AMAZING

[ezshi87]

Legendary

[KeepTrue56]

Love Love Fred Astaire...

[jipjob1]

If we ever have a great entertainer like this again it will be an act of god. What a talented person and show peice for our American film bussiness-rest in peace as your entertainment is timeless-thanks

[whatwouldjanedoGD]

omg he is soo adorable <3

[DreadedGuardian]

Astaire still the King, still the man! And the lovely Mrs Hepburn, dazzling as always!

[jay230992]

Fred Astaire - what a gentle soul.

And Audrey Hepburn - what a beautiful woman.

[lou1606]

so sad to hear david niven speak like that!!

But my fucking god fred staire is cool!

[Choefoe]

@lou1606 You mean " it must have been hell to you?"Niven was one of his closest friends and Astaire was shy and hated attention so he was absolutely right ;-) They both knew it and all people there who knew Astaire;-) He,s to humble to get all that attention

[lou1606]

@Choefoe no.. that david is sick so he cant speak propaly!

[Choefoe]

@lou1606 Have it your way ????

[keakdasneak63]

such a bamf

[valdioun]

Unforgettable !!!

[sosmanpipo]

@valdioun .Vous avez raison il est inoubliable,seulement lorsqu'il marche c'est déjà de la danse

[Cosmic86x]

one of the greatest dancers / movie stars of all time !

does someone know the song which played in the background ?? it sounds familiar but i can't remember the name.

[CaseyLR16]

@Cosmic86x the name of the song is "Top Hat, White Tie and Tails". Astaire performed the song in 1935 in the movie "Top Hat" with Ginger Rogers.

[jennifersman]

And don't forget, he shows up every Christmas to tell us that "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town", I never miss that when it's on! Part of my childhood I get to relive every year no matter how old I am!

[bowler8]

when he walks he is so light on his feet...dancing all the way.

[AstaireFans]

He was amazing ♥

[IngridBergmanRocked]

The Dancing King...there will NEVER be another:D

[Blackjesus3]

he really is amazing

[longn4longhair]

Seems like such a sweetie pie. He was soooooo darn good at what he did.

[MegaWehrmacht]

this was a real star,not as today selfs -made stars.this stars today are not real stars.

[itubeauty]

i just love him.

[daeelly]

Happy 110th birthday Fred! For me you will allways be the most talented dancer and the perfect gentleman!

[WSenator1]

All I can is classy, classy, classy! And like moroccan. says, I wish I had known Fred Astaire myself.

[moroccansunshine]

wonderful and charming. Makes you wish you knew him. Lovely talent should never be forgotten.

[lenbenhear]

What can be said about the Great and Unique Fred Astaire ? ... there will never be another quite that that guy, ... and a genuine, first-class genius at what he did best !

[JL0183]

great entertainer off and on the mic lol

[snoops71]

I liked him in "The Towering Inferno".

Didn't know he used to watch "Soul Train"!

[Choefoe]

@snoops He even played in a episode of Battle star Gallctica, playing starbucks lost daddy, ,he requested to be in the show, he loved it, so they wrote a part especially for Astaire ;-) The episode is "the man with nine lifes ";-)

[snoops71]

Really? I never knew that! Thanks for sharing that info with me :)

[nerobloutsi]

@Choefoe what???omg i've seen 3 seasons of it and i love it and didn't know that oh come on this is even better!!!!fred is the best!!!!

[nerobloutsi]

@Choefoe i also forgot to tell you that he played in Lost!!!Come oooooon!!!

[Choefoe]

@nerobloutsi if you don,t believe it just google the episode I mention, it,s even on the dvd box ;-) Astaire died in 1987 ;-) So NO he was not in lost but he WAS in Bal\ttle Star gallactica;-) again, episode, "man with nine lifes"just google '-)

[Choefoe]

@nerobloutsi The name of Astaire,s character in BG is Chameleon ,you can even google that ;-)

[Choefoe]

@nerobloutsi I have to admit it is kinda weird to see Astaire sitting in a starship but there he is, in a total different world, btw I talk about the male Starbuch from the 70,s series ofcourse not the remake;-)

[jennifersman]

@Choefoe He also played Robert Wagner's Dad in "It Takes A Thief" and said he would've loved to have played Willie Wonka in the 70's movie if it had been offered to him

[Choefoe]

@jennifersman Towering inferno and many others,quit a career ;-)

[SweetPousny]

as sfassnacht0607, I totally agree with him about Fred Astair and Michael Jackson. Both were extremly talented and excellent in there art of dance ! We dont't have such wonderfull artists in showbusiness nowadays and this too bad....! Hopfully, we can thanks people who are sharing those golden vdos on you tube with us ! Yes, many thanks !

[sfassnacht0607]

I love him and all his movies he is so great. And the man who really looked up to him michael jackson picked a great person to follow in his foot steps.

[itoravit20]

=']

[KeepTrue56]

Thats great Astaire won this award.Thanks to the great Michael Jackson I know who this wonderful person is.

HE is legend and one of the best.

I love Fred Astaire.

[keddian]

Same here it is because of Mike i went on research on this great man.

[KeepTrue56]

@keddian

thats good.

Im glad Michael Jackson always mentioned his idols.

and fred astaire is awesome. and im 18 and he is a true dancer.

[davidnashley1985]

Im SO GLAD this Very Talented ICONIC LEGEND was Good at what He did... and after all This he still had the Courage to say Michael Jackson The KING had Become The GREATEST DANCER HE HAD EVER SEEN! It Just Prooves how Fred Astaire was So Humble to Admit that.. Anyone else with an EGO would Never Admit that! Fred Astaire & Michael Praised Each Others Unique Talent :)

[KeepTrue56]

yep like i said last week its because of michael jackson i know who fred is.

And im glad to, ive watched several of freds work, and im glad fred and michael praised eachother.

May these two pioneers forever rest in peace.

[davidnashley1985]

Can you Belive Fred Astaire would Now be 110 Years Old... WOW! What a Legend... him and Michael :)

[rossum1]

I love him....god he's incredible

Why cant we have films like that now a days

[UTubeManiakk]

Oh God, he's so great! Really great! So charming, such a gentleman! I adore this man!

Tere were great people in that century and they are all gone... and nowadays there's no one like this... all geniuses passed away and new ones aren't born... what's gonna happen to the show business... no real talents and all about making money... sad

[TheKatsMeow3]

Fred IS Talent. I don't think young ppl nowadays know what talent is. Celebrities now churn out crap mostly.

Hey kids try watching: A Streetcar Named Desire, Easter Parade,The Philadelphia Story (or ANY Katharine Hepburn movie), Harvey (James Stewart is great 2)....

[sfassnacht0607]

I agree I am 25 and am so lucky because my grandma raised me on all these old movies and old actors and actresses and I love the old movies better then the movies now days, I think I was born in the wrong year;) I really do agree with what you are saying you right no talent in show biz now days...

[NaerLin]

grace and elegance personified! at this age!

love you Fred!

[reinaleton]

Gracias Fred un caballero y gran bailarín, vivirás SIEMPRE

[TheJazzlady40]

Love Mr. Astaire

[carolerory]

moonwalk.. watch Al "Rubber Legs" Norman back in the 20's, see "Happy Feet" 1929.Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa dancers conceived most break dance steps. Fred Astaire's Girl Hunt with Cyd Charise from Bandwagon and you will see Michael Jackson twenty years later. Astaire was a solo dancer but his partner dancing stands him out from so many

other great dancers. His dances with Ginger Rogers, Eleanor Powell, Rita Hayworth, Cyd Charise, Vera Ellen are all classic dance.

[chomsky88]

His timing delivering his speech was just as good as his timing when he sings and dances. I'm 47 now and hope I can be that elegant and alert when I'm 81. Actually I'm not that elegant and alert now, so probably not. He was the very best.

[MrMonsterkaraoke]

Michael Jackson didn't invent the moonwalk...he simply resurrected it and gave it a name.Watch my video.

[CrosslerChoirNerd]

Fred Astaire was a cuties even when he was 80, lol~!

[gladwren]

I know, he just looks so pleasant and handsome, that you have to totally love him.

[SneakerBeeker]

Beautiful man. <3

Love you Fred...I always will.

[briandjusforever]

I remember growing up as a child (in the 90's) and believing that I was going to marry Fred Astaire, needless to say I was more than devistated at finding out that he had died in 1987, three years before I was born lol. Oh well, he was a great, brilliant man, and at least I have the beauty of his movies!

[elvisnutkid]

that is the sweetest guy ever

fred u r my inspiration!!!

luv u so much

[sparle222]

he called michael jackson and told him

after seeing him on motown 25 and told him how good he was and michael went to see him and shoewed him the moonwalk

[elvisnutkid]

haha i could totally c fred doin the moonwalk lol

[animeeclipse]

The Long Bow at 3:40 is a farewell to the World. WHY FRED, WHY?!?!

Everything great happened in the 20th century...except for the wars and stuff, but when its Entertainment...ITS NOT FAIR!!!!

[jlim0385]

OMG! AUDREY HEPBURN AT 4:15. gorgeous!!!

I LOVE YOU FRED!!!

[Robertahausen]

omg ya she was so gorgeous... yes i love you fred!!!!

[vintagefan92]

@jlim0385 I said the same thing abou Audrey! Boy, did she get even better with age or what!

[captainkill1]

the greatest dancer that ever lived!! rip.

[longjohn1409]

He´s so great!!!

[HeartBeatOfYourLife]

4:12, Audrey Hepburn, right?

[Choefoe]

right ;-)

[carolmichellef]

4:01 and 4:19 ha ha

He was such a nice person ...

[heartofagreengirl]

oh he is just the best! hes such a sweetheart i just cant get over it! he deservs this whether he thinks so or not

[coolcole852]

happy 110th birthday fred

u rock

[80stimeagain]

Is that Olivia Newton John at 2:13? Yes, Fred is a one of a kind dancer. He danced on air. ;)

[Choefoe]

Not Olivia, I think fam of Astaire ;}

[fyncara]

Thanks so much for posting this--is that his daughter in the long sleeved gown on his right? Thanks.

[YNGR]

No, that's his wife (about the same age as his daughter!). His daughter Ava Astaire McKenzie is the elegant lady in black lace at his left, with her husband on her other side. Her mother, Phyllis, died in 1954.

[fyncara]

I was afraid of that :) He sure seemed tuned in with her gaze and did not seem to meet his daughter's eye. His wife's dress is very modest and nice, his daughter looked lovely too but I wonder how dad liked that dress:) I had read about that wedding and how his daughter and Adele stayed away. Thanks again for this wonderful post!

[DenPCaracciolo]

Still stands as the greatest icon of class in the history of Hollywood.

Dennis Caracciolo

Danville, Ca.

[KARBOWICZ]

Awesome video! Im glad you put this up so us people born after 1981 could watch it too.

[astaire8]

This is FRED - the one and only -

He is SUPREME!

[bijdroaba]

just dancce for me always.thank you

[krunk4theking]

MAN!! You Gotta give props to ginger!!she's such a good friend!! that's why he always mentions her in public alot!!YEAH!! there probably dancing together right now!!

[Swah12]

I LOVE THAT MAN.

[annalovesfilm]

Legend, genius, unique amazing charming person. I agree: We will always love you, Fred :)

[AshLuvsJonnyStew]

What a humble, brilliant person. Watching this always makes me smile :D

[EstherBlogett]

did anyone notice audrey hepburn at 4:12? how cute was she????

[Choefoe]

She was a very pers friend of Astaire ;}

[iiiiiccccc]

fred = legend. rip

[PernatayaDancer]

He's so sweet! I must agree: we will always-always(!) love you, Fred!

And watching this clip made me almost teary too

[katharinemeng]

We will always love you, Fred :)

R.I.P.

[Choefoe]

76 years in showbizz,that really IS a achievement.The man was shy and did not like spotlight so this must be not easy for him but he does it so well,he is funny.

[Julie101670]

They don't make 'em like Fred Astaire anymore. He is still missed.

[angrywhitewomen]

aw what a cutie

[fredastairefan]

What a humble, incredible gentleman Fred was!

He totally deserved it. Watching this clip made me almost teary :)

[astaire8]

I have just returned from The Fred Astaire

Conference at Oxford University 21-24 June.

It was simply wonderful - and we met Fred's

daughter Ava - a lovely, gracious lady with

such charm - like her Dad!

[dapeanutsgang]

i love fred astaire!! i think i was born too late... =/

[Debby99999]

As for me !

[emster93]

Me too!

[TheGrouchDnD]

Add me to that list.

[shkutsi]

ad me into the list ,too.. :((

[Kimbahley]

Me too. What an incredible talent!!

[Julie101670]

oh yes! i totally agree!

[JudithIN]

Wonderful! Great quality. Could you please post the clip of Eleanor Powell, describing their work on Begin the Beguine? Thanks....

[1wholovesthesea]

to think I just discovered utube what a gift to be able to recall and see great stars like Fred here. They just don't make them like him

anymore. Class and talent.

[updog88]

The year we lost Fred (1987) and Rita was devastating.

[beschen]

This was David Niven's last public appearance in Hollywood. Heartbreaking to see him already slurring his words, the early symptoms of Lou Gehrig's Disease, which would kill him two years later.

[mca1218]

Simply glorious. Believe it or not, I DID see this when it originally aired on CBS, but that is now moot because, before seeing this today, I have not remembered a single thing from this show for the last twenty-seven years. This is so special because it is one of the rare moments we get to see Mr. Astaire out of character. Instead of a god on celluloid, he is an elegant, wonderfully modest and even self-effacing gent. And we got to see this a full six years before his death. Thank you so much.

[etienne818]

I have a very clear memory of watching this when it first aired. When Mr. Astaire died in June 1987, it was fully re-run in "prime-time," as a tribute to this great entertainer. He certainly deserved it. Fred mentions his beloved sister Adele, who had passed on not that long before this was first shown. She was his first dancing partner, and like one of his early movie plots, she quit show business to live with her new husband, a British royal,I believe, in a 200 room mansion. Ginger came later.

[claraquick]

Fred Astaire thanks people for attending his award ceremony - "people that took all the trouble to come here" - as though anyone wouldn't trade their life to attend or have attended. What a darling and talented man! He's so self-effacing and adorable, I just love him.

[Xeria]

awesome

[ybag79]

He is the BEST!

[Ortica2]

He was absolutely worth everything he had and reached!

[TheLights045]

Oh I just love Fred! He's the same way he was 60 years ago!

[ekeebatang]

Go Fred, go!

[mithol]

Aw. He's adorable. Well done, Freddy!

[g0sh0rty]

I stumbled upon his videos by accident when I was looking for the song 'Putting on the Ritz'. I started watching more and more and think he's amazingly talented. This video just triples my respect for this man, with his sense of humor and his modesty. I was very sad when I discovered that he passed away before I was even born. He was an incredible man.

[peteholly1971]

Talent, grace, style, charm....matched only by his modesty. A simply magnificent man.

[exqdotorg]

Thank you so much for sharing this. His films are one of the best things that ever happened to me.

[Hickey66]

What a wonderful man.

[Dionysienne]

Thank you for this. What a great dancer he was and as I see and hear... with a very good sense of humour. Bravo.

[filmfreak491]

what a legend. he has such a good sense of humour.

[Pianojanna]

Thanks for posting this. I can't tell you how much I love it. The peerless Fred Astaire. How lucky we were to have had him.

[carolerory]

Fantastic- Nice final tribute

Tough to watch Fred & Ginger get old-

unique people.

[astairewannabe]

Wow. I love that. Where do you find this type of footage. I want to see the rest of it. I own all of Astaire's Musicals and I can't get enough of him. He is Sorely missed.

[xplaybwoix]

I love they way he twirls the award at the end when he gets to the table.Like he did with hats, canes etc..Did he really mean he would have cried if he had a water gun in his face or was he being sarcastic and meaning he is not one who cries at these sorts of things..

[orianagold]

What a great man.

[and9347]

I'm crying so hard! There will never be another one like him!

[sidonie3]

This man could never talk about himself. That would be boring and he could not be that.

[sidonie3]

That is grace. Astaire has made more people happy than any mortal ever.

[flatleysdancer]

i'm so glad yoiu got this as well. it's amazing that it has been captured. He's still got it. amazing, just amazing. Thank you so much, you know he wants to cry so much. fantastic.

[thedreamer1]

Thank you very much for this. Is wonderful!

[edgefire125]

Thank you so much! I've been looking for this.

[mejitterbug]

Thank you for sharing.

[ryan32533]

That was great! Thanks for uploading it.