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Donald O'Connor

Donald O'Connor

Actor · Died September 27, 2003, aged 78 · Chicago, Illinois, USA

Donald O’Connor (August 28, 1925 – September 27, 2003) was an American dancer, singer, and actor who came to fame in a series of movies in which he co-starred alternately with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis the Talking Mule. He is best known today for his role in Singin' in the Rain.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 28, 1925
Died
September 27, 2003 (aged 78)
From
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
38 on MovieCove · 89 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 31% in 30 days

What are Donald O'Connor's films like?

Across their 24 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy18 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 21st percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
43%
Self
26%
Morality
17%
Society
11%
Power
2%
Survival
1%
Romantic love11 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 24 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 21 · Serious 2 · Dark 1

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 7 · Stylized 15 · Heightened 2

Gentle: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their gentle movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 17 · Charged 6 · Intense 1

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 18 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 2

Funny: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their funny movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 17

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 23 · Engaged 1 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 23 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

21 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 14 of 21 analyzed roles.

Hero
14 of 21
Mentor
3 of 21
Ally
2 of 21
Trickster
1 of 21
Herald
1 of 21
Show the 21 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
21
Warm
7
Absurd
8
Romantic
7
Hopeful
4
Other
13

How their films linger

Feel-good21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy23
  • Bittersweet1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Donald O'Connor's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 14 of their 38 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Donald O'Connor's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

89 credits, 38 with a MovieCove page; 36 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Becoming Marilyn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as (archive footage)

  • Pioneers of Primetime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • Out to Sea(1997)

    as Jonathan

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Father Frost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Baba Yaga

  • That's Entertainment! III(1994)

    as (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Bandit: Bandit's Silver Angel(1994)

    as Uncle Cyrus

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Nanny(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Fred

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Harlow Safford

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Toys(1992)

    as Kenneth Zevo

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Tales from the Crypt(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Joseph Renfield

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • A Mouse, a Mystery and Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Alex the Mouse (voice)

  • A Time to Remember(1988)

    as Father Walsh

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Alice in Wonderland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Lory Bird

  • That's Dancing!(1985)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Barry Barnes

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Highway to Heaven(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Jackie Clark

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Alice in Wonderland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Mock Turtle

  • Hotel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as David Connelly

  • Pandemonium(1982)

    as Glenn's Dad

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Simon & Simon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as George Decova / Barnaby the Great

  • Ragtime(1981)

    as Evelyn's Dance Instructor

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Big Fix(1978)

    as Francis Joins The Navy

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Howard Enicker · as Leo Halbert · as Oscar Tilton

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Hunter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • That's Entertainment, Part II(1976)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Bionic Woman(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • Ellery Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Kenny Freeman

  • Police Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Holly Connor

  • The Bobby Darin Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Great Performances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Mock Turtle · as Self

  • The Donald O'Connor Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Host

  • ABC Stage 67 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Hermes

  • That Funny Feeling(1965)

    as Harvey Granson

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Benjamin Boggs

  • Petticoat Junction(1963)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Vacation Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Donald Dugan

  • Marilyn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as archive footage

  • The Wonders of Aladdin(1961)

    as Aladdin

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Cry for Happy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Murray Prince

  • The Jet-Propelled Couch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Dr. Robert Harrison

  • DuPont Show of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Johnny Shaw

  • The Buster Keaton Story(1957)

    as Buster Keaton

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Anything Goes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Ted Adams

  • Francis in the Navy(1955)

    as Peter Stirling / Slicker Donevan

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • There's No Business Like Show Business(1954)

    as Tim Donahue

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Donald O'Connor Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 19 episodes · as Donald O'Connor

  • Francis Joins the WACS(1954)

    as Peter Stirling

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Walking My Baby Back Home(1953)

    as Jigger Millard

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Francis Covers the Big Town(1953)

    as Peter Stirling

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Call Me Madam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Kenneth Gibson

  • I Love Melvin(1953)

    as Melvin Hoover

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Francis Goes to West Point(1952)

    as Peter Stirling

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Singin' in the Rain(1952)

    as Cosmo Brown

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Francis Goes to the Races(1951)

    as Peter Stirling

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Double Crossbones(1951)

    as Davey Crandall

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • The Milkman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Roger Bradley

  • Curtain Call at Cactus Creek(1950)

    as Edward Timmons

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Francis(1950)

    as Peter Stirling

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Yes Sir, That's My Baby(1949)

    as William Waldo Winfield

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin'(1948)

    as Wilbur McMurty

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Are You With It? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Milton Haskins

  • Something in the Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Charlie Read

  • Patrick the Great (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Pat Donahue Jr.

  • Bowery to Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Specialty dancer

  • The Merry Monahans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Jimmy Monahan

  • This Is the Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Jimmy

  • Follow the Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Donald O'Connor

  • Chip Off the Old Block (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Donald Corrigan

  • Top Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Don Warren

  • Mister Big (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Donald J. O'Connor

  • It Comes Up Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Ricky Ives

  • When Johnny Comes Marching Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Frankie

  • Get Hep to Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Jimmy Arnold

  • Give Out, Sisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Don

  • Private Buckaroo(1942)

    as Donny

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • What's Cookin'? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Tommy

  • On Your Toes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Phil Jr. as a Boy

  • Death of a Champion(1939)

    as Small Fry

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Night Work (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Butch Smiley

  • Beau Geste(1939)

    as Beau Geste (as a Child)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Million Dollar Legs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Sticky Boone

  • Unmarried (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Ted Streaver (age 12)

  • Boy Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Butch

  • Tom Sawyer, Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Huckleberry Finn

  • Sons of the Legion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Butch Baker

  • Sing, You Sinners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Mike Beebe

  • Men with Wings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Young Pat Falconer

  • It Can't Last Forever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Kid Dancer (uncredited)

  • Melody for Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Specialty Act

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 89 titles from 1937 to 2022; peak year 1981.

Biggest box office

Out to Sea (1997)

$31M worldwide

Highest rated

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

19372022

Peak 1981 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting88 of 89: 88 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score53rdDirecting1 of 89: 1 only directing, 0 with another role

By decade

1930s13 · acting1940s18 · acting1950s19 · acting1960s9 · 8 acting · 1 crew1970s9 · acting1980s12 · acting1990s7 · acting2000s1 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 27% of 11 roles
3954

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Donald O'Connor's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 53rd percentile, the median of all 30; across their 24 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 52nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Approval · how many liked their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Reach · how many have seen their films

36thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Midcredits score across 38 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

20 of their 38 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser20
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

A Time to Remember (1988)

95th percentile spread · 61% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Midcredits 99th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 23 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 48. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Donald O'Connor's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 38 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Donald O'Connor work with?

People who share at least 2 of Donald O'Connor's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Oscar Brodney shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers