Ginger Rogers: A Life in Photos

Today is Ginger Rogers' 115th birthday. Born Virginia Katherine McMath in Independence, Missouri, on July 16, 1911, she began her entertainment career as a teenager, performing in a travelling vaudeville act. In 1930, she became an overnight star with a lead role in the Broadway musical Girl Crazy by George and Ira Gershwin. Her success on the stage soon led to a contract with Paramount Pictures, and she made her feature film debut in Monta Bell's Young Man of Manhattan (1930). Dissatisfied with the parts she was given, she moved to RKO and was put to work with Fred Astaire in Flying Down to Rio (1933), which started a highly successful partnership between the two stars. In their ten films together, they redefined the movie musical with their graceful performances and memorable dance routines. Beyond musicals, Rogers proved her versatility as a dramatic actress, winning an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Kitty Foyle (1940).

With a career spanning more than five decades, Ginger Rogers appeared in over 70 films and became one of Hollywood's most beloved stars. She is remembered not only for her talent, charm and wit, but also for her lasting influence on dance and cinema. This is her life in photos.

 

At age 15, in costume for a «Valencia» number, as part of her act when she was touring in vaudeville. The dress was made by her mother, Lela Rogers.

 

 Portrait from 1930.

 

With Charles Ruggles in Honor Among Lovers (1931). 

 

With director Mervyn LeRoy, whom she was dating at that time, at the Los Angeles premiere of Union Depot (1932) on January 20, 1932.

 

With Lew Ayres and Ken Murray at the Eighth Annual Rodeo held on the ranch of rodeo champion and actor Hoot Gibson, in Saugus, California. Photo dated May 3, 1933.

 

RKO publicity portrait dated September 25, 1933. 

 

At her home, in a photo dated March 20, 1934.

 

With Lew Ayres, after their wedding ceremony at the Little Church of the Flowers, in Glendale, California, on November 13, 1934.

 

With Fred Astaire in Top Hat (1935). 

 

With Fred Astaire in Follow the Fleet (1936). 

 

 With Fred Astaire in Swing Time (1936).

 

Photo by Horst P. Horst for a 1936 issue of Vogue magazine. 

 

With her mother, in a photo dated April 8, 1937.

 

Still from Shall We Dance (1937).

 

With Katharine Hepburn in Stage Door (1937). 

 

With Fred Astaire in Carefree (1938).

 

Still from Lucky Partners (1940).

 

With Dennis Morgan in Kitty Foyle (1940). 

 

With James Stewart holding their respective Oscars at the 13th Academy Awards ceremony held at the Biltmore Bowl of the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, on February 27, 1941. Rogers won for Kitty Foyle (1940), while Stewart won for The Philadelphia Story (1940).

 

Promotion photo for Roxie Hart (1942).

 

With Joan Fontaine after presenting with the Oscar for Best Actress for Suspicion (1941) at the 14th Academy Awards ceremony held at the Biltmore Bowl of the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, on February 26, 1942.

 

Photo by Bob Landy as part of a cover story for an issue of LIFE magazine dated March 2, 1942. 

 

With Ray Milland in The Major and the Minor (1942).

 

With her third husband, Marine Private Jack Briggs, following their brief honeymoon, in Beverly Hills, California, on January 20, 1943. Photo by Paul Popper.

 

With Frank Sinatra in a photo dated January 20, 1944.

 

Promotional photo for Lady in the Dark (1944). 

 

Studio portrait from circa 1947. 

 

With Fred Astaire, in a publicity portrait for The Barkleys of Broadway (1949).

 

At a tennis court in New York circa 1950. 

 

With Paul McGrath on stage together in the Broadway play Love and Let Love by Louis Verneuil. Photo dated November 18, 1951.

 

With Jacques Bergerac at a nightclub in Venice, Italy, during the Venice Film Festival, on August 31, 1952. They were married the following year.

 

With Barry Nelson in The First Traveling Saleslady (1956). 

 

During rehearsals for a production of Johnny Appleseed for NBC's Bell Telephone Hour in April 1964. Photo by Jack Mitchell.

 

In London in December 1968. Photo by Peter King. 

 

In her dressing room at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London, where she starred in a production of the musical Mame. Photo by George W. Hales dated February 10, 1969.

 

In the West End production of Mame in 1969. 

 

With Douglas Fairbanks Jr. during their joint appearance on The Love Boat (1977-1986). They co-starred in a two-part episode in season three titled «The Critical Success/The Love Lamp Is Lit,» which aired on November 10, 1979.

 

With Sammy Davis Jr. at the «Night of 100 Stars,» an event held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on February 19, 1982, to benefit The Actors Fund of America. Photo by Joe McNally. 

 

With Fred Astaire during a luncheon celebrated RKO General's donation of RKO Radio Pictures' archives to the University of California, Los Angeles. Photo dated June 23, 1982.

 

Photo by Aaron Rapoport dated May 13, 1993.