Dan Dailey
Actor

Dan Dailey Net Worth

He also directed a few films, including It's Always Fair Weather (1955). Dailey passed away in 1978. Dan Dailey was a renowned actor, director, and soundtrack artist born in New York City in 1915. He began his career in vaudeville and made his Broadway debut in the stage version of "Babes in Arms". After being signed to MGM, he was initially cast as a Nazi in The Mortal Storm (1940). However, the studio soon realized their mistake and cast him in musical films instead. After serving in World War II, Dailey returned to acting and directing, making more musicals and directing films such as It's Always Fair Weather (1955). He passed away in 1978.
Dan Dailey is a member of Actor

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Actor, Soundtrack, Director
Birth Day December 14, 1915
Birth Place  New York City, New York, United States
Age 105 YEARS OLD
Died On October 16, 1978(1978-10-16) (aged 62)\nLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Birth Sign Capricorn
Cause of death Complications from hip surgery
Years active 1921 1937-1977
Spouse(s) Esther Rodier (?-1941) Elizabeth Hofert (1942-1951) one child Gwen Carter O'Connor (1955-1960)
Children Dan Dailey III, (1948-1975)

💰 Net worth: $400,000 (2024)

Dan Dailey, an esteemed actor, soundtrack artist, and director hailing from the United States, is anticipated to have a net worth of approximately $400,000 in the year 2024. Renowned for his versatility and undeniable talent, Dailey has left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. Throughout his illustrious career, he has garnered a loyal fanbase and received critical acclaim for his performances. With his multifaceted skills and immense dedication, it is no surprise that Dan Dailey has accumulated considerable wealth over the years, solidifying his status as a revered figure in the realm of acting and filmmaking.

Biography/Timeline

1915

Dailey was born on December 14, 1915, in New York City, to Daniel James Dailey Sr. and Helen Theresa (née Ryan) Dailey. His younger sister was Actress Irene Dailey.

1921

He appeared in a minstrel show in 1921, and later appeared in vaudeville. He worked as a golf caddy and shoe seller before his first big break, working for a South American cruise line in 1934.

1937

He made his Broadway debut in 1937 in Babes in Arms. He followed it with Stars in Your Eyes and I Married an Angel.

1940

Dailey was the Juvenile lead in The Captain Is a Lady (1940) and Dulcy (1940). He appeared in a musical comedy in Hullabaloo (1940), then had a small role in the drama Keeping Company (1941) and was the Juvenile in The Wild Man of Borneo (1941). He could be seen in Washington Melodrama (1941) and Ziegfeld Girl (1941), and played a gangster in The Get-Away (1941).

1941

Dailey was loaned out to 20th Century Fox for Moon Over Her Shoulder (1941), then appeared opposite Donna Reed in Mokey (1942). He was third billed in Sunday Punch (1942).

1942

Dailey married first wife Elizabeth in 1942. They had one son, Dan Jnr, born in 1947, and separated in 1949. They divorced in 1951.

1943

He served in the United States Army during World War II, and was commissioned as an Army officer after graduation from Signal Corps Officer Candidate School at Fort Monmouth in New Jersey. During his army Service, he appeared in This Is the Army (1943).

1947

When Dailey returned to Hollywood MGM agreed to let him sign a contract with 20th Century Fox. Their association began brilliantly with Mother Wore Tights (1947) in which Dailey supported the studio's biggest star, Betty Grable. His part was built up during filming and the movie was Fox's most popular movie of 1947, making $5 million.

1948

Dailey was reunited with Grable in When My Baby Smiles at Me (1948). It was Fox's biggest hit of the year and garnered Dailey an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

1949

In 1949, he showcased his singing abilities by recording four songs for Decca Records with the popular Andrews Sisters singing trio. Two of the songs were Irish novelties ("Clancy Lowered the Boom!" and "I Had a Hat (When I Came In)"). The other songs, Take Me Out to the Ball Game and In the Good Old Summertime capitalized on the success of two MGM blockbuster films of the same names from that same year, starring Gene Kelly, Esther Williams, Frank Sinatra ("Tale Me Out to the Ballgame" and Judy Garland and Van Johnson ("In the Good Old Summertime"), respectively. Dailey and The Andrews Sisters were an excellent match, and their vocal stylings on these selections were full of gaiety and fun.

1950

As the musical genre began to wane in the late-1950s, he moved on to various comedic and dramatic roles on television, including starring in The Four Just Men (1959–60).

1951

Fox tried Dailey in a romantic drama, I Can Get It for You Wholesale (1951), playing opposite Susan Hayward. Then he was in a biopic, The Pride of St. Louis (1951) as the baseball player Dizzy Dean.

1952

Dailey made a second film with Ford, a remake of What Price Glory (1952), where he teamed with James Cagney.

1953

Universal borrowed him for a musical, Meet Me at the Fair (1953). Fox put him in a drama, Taxi (1953), then a musical with June Haver, The Girl Next Door (1953). He did another baseball-themed film, The Kid from Left Field (1953).

1954

Dailey was meant to appear in the 20th Century Fox musical extravaganza There's No Business Like Show Business (1954), which featured Irving Berlin's music and also starred Monroe, Ethel Merman, Mitzi Gaynor, Johnnie Ray, and Donald O'Connor, whose wife Gwen divorced O'Connor and married Dailey around that time. Filming was delayed due to an illness to Director Walter Lang, so Dailey was going to appear in Susan Slept Here and Heller in Pink Tights. Susan ended up being made with Dick Powell and Pink Tights was postponed. Eventually There's No Business Like Show Business was made and proved to be Dailey's biggest hit in a long time.

1955

Dailey went to MGM to play GI-turned-advertising man Doug Hallerton in It's Always Fair Weather (1955) alongside Gene Kelly. The film was screened at drive-in theaters and was not a box-office success, although it did receive good reviews.

1956

Dailey returned to Fox for one more musical, The Best Things in Life Are Free (1956) to play Songwriter Ray Henderson opposite Gordon MacRae.

1957

He was one of several stars in Fox's comedy Oh, Men! Oh, Women! (1957). For the same studio, he was part of the ensemble in The Wayward Bus (1957). Dailey made a profitable low-budget war film for MGM, Underwater Warrior (1958).

1960

In the late 1960s, Dailey toured as Oscar Madison in a road production of The Odd Couple. co-starring Elliott Reid as Felix Unger and also featuring Peter Boyle as Murray the cop. He did a stint on Broadway in Plaza Suite.

1969

From 1969-71, Dailey was the Governor opposite Julie Sommars's J.J. in the sitcom The Governor & J.J. which revolved around the relationship between his character, the conservative governor of an unnamed state and his liberal daughter Jennifer Jo. His performance won him the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Musical or Comedy for performances in 1969, the year that this category was introduced.

1973

He starred in a short lived series Faraday & Company in 1973.

1977

Later film performances included The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover (1977), as Clyde Tolson.

1978

Dailey broke his hip in 1977, and developed anemia. He died on October 16, 1978, from complications following hip replacement surgery. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

Some Dan Dailey images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.