Daniel James Dailey Jr. (December 14, 1915 – October 16, 1978) was an American dancer and actor. He is best remembered for a series of popular musicals he made at

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film studio, film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm o ...

such as '' Mother Wore Tights'' (1947).

Biography

Early life

Dailey was born on December 14, 1915, in New York City, to Daniel James Dailey Sr. and Helen Theresa (née Ryan) Dailey. His younger sister was actress Irene Dailey.

Theatre

He appeared in a

minstrel show The minstrel show, also called minstrelsy, was an American form of racist theatrical entertainment developed in the early 19th century. Each show consisted of comic skits, variety acts, dancing, and music performances that depicted people spe ...

in 1921 and later appeared in

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic compositio ...

. He worked as a golf caddy and shoe seller before his first big break, working for a South American cruise line in 1934. He made his Broadway debut in 1937 in '' Babes in Arms''. He followed it with ''Stars in Your Eyes'' and ''I Married an Angel''.

MGM

In 1940, he was signed by

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 ...

to make films and, although his past career had been in musicals, he was initially cast in the drama '' Susan and God'' (1940). He also played a Nazi in '' The Mortal Storm'' (1940). Dailey was the juvenile lead in ''

The Captain Is a Lady ''The Captain Is a Lady'' is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Robert B. Sinclair and written by Henry Clark, adapted from the play by Rachel Crothers. The film stars Charles Coburn, Beulah Bondi, Virginia Grey, Helen Broderick, Billie Burk ...

'' (1940) and '' Dulcy'' (1940). He appeared in a musical comedy in ''

Hullabaloo Hubbabaloo or hullaballoo may refer to: * Hullabaloo (band), a punk band * Hullabaloo (song), a 1990 single by Absent Friends * Hullabaloo (festival), a music festival at the University of California San Diego * ''Hullabaloo'' (film), a 1940 film ...

'' (1940), then had a small role in the drama '' Keeping Company'' (1941) and was the juvenile in '' The Wild Man of Borneo'' (1941). He could be seen in '' Washington Melodrama'' (1941) and '' Ziegfeld Girl'' (1941), and played a gangster in ''

The Get-Away ''The Get-Away'' is a 1941 film directed by Edward Buzzell. It stars Robert Sterling, Charles Winninger and Donna Reed. It is a remake of '' Public Hero No. 1''. Plot Cast *Robert Sterling as Jeff Crane *Charles Winninger as Doctor Josiah Glas ...

'' (1941). Dailey was third billed in a "B", '' Down in San Diego'' (1941) and had a small part in an "A" musical, '' Lady Be Good'' (1941). Dailey was loaned out to

for '' Moon Over Her Shoulder'' (1941), then appeared opposite

Donna Reed Donna Reed (born Donna Belle Mullenger; January 27, 1921 – January 14, 1986) was an American actress. Her career spanned more than 40 years, with performances in more than 40 films. She is well known for her portrayal of Mary Hatch Bailey in ...

in '' Mokey'' (1942). He was third-billed in ''

Sunday Punch The following is a ''list of phrases from sports'' that have become idioms (slang or otherwise) in English. They have evolved usages and meanings independent of sports and are often used by those with little knowledge of these games. The sport fro ...

'' (1942). Universal borrowed him to support Leo Carrillo in ''

Timber Lumber is wood that has been processed into dimensional lumber, including Beam (structure), beams and plank (wood), planks or boards, a stage in the process of wood production. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as fini ...

'' (1942). He stayed at that studio for '' Give Out, Sisters'' (1942), a musical with

The Andrews Sisters The Andrews Sisters were an American close harmony singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie eras. The group consisted of three sisters: contralto LaVerne Sophia Andrews (July 6, 1911 – May 8, 1967), soprano Maxene Anglyn Andrews (Janua ...

and

Donald O'Connor Donald David Dixon Ronald O'Connor (August 28, 1925 – September 27, 2003) was an American dancer, singer and actor. He came to fame in a series of films in which he co-starred with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis the Talking Mule. His best ...

. Dailey's last film for MGM was '' Panama Hattie'' (1942). It was a hit and Dailey's career looked like it was going to the next level when cast in '' For Me and My Gal''. However Dailey was drafted and Gene Kelly ended up taking the role.

World War II

He served in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...

during World War II, commissioned as an Army officer after graduation from Signal Corps

Officer Candidate School An officer candidate school (OCS) is a military school which trains civilians and enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a commission as officers in the armed forces of a country. How OCS is run differs between countries and services. Typ ...

at Fort Monmouth,

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York (state), New York; on the ea ...

. During his army service, he appeared in ''

This Is the Army ''This Is the Army'' is a 1943 American wartime musical comedy film produced by Hal B. Wallis and Jack L. Warner, and directed by Michael Curtiz Michael Curtiz ( ; born Manó Kaminer; since 1905 Mihály Kertész; hu, Kertész Mihály ...

'' (1943).

20th Century Fox

When Dailey returned to Hollywood MGM did not renew his contract, which led him to sign a contract with

. Their association began brilliantly with '' Mother Wore Tights'' (1947) in which Dailey supported the studio's biggest star,

Betty Grable Elizabeth Ruth Grable (December 18, 1916 – July 2, 1973) was an American actress, pin-up girl, dancer, model, and singer. Her 42 films during the 1930s and 1940s grossed more than $100 million; for 10 consecutive years (1942–1951) she reig ...

. His part was built up during filming and the movie was Fox's most popular movie of 1947, making $5 million. Fox promptly cast Dailey opposite their other big female star, Jeanne Crain, in '' You Were Meant for Me'' (1948). It was directed by

Lloyd Bacon Lloyd Francis Bacon (December 4, 1889 – November 15, 1955) was an American screen, stage and vaudeville actor and film director. As a director he made films in virtually all genres, including westerns, musicals, comedies, gangster films, an ...

who also directed him in '' Give My Regards to Broadway'' (1948). Dailey was reunited with Grable in '' When My Baby Smiles at Me'' (1948). It was Fox's biggest hit of the year and garnered Dailey an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment in ...

nomination for

Best Actor Best Actor is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards to leading actors in a film, television series, television film or play. The term most often refers to th ...

at the

21st Academy Awards The 21st Academy Awards were held on March 24, 1949, honoring the films of 1948. The ceremony was moved from the Shrine Auditorium to the Academy's own theater, primarily because the major Hollywood studios had withdrawn their financial support ...

. Fox tried Dailey in a comedy, '' Chicken Every Sunday'' (1949) with

Celeste Holm Celeste Holm (April 29, 1917 – July 15, 2012) was an American stage, film and television actress. Holm won an Academy Award for her performance in Elia Kazan's '' Gentleman's Agreement'' (1947), and was nominated for her roles in '' Come to ...

, then he teamed with Anne Baxter in the popular musical '' You're My Everything'' (1949). In 1949, he showcased his singing abilities by recording four songs for Decca Records with the popular

Andrews Sisters The Andrews Sisters were an American close harmony singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie eras. The group consisted of three sisters: contralto LaVerne Sophia Andrews (July 6, 1911 – May 8, 1967), soprano Maxene Anglyn Andrews (January ...

. Two of the songs were Irish novelties ("Clancy Lowered the Boom!" and "I Had a Hat (When I Came In)"). The other songs, " Take Me Out to the Ball Game" and " In the Good Old Summer Time", capitalized on the success of two MGM blockbuster films of the same names, starring Gene Kelly,

Esther Williams Esther Jane Williams (August 8, 1921 – June 6, 2013) was an American competitive swimmer and actress. She set regional and national records in her late teens on the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team. Unable to compete in the 1940 Summer Ol ...

, and Frank Sinatra ( ''Take Me Out to the Ball Game''); and

Judy Garland Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer. While critically acclaimed for many different roles throughout her career, she is widely known for playing the part of Dorothy Gale in ''The ...

and

Van Johnson Charles Van Dell Johnson (August 25, 1916 – December 12, 2008) was an American film, television, theatre and radio actor. He was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer during and after World War II. Johnson was described as the embodiment o ...

('' In the Good Old Summertime''). Dailey and The Andrews Sisters were an excellent match, and their vocal stylings were full of gaiety and fun. Dailey starred in a film for

John Ford John Martin Feeney (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), known professionally as John Ford, was an American film director and naval officer. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers of his generation. He ...

, ''

When Willie Comes Marching Home ''When Willie Comes Marching Home'' is a 1950 World War II comedy film directed by John Ford and starring Dan Dailey and Corinne Calvet. It is based on the 1945 short story "When Leo Comes Marching Home" by Sy Gomberg. The film won the Golden ...

'' (1950) which was a mild success at the box office. He received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy in 1951. More popular was a third teaming with Grable, '' My Blue Heaven'' (1950). He made a cameo in '' I'll Get By'' (1950). Dailey was reunited with Anne Baxter in '' A Ticket to Tomahawk'' (1950), often noted as one of the first screen appearances of

Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe (; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; 1 June 1926 4 August 1962) was an American actress. Famous for playing comedic " blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s, as wel ...

, who played a very small part as a dance hall girl. He made a fourth (and final) film with Grable, ''

Call Me Mister ''Call Me Mister'' is a revue with sketches by Arnold Auerbach and words and music by Harold Rome. The title refers to troops who are happily returning to civilian life and no longer want to be addressed by their military ranks. The Broadway pr ...

'' (1951). Fox tried Dailey in a romantic drama, '' I Can Get It for You Wholesale'' (1951), playing opposite

Susan Hayward Susan Hayward (born Edythe Marrenner; June 30, 1917 – March 14, 1975) was an American film actress, best known for her film portrayals of women that were based on true stories. After working as a fashion model for the Walter Thornton Model A ...

. Then he was in a biopic, '' The Pride of St. Louis'' (1951), as the baseball player

Dizzy Dean Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean (January 16, 1910 – July 17, 1974), also known as Jerome Herman Dean (both the 1910 and 1920 Censuses show his name as "Jay"), was an American professional baseball pitcher. During his Major League Baseball (MLB) caree ...

. Dailey made a second film with Ford, a remake of '' What Price Glory'' (1952), where he teamed with

James Cagney James Francis Cagney Jr. (; July 17, 1899March 30, 1986) was an American actor, dancer and film director. On stage and in film, Cagney was known for his consistently energetic performances, distinctive vocal style, and deadpan comic timing. He ...

. Universal borrowed him for a musical, '' Meet Me at the Fair'' (1953). Fox put him in a drama, ''

Taxi A taxi, also known as a taxicab or simply a cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choic ...

'' (1953), then a musical with June Haver, '' The Girl Next Door'' (1953). He did another baseball-themed film, '' The Kid from Left Field'' (1953). In 1954 Dailey signed a new seven-year contract with Fox. Dailey was scheduled to appear in the

musical extravaganza '' There's No Business Like Show Business'' (1954), which featured

Irving Berlin Irving Berlin (born Israel Beilin; yi, ישראל ביילין; May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989) was a Russian-American composer, songwriter and lyricist. His music forms a large part of the Great American Songbook. Born in Imperial Russ ...

's music and also starred Monroe,

Ethel Merman Ethel Merman (born Ethel Agnes Zimmermann, January 16, 1908 – February 15, 1984) was an American actress and singer, known for her distinctive, powerful voice, and for leading roles in musical theatre.Obituary '' Variety'', February 22, 1984. ...

, Mitzi Gaynor,

Johnnie Ray John Alvin Ray (January 10, 1927 – February 24, 1990) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Highly popular for most of the 1950s, Ray has been cited by critics as a major precursor to what became rock and roll, for his jazz and bl ...

, and

, whose wife Gwen divorced him and married Dailey around that time. Filming was delayed due to director

Walter Lang Walter Lang (August 10, 1896 – February 7, 1972) was an American film director. Early life Walter Lang was born in Tennessee. As a young man he went to New York City where he found clerical work at a film production company. The business piqu ...

's poor health. Dailey agreed to appear in '' Susan Slept Here'' and '' Heller in Pink Tights''. But ''Susan'' ended up being made with

Dick Powell Richard Ewing Powell (November 14, 1904 – January 2, 1963) was an American actor, musician, producer, director, and studio head. Though he came to stardom as a musical comedy performer, he showed versatility, and successfully transformed into ...

and ''Pink Tights'' was postponed. Eventually ''There's No Business Like Show Business'' was made and proved to be Dailey's biggest hit in a long time.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Dailey went to

to play GI-turned-advertising man Doug Hallerton in '' It's Always Fair Weather'' (1955) alongside Gene Kelly. The film was screened at drive-in theaters and was not a box-office success, although it did receive good reviews. He starred opposite

Cyd Charisse Cyd Charisse (born Tula Ellice Finklea; March 8, 1922 – June 17, 2008) was an American actress and dancer. After recovering from polio as a child and studying ballet, Charisse entered films in the 1940s. Her roles usually featured her abilit ...

and

Agnes Moorehead Agnes Robertson Moorehead (December 6, 1900April 30, 1974) was an American actress. In a career spanning four decades, her credits included work in radio, stage, film, and television.Obituary '' Variety'', May 8, 1974, page 286. Moorehead was t ...

in '' Meet Me in Las Vegas'' (1956). Dailey returned to Fox for one more musical, '' The Best Things in Life Are Free'' (1956) to play songwriter

Ray Henderson Ray Henderson (born Raymond Brost; December 1, 1896 – December 31, 1970) was an American songwriter. Early life Born in Buffalo, New York, United States, Henderson moved to New York City and became a popular composer in Tin Pan Alley. He was o ...

opposite Gordon MacRae. The following year, he portrayed "Jughead" Carson in the drama '' The Wings of Eagles'' (1957) for John Ford, a biographical film on the life of Frank Wead, starring John Wayne. He was one of several stars in Fox's comedy '' Oh, Men! Oh, Women!'' (1957). For the same studio, he was part of the ensemble in '' The Wayward Bus'' (1957). Dailey made a profitable low-budget war film for MGM, '' Underwater Warrior'' (1958).

Later career

As the musical genre began to wane in the late-1950s, he moved on to various comedic and dramatic roles on television, including starring in '' The Four Just Men'' (1959–60). He starred with Cantinflas in '' Pepe'' (1960) and had a cameo in '' Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man'' (1961) and made '' Four Nights of the Full Moon'' (1963) in Spain. He returned to Broadway in ''Catch Me If You Can'' (1965). In the late 1960s, Dailey toured as Oscar Madison in a road production of '' The Odd Couple'', co-starring Elliott Reid as Felix Unger and also featuring

Peter Boyle Peter Lawrence Boyle (October 18, 1935 – December 12, 2006) was an American actor. Known as a character actor, he played Frank Barone on the CBS sitcom '' Everybody Loves Raymond'' and the comical monster in Mel Brooks' film spoof ''Youn ...

as Murray the cop. He did a stint on Broadway in ''

Plaza Suite ''Plaza Suite'' is a comedy play by Neil Simon. Plot The play is composed of three acts, each involving different characters but all set in Suite 719 of New York City's Plaza Hotel. The first act, ''Visitor From Mamaroneck'', introduces the ...

''. From 1969 to 1971, Dailey was the Governor opposite Julie Sommars's J.J. in the sitcom '' The Governor & J.J.'' which revolved around the relationship between his character, the conservative governor of an unnamed state and his liberal daughter Jennifer Jo. His performance won him the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Musical or Comedy for performances in 1969, the year that this category was introduced. He starred in a short lived series ''

Faraday & Company ''Faraday & Company'' is an American crime drama television series that was part of the ''NBC Mystery Movie''. It lasted for only four episodes, which were rotated with ''Banacek'', ''The Snoop Sisters'', and ''Tenafly'' on Wednesday nights from 8 ...

'' in 1973. Later film performances included '' The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover'' (1977), as Clyde Tolson.

Personal life

Dailey married first wife Elizabeth in 1942. They had one son – Dan, Jr. – in 1947, and separated in 1949. They divorced in 1951. Dailey's son died by suicide in 1975. Dailey broke his hip in 1977 and developed anemia. He died on October 16, 1978, from complications following hip replacement surgery. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

Filmography

Films: *'' Susan and God'' (1940) – Homer (uncredited) *'' The Mortal Storm'' (1940) – Holl *''

'' (1940) – Perth Nickerson *'' Dulcy'' (1940) – Bill Ward *''

'' (1940) – Bob Strong *'' Keeping Company'' (1940) – Jim Reynolds *'' The Wild Man of Borneo'' (1941) – Ed LeMotte *'' Washington Melodrama'' (1941) – Whitney King *'' Ziegfeld Girl'' (1941) – Jimmy Walters *'' The Getaway'' (1941) – Sonny Black *'' Down in San Diego'' (1941) – Al Haines *'' Lady Be Good'' (1941) – Bill Pattison *'' Moon Over Her Shoulder'' (1941) – Rex *'' Mokey'' (1942) – Herbert Delano *''

'' (1942) – Olaf 'Ole' Jensen *''

'' (1942) – Kansas *'' Give Out, Sisters'' (1942) – Bob Edwards *'' Panama Hattie'' (1942) – Dick Bulliard *''

'' (1943) – Soldier – 'This Is the Army' Number (uncredited) *'' Mother Wore Tights'' (1947) – Daddy *'' You Were Meant for Me'' (1948) – Chuck Arnold *'' Give My Regards to Broadway'' (1948) – Bert Norwick *'' When My Baby Smiles at Me'' (1948) – 'Skid' Johnson *'' Chicken Every Sunday'' (1948) – Jim Hefferan *'' You're My Everything'' (1949) – Timothy O'Connor *''

'' (1950) – William 'Bill' Kluggs *'' A Ticket to Tomahawk'' (1950) – Johnny Behind-the-Deuces *'' My Blue Heaven'' (1950) – Jack Moran *'' I'll Get By'' (1950) – G.I. Dancing with June Haver & Gloria DeHaven (uncredited) *''

'' (1951) – Shep Dooley *'' I Can Get It for You Wholesale'' (1951) – Teddy Sherman *'' The Pride of St. Louis'' (1952) – Jerome Hanna 'Dizzy' Dean *'' What Price Glory?'' (1952) – 1st Sgt. Quirt *''

'' (1953) – Ed Nielson *'' Meet Me at the Fair'' (1953) – Doc Tilbee *'' The Girl Next Door'' (1953) – Bill Carter *'' The Kid from Left Field'' (1953) – Larry 'Pop' Cooper *'' There's No Business Like Show Business'' (1954) – Terrance Donahue *'' It's Always Fair Weather'' (1955) – Doug Hallerton *'' Meet Me in Las Vegas'' (1956) – Chuck Rodwell *'' The Best Things in Life Are Free'' (1956) – Ray Henderson *'' The Wings of Eagles'' (1957) – 'Jughead' Carson *'' Oh, Men! Oh, Women!'' (1957) – Arthur Turner *'' The Wayward Bus'' (1957) – Ernest Horton *'' Underwater Warrior'' (1958) – Cmdr. David Forest *'' Pepe'' (1960) – Ted Holt *'' Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man'' (1962) – Billy Campbell *'' Four Nights of the Full Moon'' (1963) *'' The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover'' (1977) – Clyde Tolson (final film role) Radio: *'' Philco Radio Time'' (1948) *'' Lux Radio Theatre'' (1949–1954) (multiple adaptations) Television: *'' The Four Just Men'' (1959–1960) *'' The Untouchables Dexter Bayless (1962) *'' The Governor & J.J.'' (1969–1970) – Gov. William Drinkwater *''

Here's Lucy ''Here's Lucy'' is an American sitcom starring Lucille Ball. The series co-starred her long-time comedy partner Gale Gordon and her real-life children Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. It was broadcast on CBS from 1968 to 1974. It was Ball's thi ...

'' 1971 *''

'' (1973–1974) – Frank Faraday Stage: *'' Babes in Arms'' (1937) *'' I Married an Angel'' (1939) *''Stars in Your Eyes'' (1939) *''

Burlesque A burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects.

'' (1958) *''

Take Me Along ''Take Me Along'' is a 1959 musical based on the 1933 Eugene O'Neill play '' Ah, Wilderness'', with music and lyrics by Bob Merrill and book by Joseph Stein and Robert Russell.Mandelbaum, Ke"Ken Mandelbaum's Musicals On Disc: Remembering Bob Me ...

'' (1961) *''

Guys and Dolls ''Guys and Dolls'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on " The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" (1933) and "Blood Pressure", which are two short stories by Damon Runyon, and als ...

'' (1961–1965) *'' High Button Shoes'' (1964) *''Catch Me If You Can'' (1965; 1972) *'' The Odd Couple'' (1966–1968) *''

'' (1969–1970) Other: *'' Tournament of Roses'' (narrator) (1954) *''Testimony of Two Men'' (TV mini-series) (1977)

Box office ranking

For a number of years, movie exhibitors voted Dailey among the most popular stars in the country: *1949 – 19th (United States) *1950 – 21st (United States)

References

External links

* * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dailey, Dan 1915 births 1978 deaths American male film actors American male dancers American male television actors American male musical theatre actors American male radio actors Blackface minstrel performers Vaudeville performers Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) Male actors from New York City Singers from New York City Best Musical or Comedy Actor Golden Globe (television) winners Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players United States Army personnel of World War II 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American singers United States Army officers 20th-century American dancers 20th-century American male singers