* 14.12.1914, New York, NY - † 1978

The son of a hotel man, he began in show business as a child with a minstrel show. Later he was a song-and-dance man in vaudeville, appeared with Minsky's burlesque troupe, and also worked as a grocery clerk, golf caddy, and shoe salesman, among other things. He made his Broadway debut in 1937, playing a small part in Babes in Arms. Following a lead role in Stars in Your Eyes (1939), he was signed by MGM to a Hollywood contract. But it wasn't until he came back from WWII service, as a lieutenant, that he had starring roles, mostly with Fox, often in musicals about showbiz people. He was nominated for a best actor Oscar for WHEN MY BABY SMILES AT ME (1948). From the late 50s he appeared mostly on the stage, in Las Vegas nightclubs, and on TV ("Four Just Men," "The Governor and J.J.," and "Faraday and Company").

Filmography Dan Dailey 

1940   THE CAPTAIN IS A LADY    

1940   DULCY

1940   THE MORTAL STORM

1940   SUSAN AND GOD     

1941   LADY BE GOOD        

1941   THE WILD MAN OF BORNEO 

1941   ZIEGFELD GIRL        

1942   MOKEY         

1942   PANAMA HATTIE     

1947   MOTHER WORE TIGHTS      

1948   CHICKEN EVERY SUNDAY    

1948   GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADWAY 

1948   WHEN MY BABY SMILES AT ME     

1948   YOU WERE MEANT FOR ME 

1949   YOU'RE MY EVERYTHING     

1950   I'LL GET BY   

1950   MY BLUE HEAVEN    

1950   A TICKET TO TOMAHAWK   

1950   WHEN WILLIE COMES MARCHING HOME    

1951   CALL ME MISTER     

1951   I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE/ONLY THE BEST     

1952   MEET ME AT THE FAIR       

1952   THE PRIDE OF ST. LOUIS     — as baseball player Dizzy Dean

1952   WHAT PRICE GLORY?

1953   THE GIRL NEXT DOOR        

1953   THE KID FROM LEFT FIELD  

1953   TAXI   performer

1954   THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS     

1955   IT'S ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER        

1956   THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE        

1956   MEET ME IN LAS VEGAS     

1957   OH, MEN! OH, WOMEN!      

1957   THE WAYWARD BUS  performer

1957   THE WINGS OF EAGLES      

1958   UNDERWATER WARRIOR     

1960   PEPE  

1962  HEMINGWAY'S ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG MAN 

        ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG MAN    

1971   MR. AND MRS. BO JO JONES

1975   THE DAUGHTERS OF JOSHUA CABE RETURN        

1977   THE PRIVATE FILES OF J. EDGAR HOOVER