Erik Rhodes (actor)

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This article is about the actor. For the porn star, see Erik Rhodes (porn star).

Erik Rhodes (February 10, 1906 – February 17, 1990) born Ernest Sharpe at El Reno, in the Indian Territory, in what was to become the state of Oklahoma. He was an American film and Broadway singer and actor. He is particularly associated with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers ^{[citation needed]}, with whom he made two films "The Gay Divorcee" in 1934 and again in "Top Hat" in 1935.

He started performing on the Broadway stage in 1928 in "A Most Immoral Lady" using his birth name Ernest Sharpe. This was followed by two musicals "The Little Show" and "Hey Nonny Nonny!" He first used the name Erik Rhodes when he appeared on stage in "Gay Divorce" from 1932-1933 on Broadway and then in London later in 1933. This took him to Hollywood.

His last film in the pre-war years was "On Your Toes" in 1939. By the end of the war he was very socially active in New York City often seen with the Baron de Gunzburg, his onetime companion, and the Nordstrom Sisters at popular watering holes such as the Stork Club and 21 Club ^{[citation needed]}. Between 1947 and 1964 he was back on Broadway in "The Great Campaign," "Dance Me a Song," "Collector's Item," "Can-Can," "Shinbone Alley," "Jamaica," "How to Make a Man," and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum."

Married his wife Emala in 1972 and they lived in New York City until the early 1980s ^{[citation needed]}. He died of pneumonia in Oklahoma City at age 84 and is interred with his wife in the El Reno Cemetery in El Reno, Oklahoma.

Contents 1 Filmography 2 Filmography as: Actor, Himself, Notable TV Guest Appearances 2.1 Himself - filmography 2.2 Notable TV Guest Appearances 3 Broadway 4 External links

[edit] Filmography

• The Gay Divorcee (1934)

... aka The Gay Divorce (UK)

• Give Her a Ring (1934)

... aka Giving You the Stars

• Top Hat (1935)
• Another Face (1935)

... aka It Happened in Hollywood (UK)

... aka Two Faces (USA)

• Old Man Rhythm (1935)
• The Nitwits (1935)
• A Night at the Ritz (1935)

... aka King of the Ritz

• Charlie Chan in Paris (1935)
• Smartest Girl in Town (1936)
• Second Wife (1936)
• One Rainy Afternoon (1936)

... aka Matinee Scandal (USA: reissue title)

• Special Investigator (1936)
• Chatterbox (1936)
• Two in the Dark (1936)
• Beg, Borrow or Steal (1937)
• Fight for Your Lady (1937)
• Music for Madame (1937)
• Woman Chases Man (1937)
• Criminal Lawyer (1937)
• Dramatic School (1938)
• Say It in French (1938)
• Mysterious Mr. Moto (1938)
• Meet the Girls (1938)
• The Canary Comes Across (1938)
• On Your Toes (1939)

[edit] Filmography as: Actor, Himself, Notable TV Guest Appearances

[edit] Himself - filmography

• Hollywood The Golden Years: The RKO Story (1987)

[edit] Notable TV Guest Appearances

• "The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre" in episode: "Mirage in Manhattan" (episode # 1.2) 4 October 1948
• "Appointment with Adventure" in episode: "Escape from Vienna" (episode # 1.6) 8 May 1955
• "Perry Mason" playing "Herman Albright" in episode: "The Case of the Violent Vest" (episode # 4.24) 29 April 1961

[edit] Broadway

• A Most Immoral Lady[Original, Play, Comedy] Nov 26, 1928 - Apr 1929

• The Little Show [Original, Musical, Revue] Apr 30, 1929 - Feb 1930

• Hey Nonny Nonny! [Original, Musical, Revue] Written in collaboration and performed as Ernest Sharpe Jun 6, 1932 - [unknown]

• Gay Divorce [Original, Musical] Nov 29, 1932 - Jul 1, 1933

• The Great Campaign [Original, Play, Drama] Mar 30, 1947 - Apr 7, 1947

• Dance Me a Song [Original, Musical, Revue] Jan 20, 1950 - Feb 18, 1950

• Collector's Item [Original, Play, Comedy] Feb 8, 1952 - Feb 9, 1952

• Can-Can [Original, Musical, Comedy] May 7, 1953 - Jun 25, 1955

• Shinbone Alley [Original, Musical] Apr 13, 1957 - May 25, 1957

• Jamaica [Original, Musical] Oct 31, 1957 - Apr 11, 1959

• How to Make a Man [Original, Play] Feb 2, 1961 - Feb 11, 1961

• A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum [Original, Musical, Comedy, Farce] May 8, 1962 - Aug 29, 1964

[edit] External links

• Erik Rhodes at the Internet Broadway Database
• Erik Rhodes at the Internet Movie Database
• Erik Rhodes at Find A Grave