Fred Astaire paying tribute to Gene Kelly (AFI Gene Kelly - March 7th 1985)

[@iannottingham2839]

The younger lady seated next to Mr Astaire with the auburn hair and in the white dress is in fact his daughter, Ava Astaire-McKenzie. Kelly and Astaire by this time were extremely close friends, with Gene taking good care of an ever frailer Fred when they dined out together. Mr Kelly would have been most moved and aware of the effort this would have taken the near eighty-six year old Astaire to make. Notice the relief on the dancing great's face as he retakes his seat. Gene Kelly was well deserving of this tribute from both his dear colleague and the American Film Institute.

[@kimbradley9595]

Ty Golden years love them

[@helletellefsen]

Sad to see Astaire so frail, but he still has those inimitable mannerisms.

[@pikemeredith5604]

Gene was a great dancer as was Fred Astaire but gosh what was Gene on, he always looked younger than his years. Even on roller skates in Xanadu (1980) he looked marvellous.

[@kennethwayne6857]

You could only get by with that for so long. Mr. Kelly was lucky and took good care of himself but things caught up with him in the end. After a few strokes he had to spend his last several months in a wheelchair. Very sad, but his legacy lives on.

[@pikemeredith5604]

@@kennethwayne6857 Yeah, I know, it was sad. I just loved him in The Pirate & For Me & My Gal with Judy Garland & in Singin' In The Rain with Debbie Reynolds. Oh, was he a smoker, not sure on that.

[@filmmekker]

Fred was 13 years older than Gene

[@magalydesouzapedro9933]

Um gentleman.

[@tbec3011]

Mr. Astaire was 86 here while his bride of 35 looks like what the hell was I thinking.

[@BabyFaceBren]

As if we don't know what she was thinking... "one day he'll be 86, then...."

[@anthonyjulianelle6695]

Astaire's wife; Robyn Smith would have 40 or 41 at the time of this dinner. They were 81 and 35 when they were married.

[@tbec3011]

@@anthonyjulianelle6695Mystery solved.

[@ah7910]

What a shame for you. That that is all you took away from this touching tribute. The world is actually a nicer place if you heal your pain and stop being a nasty person.

[@tbec3011]

@A H Nothing "nasty" intended ol' righteous one. His daughter agreed.