No viewer of the Hollywood musical comedy "Singin’ in the Rain" will ever forget "Make ‘Em Laugh," the hilarious dance sequence choreographed and performed by Donald O’Connor, showcasing all his musical, artistic, and comedic genius. The motion picture, which also starred Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds, has become a classic. But, if that is all you remember about Donald O’Connor, you haven’t paid much attention! He has earned stardom in every major entertainment medium. To say that O’Connor has been a performer all his life is not an exaggeration. He was three days old when he made his first stage appearance, cuddled by his mother as she played the piano for the "The O’Connor Family/Royal Family of Vaudeville." By 13 months, he was officially in the act, and by age 3, he stole the show with his high-pitched soprano finale in "Keep Your Sunny Side Up."

His Hollywood screen debut at age 12 as the kid brother to Bing Crosby and Fred MacMurray in "Sing You Sinners," launched a career which led to leading roles on film, television, and the stage -- roles which placed on his mantel the Emmy, Golden Globe, Peabody, Sylvania and Best TV Performer awards. They share space with numerous humanitarian awards received from such organizations as the City of Hope, National Conference of Christians and Jews, Will Rogers Foundation for Humanitarian Service and Torch of Life.

Remember "Francis the Talking Mule" -- a film series that boosted a sagging tinseltown economy? And don’t forget "On Your Toes," "This Is The Life," "Yes, Sir, That’s My Baby," "Call Me Madam," "I Love Melvin," "Walkin’ My Baby Back Home," "Beau Gest," "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," "Anything Goes," and "Ragtime" --a tiny sampling of O’Connor’s prolific film career.

O’Connor has made his mark in television too. He was assured a spot in the history books when he hosted the first internationally televised Academy Award presentations. He received an Emmy as Best Male Star in a Regular Series for his starring role in TV’s "Colgate Comedy Hour," starred in his own stories, "Here Comes Donald" and continues to appear as a guest on top-rated NBC, ABC, CBS shows -- most recently on "Frasier" and "The Nanny." He has appeared on TV and stage with the likes of Johnny Carson, Dean Martin, Bob Hope, Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Lucille Ball, Merv Griffin, Julie Andrews, Dinah Shore, Jackie Gleason and Carol Burnett -- to name a few.

One of the first entertainers to strut the stage in the early days of Las Vagas, he still performs there, lately with Debbie Reynolds and Mickey Rooney. O’Connor’s most recent work includes hosting "American Movie Classics," completion of a musical score based on his life story, and, in Hollywood, a wrap on the shooting of "Out To Sea" with Walter Matthau and Jack Lemon.

Exactly three months after his June 27, 2003 appearance at the Judy Garland Festival, O'Connor died of heart failure at a retirement home in Calabasas, California. He was 78.