Charles Walters

Charles Powell Walters (November 17, 1911 – August 13, 1982) was an American dancer, choreographer, and film director who became best known for his work on MGM musicals. His notable directorial credits included Easter Parade (1948), Lili (1953), High Society (1956), and The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964).

Born in Pasadena, California, Walters grew up in Anaheim. As a young man, he left University of Southern California (USC) to join the touring Fanchon and Marco revue as a chorus boy and specialty dancer. Walters next appeared on Broadway as a dancer in the musical revues New Faces of 1934 and Fools Rush In. He was the dance partner of Betty Grable in the stage musical Du Barry Was a Lady (1938–39). He was then hired to choreograph dance numbers for Let's Face It!, starring Danny Kaye, and Banjo Eyes for Eddie Cantor.

Walters's first onscreen credit was for RKO's Seven Days' Leave (1942) where he served as the dance director. He was later hired as a dance director by Arthur Freed at MGM and began a longtime association with the studio by working on several musicals, including Presenting Lily Mars (1943), Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), and Ziegfeld Follies (1945).

In 1947, Walters made his directorial film debut with the musical Good News. He later directed Easter Parade (1948), The Barkleys of Broadway (1949), and Summer Stock (1950). Walters directed the 1953 film Lili, in which he earned an Best Director Academy Award nomination. His last film for MGM was The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964) starring Debbie Reynolds. Walters's last theatrical film was Walk, Don't Run (1966), which starred Cary Grant in his final film role. He later directed Lucille Ball in two television films. In 1982, Walters died from lung cancer, at the age of 70.