Full Name: Virginia Katherine McMath (Ginger Rogers)
Birthdate: July 16, 1911
Birthplace: Independence, Missouri, USA
Died: April 25, 1995 (aged 83)
Occupation: Actress, singer, dancer
Years Active: 1925–1987
Early Life & Career Beginnings
Born in Missouri, Ginger Rogers was raised mostly by her mother, Lela, who became her manager and mentor. She won a Charleston dance contest at age 14, launching her career in vaudeville and Broadway.
She made her film debut in the late 1920s, appearing in early musicals and comedies before achieving mainstream success.
Rise to Stardom: The Fred Astaire Partnership
Rogers is best known for her legendary on-screen dance partnership with Fred Astaire, starring in 10 films together. Their chemistry, elegance, and innovative dance routines revolutionized Hollywood musicals.
Famous Rogers & Astaire films include:
- Flying Down to Rio (1933) – Their first pairing
- The Gay Divorcee (1934)
- Top Hat (1935)
- Swing Time (1936)
- Shall We Dance (1937)
- Carefree (1938)
Although their partnership defined an era, Rogers proved her versatility by taking on dramatic and comedic roles as well.
Academy Award-Winning Actress
Rogers won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Kitty Foyle (1940), proving she was more than just a dancer.
Other notable films:
- Stage Door (1937) – With Katharine Hepburn
- Bachelor Mother (1939) – A romantic comedy classic
- Roxie Hart (1942) – Precursor to Chicago
- Monkey Business (1952) – With Cary Grant & Marilyn Monroe
She continued acting in films, stage productions, and television into the 1980s.
Later Years & Legacy
- Starred in Broadway and West End productions, including Hello, Dolly! in the 1960s.
- Wrote an autobiography, Ginger: My Story (1991).
- Awarded the Kennedy Center Honors (1992) for her lifetime achievements.
Personal Life
- Married five times, but had no children.
- Was a staunch conservative later in life.
- Spent her final years at her ranch in Oregon.
Death & Influence
Ginger Rogers passed away in 1995 at age 83. She remains an icon of Hollywood’s Golden Age, known for her elegance, wit, and legendary dancing.
One of her most famous quotes about her dancing with Astaire:
“I did everything he did, but backwards and in high heels.”
