The entertainer responsible for one of the funniest musical numbers ever filmed passed away Saturday (9/27/2003) at age 78. Whenever I think of Donald O'Connor's hilarious "Make 'Em Laugh" antics in Singin' in the Rain, I still can't help laughing out loud. A triple-threat performer, O'Connor excelled as a hoofer, singer and comedian. He held his own with the likes of Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Ethel Merman, Bing Crosby, Marilyn Monroe, Mitzi Gaynor -- and even with Francis, the talking mule.  

Donald O'Connor will be missed, but his performances captured on videos/DVDs are available to remind us of his many talents. In addition to Singin' in the Rain, here are my favorites:

Call Me Madam. O'Connor's duet with Ethel Merman ("You're Not Sick You're Just in Love") stole the show.

There's No Business Like Show Business. O'Connor stands out among the film's musical stars Dan Duryea, Ethel Merman, Johnny Ray and Mitzi Gaynor -- all portraying members of a famous vaudeville family.

I Love Melvin. Playing a photographer who promises to help Debbie Reynolds with her career, O'Connor is fun to watch here, especially doing a "traveling-the-world" dance sequence that emerges as one of his best musical numbers.

I also have fond memories of a very young Donald O'Connor singing "I've Got a Pocketful of Dreams" with Bing Crosby and Fred MacMurray in Sing You Sinners. "This kid is destined for musical stardom," I thought to myself. He was such a natural performer even then.            

Diana Saenger, a ReelTalk affiliate critic, had the pleasure of interviewing O'Connor prior to the release of the 50th Anniversary DVD release of Singin' in the Rain. Read Diana's feature article, "Donald O'Connor Tap Dances through Life."