Charles Walters

Brooklyn-bred Charles Walters appeared in a few Broadway plays as a teenager before heading to the West Coast to attend the University of Southern California. When he returned to the New York stage, he did so as a dancer, mostly as a simple background player, until graduating to choreographer for a 1939 revue called "Sing Out the News," which starred June Allyson. He worked on Broadway for a few more years before returning to Los Angeles and entering the film business. He oversaw the dance sequences of a number of movies, most notably the Judy Garland vehicle "Meet Me in St. Louis." In 1947, he directed his first film, the musical comedy "Good News," which once again starred June Allyson. Walters spent the next two decades directing, often serving as his own uncredited choreographer. Walters and MGM discovered that he was adept at directing movement in water as well as on the soundstage, and he soon became a favorite director of swimming sensation Esther Williams, helming several of her aquatic musicals, including "Dangerous When Wet." By coincidence, Walters presided over the final films of some of Hollywood's greatest icons. In 1949, he directed "The Barkleys of Broadway," the last pairing of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and in 1966 he traveled to Japan with Cary Grant to make "Walk Don't Run," after which both he and Grant retired from motion pictures, although Walters directed a few more TV projects.