Robert Helpmann
Australian-born British dancer, actor, theatre director and choreographer · Australia · On the map · Actors · Lived 1909 to 1986 · aged 77
Sir Robert Murray Helpmann was an Australian ballet dancer, actor, choreographer, and director. After early work in Australia he moved to Britain in 1932, where he joined the Vic-Wells Ballet under its creator, Ninette de Valois.
Robert Helpmann is read about 256 times a day, in 19 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 9 November 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 114 days, one point a day.
Something wrong?A life in dates
That's Dancing!Film, From 'The Red Shoes' (archive footage)1979
Parkinson In AustraliaSeries1978
PatrickFilm, Dr. Roget1977
The Mango TreeFilm, Professor1972
Alice's Adventures in WonderlandFilm, The Mad Hatter1970
CinderellaFilm, Ugly Stepsister1968Knight BachelorAward1967
OmnibusSeries1966
The Quiller MemorandumFilm, Weng1965Australian of the YearAward1964Commander of the Order of the British EmpireAward
The Wednesday PlaySeries, 1964Fouche1963
55 Days at PekingFilm, Prince Tuan1957
Theatre NightSeries, Georges de Valera1956
The Iron PetticoatFilm, Ivan Kropotkin1951
The Tales of HoffmannFilm, Lindorf / Coppelius / Dapertutto / Dr. Miracle1946
CaravanFilm, Wycroft1944
Henry VFilm, Bishop of Ely1937Television Demonstration FilmFilm1909Born9 April 1909People around Robert
Close ties
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Margot Fonteyn Professional partner
Michael Powell Produced The Red Shoes and The Tales of Hoffmann- Emeric Pressburger Produced The Red Shoes and The Tales of Hoffmann
Michael Anderson Directed The Quiller Memorandum (1966)
Moira Shearer Also in The Tales of Hoffmann and Cinderella
Laurence Olivier Produced Henry V (1944)
Nicholas Ray Directed 55 Days at Peking (1963)
Frederick Ashton Also in Cinderella and The Tales of Hoffmann
Flora Robson Also in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972)
Albert R. Broccoli Produced Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
Leo Genn Also in Henry V and 55 Days at Peking
Léonide Massine Also in The Tales of Hoffmann and The Red ShoesHarry Saltzman Produced The Iron Petticoat (1956)
Ken Hughes Directed Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
Esmond Knight Also in The Red Shoes and Henry V- Guy Green Directed 55 Days at Peking (1963)
James Robertson Justice Also in The Iron Petticoat (1956)
John Moulder-Brown Also in 55 Days at Peking (1963)- Richard Franklin Produced Patrick (1980)
- Dennis Price Also in Caravan (1946)
- Richard Wattis Also in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
- Harold Huth Produced Caravan (1946)
- Gerard Kennedy Also in The Mango Tree and Puzzle
- Arthur Crabtree Directed Caravan (1946)
Known for
View all 24 titles
The Red Shoes 1948
The Tales of Hoffmann 1951
55 Days at Peking 1963
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 1968
Henry V 1944
Filmography 24
31 credits on file
Television 4
Media & music
Awards
About this person
He became one of the company's leading men, partnering Alicia Markova and later Margot Fonteyn. When Frederick Ashton, the company's chief choreographer, was called up for military service in the Second World War, Helpmann took over from him while continuing as a principal dancer.
