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Gene Kelly's memory will stand the test of time

He was a classic. He had the grace of a figure skater with the build of a hockey player. In his 30 years of Hollywood service, Gene Kelly brought style and strength to the big screen. On Feb. 2, he died in his Beverly Hills home, leaving behind a wife, three children and a legendary reputation.

This celebrated dancer began displaying his talent when he was 8 years old. In college, he starred in musicals and gave his classmates dance lessons for 50 cents an hour to earn a little extra cash. When Kelly graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1933, he continued his instruction by opening Gene Kelly Studios of Dance.

Kelly hit the Broadway stage at the age of 26. He earned a part in the chorus of "Leave it to Me," with Mary Martin; he first attracted attention, however, when he starred in the musical "Pal Joey" in 1940.

The first of his 39 films came in 1942 when he made his debut in "For Me and My Gal" with Judy Garland. The role had critics comparing him to the dancing machine Fred Astaire. Many noticed that, while both had amazing talent in the dancing realm, their styles were uniquely different. Kelly had the average-man appearance that captivated viewers, while Astaire had the more formal presentation.

During World War II, Kelly starred in two dramas, "Pilot Number Five" and "The Cross of Lorraine." He struck gold, however, when he starred opposite Rita Hayworth in the musical "Cover Girl" (1944). He danced his way into the public eye and the industry loved him for it. In 1945, he worked opposite fellow legend Frank Sinatra in "Anchors Aweigh" as a rambunctious sailor on leave.

Then, Kelly started to mix a little acting in with choreography and directing. Films like "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" (1949) and "On the Town" (1949) gave him dual roles, working in front and behind the camera. He directed films like "Singin' in Rain" (1952), "It's Always Fair Weather" (1955) and "Hello Dolly" (1969). Throughout his career, Kelly directed a total of 10 movies; in half of these, he also acted.

The legend is perhaps best known for his roles in "An American in Paris" (1951) and "Singin' in the Rain"-- the former won him an Oscar for his amazing ability in the art of choreography. The films brought together fine music, dancing and acting; it was the combination of these talents that made Kelly's films such classics.

The greatest thing about Kelly's achievements is that these masterpieces are certainly not limited to the cheesy stuff that makes modern society cringe. He has the ability to mesmerize his audiences with his unsurpassed technique and talent. He sang and danced, while he simultaneously directed and choreographed some of the most memorable moments in American film.

Interestingly enough, Kelly enchanted people with his "average" persona. He didn't have to wear a tuxedo to leave a lasting impression. He wore khakis with white socks, and his sweaters and shirts were always bunched around his biceps. He was suave and classy, yet simple and standard.

His films portrayed classic love and joy, and while everything was not always perfect, it was good, old-fashioned love. Even today audiences still appreciate it.

Kelly received the American Film Institute Lifetime Achievement Award in 1985. The honor is bestowed upon individuals who have revolutionized the art of film and who have been recognized by various audiences. As the American Film Institutes Board of Trustees established in 1973, this achievement is awarded to those "whose work has stood the test of time." And as we know, Kelly -- more than anyone else -- fits the bill.

On the personal side, Kelly was married three times and had three children. When he first moved to Hollywood in 1941, he married actress Betsy Blair. They had a daughter, Kerry, who is now a psychotherapist in Ann Arbor.

Their marriage ended in divorce in 1957; a few years later he married dancer Jeanne Coyne, with whom he had son Timothy, now 33, and daughter Bridget, now 31. When Jeanne died in 1973 of leukemia, Kelly took time off from the screen to care for their children.

Soon thereafter, he narrated the three films in the "That's Entertainment!" series beginning in 1974. In 1980, he shared a scene with Olivia Newton-John in the unsuccessful "Xanadu;" the film added to his recent series of disappointments.

Kelly had his first life-threatening stroke in July 1994, which was followed by another last year. His third wife, writer Patricia Ward, was by his side when he died in his sleep earlier this month.