Leslie Caron was a French ballet dancer who was discovered by Gene Kelly while he was searching for a co-star for the Oscar-winning musical film "An American in Paris" (1951). The film was inspired by the music of George Gershwin and starred Kelly and Caron as the main characters.
Leslie Caron was born on July 1, 1931, in France to a French chemist father and an American-born mother who was a former ballet dancer. She began taking dance lessons at the age of 11 and was trained at the National Conservatory of Dance.
At the age of 14, Caron appeared in "The Pearl Diver," a show for children where she danced and played a little boy. At 16, she was hired by the renowned Roland Petit to join the Ballet des Champs-Elysees, where she was given solo parts.
Leslie Caron's talent and reputation as a dancer had already been recognized when she was seen by Gene Kelly and his wife Betsy Blair on the opening night of Petit's 1948 ballet "La Rencontre." Kelly remembered Caron's performance a year later when he was searching for a partner for his upcoming movie musical "An American in Paris."
The film was a critical and commercial success, and Caron's performances and elegant footwork earned her widespread acclaim. She went on to star in several more films, including "Glory Alley" (1952),"The Story of Three Loves" (1953),"Lili" (1953),"Daddy Long Legs" (1955),"The Glass Slipper" (1955),"Gigi" (1958),"Fanny" (1961),and "The L-Shaped Room" (1962).
Leslie Caron also had a successful stage career, appearing in productions of "Ondine" (1961) and "Can-Can" (1980s). She was invited to appear on American TV and won her first Emmy Award for her portrayal of an elderly woman and closeted rape victim in a 2006 episode of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."
Leslie Caron has been married three times and has two children with her second husband, Peter Hall. She has received numerous awards and accolades for her contributions to film and dance, including a number of "Life Achievement" awards.
