Frederic Franklin CBE (born 13 June 1914, died May 4, 2013), sometimes also called “Freddie”, is a British-born ballet dancer and director.
Born in Liverpool, England, Frederic Franklin claimed that from seeing Peter Pan his only thought was to go on the stage.
He began his career in 1931 at the Casino de paris with Josephine Baker. He co-founded the Slavenska-Franklin Ballet, was co-director of the Washington Ballet, and was co-founder and artistic director of the national Ballet of Washington D.C. He has continued to work with ballet companies including American Ballet Theatre, Chicago Ballet and Cincinnati Ballet.
Frederic Franklin and Alexandra Danilova created one of the legendary ballet partnerships of the twentieth century. Among the other ballerinas he has partnered have been Alicia Mrakova, Irina Baronova, Agnes de Mille, Ruthanna Boris, Yvette Chauviré, Moira Shearer, Rosella Hightower, Maria Tallchief, Tamara Toumanova and Alicia Alonso. He has worked with such choreographers as Mikhail Fokine, Leonide Massine, Bronislava Nijinska, Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, Agnes de Mille, Ruth Page e Velerie Bettis.
On 16 November 2004, he was created a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. In his 90s, Franklin continues to perform with American Ballet Theater, appearing in mime roles such as the Friar in Romeo and Juliet, Madge in La Sylphide and the Prince´s Tutor in The Swan Lake.
Franklin is Director Emeritus of the Cincinnati Ballet. In 2011, Franklin was inducted into the National Museum of Dance’s Mr. & Mr. Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Hall of Fame .
Franklin died at Weill-Cornell Medical Center on the evening of May 4, 2013.
