(Aug. 28, 1925 - Sept. 27, 2003) Donald O'Connor was a singer, dancer and actor who came to fame in a series of movies in which he co-starred with Francis the Talking Mule. He is still best known for his performance in the movie musical Singin' in the Rain (1952), in which he performed the vaudeville-inspired comedy number "Make 'Em Laugh", Arthur Freed's reworking of Cole Porter's "Be a Clown" from The Pirate (1948).