Stanley Donen (born April 13, 1924) is an American film director and choreographer hailed by David Quinlan as "the King of the Hollywood musicals". His most famous work is Singin' in the Rain, which he co-directed with Gene Kelly.
Since he was a child, Stanley Donen attended dance classes and debuted on Broadway at age 17. With the help of the producer Arthur Freed and the actor Gene Kelly (I) he got the chance to direct the musicals On the Town (1949), Singin' in the Rain (1952), and Love Is Better Than Ever (1952) which revolutionized the genre. Another important work of his own was the musical version of the book of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry 's Little Prince, The (1974). As producer, he turned to the genre of comedy, with Surprise Package (1960), but he also produced some films of other genres.
