14 Facts About Vera-Ellen

Vera-Ellen is remembered for her solo performances as well as her work with partners Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Danny Kaye, and Donald O'Connor.

Vera-Ellen is best known for her starring roles in On the Town with Kelly and White Christmas with Kaye.

Vera-Ellen Rohe was born in Norwood, Ohio, to Martin F Rohe, a piano dealer, and Alma C Westmeier.

Vera-Ellen's mother dreamed she would have a girl named Vera-Ellen, including the hyphen.

Vera-Ellen began dancing at age 10 and quickly became proficient.

However, the Decca Broadway Original Cast Album of 1943's revival of A Connecticut Yankee has two vocals by Vera-Ellen, "I Feel at Home with You" and "You Always Love the Same Girl," both duets with Chester Stratton.

Vera-Ellen danced with Gene Kelly in the Hollywood musicals Words and Music and On the Town, while appearing in the last Marx Brothers film, Love Happy.

Vera-Ellen received top billing alongside Fred Astaire in the musicals Three Little Words and The Belle of New York.

Vera-Ellen had a co-starring role with Donald O'Connor in the Ethel Merman vehicle Call Me Madam.

Vera-Ellen starred in the 1951 musical comedy Happy Go Lovely alongside David Niven and Cesar Romero.

Vera-Ellen starred in only one more film, the 1957 British production Let's Be Happy.

Vera-Ellen was a frequent guest on US variety programming in the mid-to-late 1950s.

Vera-Ellen's first husband was a fellow dancer, Robert Hightower, to whom she was married from February 1941 to November 1946.

Vera-Ellen died at the Los Angeles County General Hospital on August 30,1981, of ovarian cancer.