Donohue began his career in the 1920s as a dancer and choreographer for the Ziegfeld Follies. This all resulted when he broke his leg while working as an iron worker. Doctors suggested that he exercise, such as dancing, to strengthen his broken limbs. He did and started dancing with Ziegfeld in 1927. Shortly after his gig with Ziegfeld, he went on to dance in Vaudeville until the 1930s when he went to Hollywood.
During the 1930s and the 1940s, Donohue switched between Hollywood and Broadway. In Hollywood he taught Shirley Temple the "Hula" in her "Curly Top" film and also tap dancing in her film "Bright Eyes." In Broadway, some of his most memorable performances were as the choreographer of the musicals Top Banana and Mr. Wonderful.
He made his film directing debut in the 1948 movie Close-Up which was a well known film at the time because the whole film was shot entirely on location in New York City. He directed many other films throughout his career that spanned more than five decades.
He also had an acting career which consisted of only eleven acting credits.
Personal life and Death
Donohue married stage star Marilyn Miller in 1928. The date of their divorce remains uncertain.
Donohue met and married Norwegian actress Tutta Rolf in 1936. Rolf had been married once before to the Swedish actor Ernst Rolf who died in 1932. The year prior Tutta and Ernst gave birth to Ernst Rolf Jr. better known as the Swedish-American film editor Tom Rolf.
The two had a daughter of their own, actress Jill Donohue.
Rolf and Donohue divorced in 1950. Donohue died on March 27, 1984, of a heart attack in Marina del Rey at the age of 75. He was cremated thereafter.[1][2]
