Phyllis Potter is best known as the first wife of Fred Astaire. Fred was one of the biggest dance stars in old Hollywood. Yet the woman who shared his home for more than 20 years lived a much quieter life.
Her story is full of love and family. She was already a mother before she married Fred. She later watched him become a huge movie star. Still she did not try to become famous through his name.
So who was Phyllis Potter away from Fred Astaire? In this article we look at her early life. We also explore her first marriage and children. We will also see how she became part of Fred’s life during his rise to fame.
Phyllis Potter’s Early Life
Phyllis Potter was born as Phyllis Livingston Baker. She was born on May 4 1908 in Boston Massachusetts. Her parents were Harold Woods Baker and Caroline E. Livingston. She came from a well-known social background.
Phyllis later became known in New York social life. She is often called a socialite in old records. This meant she was part of a rich social world. But she was not a movie star or a famous stage worker.
Much of her childhood stayed private. There are few trusted facts about her school life or her young years. This can make her story seem like a mystery today. It is better not to turn online guesses into facts.
Phyllis Potter’s First Marriage
Fred Astaire was not the first man Phyllis married. Before she met Fred she married Eliphalet Nott Potter III. Records place their wedding in December 1927. Phyllis was only 19 years old at that time.
The young couple soon became parents. Their son was born in 1928. His full name was Eliphalet Nott Potter IV. However he became better known as Peter. He would later become part of the Astaire family too.
The marriage did not last. Phyllis and her first husband later went their own ways. Their divorce was completed in 1933. That same year brought another huge change. Phyllis was about to begin her life with Fred Astaire.
How Phyllis Potter Met Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire was already famous on stage when Phyllis came into his life. For years Fred had danced with his sister Adele Astaire. The brother and sister became a very popular stage team in America and Britain.
Adele left the act after getting married in 1932. Fred suddenly had to build a new path on his own. Around this changing time his bond with Phyllis became serious. Soon he wanted to make her his wife.
The choice was not simple. Historical accounts say Fred’s mother was not happy about the marriage at first. Fred still followed his heart. He chose Phyllis and moved ahead with plans for a life together.
Phyllis Potter and Fred Astaire’s Wedding
Phyllis Potter married Fred Astaire on July 12 1933. Phyllis was 25 years old. Their wedding came at an important time for both of them. Phyllis had recently ended her first marriage while Fred faced a new career.
Their honeymoon was surprisingly short. Reports say the newly married pair had only a one-night honeymoon. Just two days after their wedding they were heading toward Hollywood. Fred had a new chance waiting for him there.
Think about how fast their lives changed. One day Phyllis was a new bride. Soon she was beside a man starting a major Hollywood career. Neither could fully know just how famous Fred would soon become.
Phyllis Potter’s Life as Fred Astaire’s Wife
Hollywood could have made Phyllis Potter a public name. She was married to a man who became known around the world. Yet Phyllis did not build her life around cameras or public attention.
Fred also liked to keep his home life private. His work placed him in front of millions of people. At home things were different. Family gave him a place away from dance sets and the busy world of movie making.
This made Phyllis different from many people linked to famous stars. She did not need her own Hollywood career. She lived as a wife and mother while Fred worked long hours. Their private home became an important part of his life.
Phyllis Potter and Fred Astaire’s Children
Family became a big part of their marriage. Phyllis already had Peter from her first marriage. Fred became his stepfather. Later Fred spoke of Peter as part of his family along with his own two children.
Phyllis and Fred welcomed their first child together in 1936. Their son was named Fred Astaire Jr. Six years later their daughter Ava Astaire was born in 1942. Phyllis was now the mother of three children.
The children grew up with a very famous father. Yet Phyllis helped give them a life beyond movie sets and bright lights. While fans saw Fred dancing on screen his family knew him simply as a husband and father.
Phyllis Potter During Fred’s Hollywood Fame
Fred’s movie career grew soon after his marriage to Phyllis. He appeared in Dancing Lady in 1933. He then appeared with Ginger Rogers in Flying Down to Rio. A famous screen team was beginning.
Fred and Ginger soon became loved for their dance films. Their work made Fred one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Phyllis Potter saw this rise from a very different place. She knew the man behind the perfect suits and famous dance steps.
At the same time their family was growing. Fred had movies to make while Phyllis had a home and children to care for. This was the world they built together during some of the brightest years of Fred Astaire’s career.
Phyllis Potter’s Private Life
Phyllis Potter lived beside one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. Still she kept much of her own life private. She did not chase movie roles or try to become a star. Home and family were a big part of her world.
This is one reason we know less about Phyllis than Fred Astaire. Fred gave interviews and appeared in many films. His face was known around the world. Phyllis was rarely in that kind of public space.
Even today in 2026 many parts of her daily life remain private. Some websites give claims about her height or personal money. Yet many of these claims have no strong proof. It is better to focus on facts that can be checked.
Phyllis Potter’s Illness and Death
The happy family story later took a sad turn. Phyllis Potter became ill with lung cancer. Her health grew worse while Fred was still busy with his movie work. It became a very hard time for the whole family.
Phyllis died on September 13 1954. She was only 46 years old. Her death ended a marriage that had lasted about 21 years. Fred had lost the woman who had shared almost all of his great Hollywood rise.
Her children also lost their mother at a young age. Peter was already an adult. Fred Jr. was about 18. Ava was only around 12. The loss changed a family that had spent many years together away from the cameras.
How Phyllis Potter’s Death Changed Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire was deeply hurt by Phyllis Potter’s death. He was working around the time of her illness and death. His sadness became so strong that he thought about leaving the film Daddy Long Legs.
Reports say Fred even offered to cover money that had already been spent on the movie. He did not want the studio to suffer because he could not work. In the end he was encouraged to stay with the film.
Work may have helped Fred during this painful time. But it did not mean he forgot Phyllis. Years later he still spoke about how hard her death had been. Their long life together had left a deep mark on him.
Fred Astaire’s Life After Phyllis Potter
Fred continued making movies after losing his wife. He also spent time on things he enjoyed away from work. Golf and horse racing were among his interests. His children also remained an important part of his life.
One fact tells us a lot about what happened next. Fred did not rush into another marriage. More than 25 years passed before he married again. That is a very long time and shows how different his life became after 1954.
In 1980 Fred married Robyn Smith. She was a former jockey and was much younger than him. Fred was 81 at the time. He remained married to Robyn until his death in 1987.
Phyllis Potter’s Net Worth and Other Facts
People often search for Phyllis Potter’s net worth. However there is no trusted public record that gives a clear amount. Many online pages may show a number. That does not mean the number is true.
Phyllis came from a social background and later married a very successful star. Fred Astaire made money from stage shows and movies. Still his wealth should not simply be listed as Phyllis Potter’s own net worth.
The same care should be used with facts such as her height. There is no strong public record that clearly proves many of these personal details. Giving an honest answer is better than filling the story with guesses.
Closing Thoughts
Why do people still search for Phyllis Potter so many years later? Fred Astaire is one clear reason. His movies and dance work are still watched today. People naturally want to know about the woman who shared his private life.
Yet Phyllis has her own place in his story. She was there as Fred moved into Hollywood. She watched his career grow. She also helped build a family while the public saw Fred as a smart and graceful movie star.
Their marriage lasted for more than two decades. That means Phyllis was beside Fred during many key years of his life. She was not just a small name in his story. She was part of his home and family.
(FAQs)
What was Phyllis Potter’s cause of death?
Phyllis Potter died from lung cancer. Her death came on September 13 1954. Her loss deeply hurt her husband Fred Astaire.
How old was Phyllis Potter when she died?
Phyllis Potter was only 46 years old when she died. Her life ended at a young age after her fight with lung cancer.
When was Phyllis Potter born?
Phyllis Potter was born on May 4 1908. Her birth name was Phyllis Livingston Baker. She was born in Boston Massachusetts.
When did Phyllis Potter die?
Phyllis Potter died on September 13 1954. She had been married to Fred Astaire for about 21 years when she passed away.
Did Phyllis Potter’s death affect Fred Astaire?
Fred Astaire was deeply hurt by her death. He even thought about leaving the movie Daddy Long Legs while dealing with his loss.
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