Trivia

Was nearly killed during the production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) when the carriage that he was driving spun out of control and turned over. Thanks to his dancer's reflexes, he was able to leap off of the moving wheel and land safely on his feet.

He was awarded Knight of the Order of the North Star in Sweden in 1954.

He was awarded Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in the 1968 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to dance.

He first met Michael Benthall in 1938 and was his romantic partner for 36 years until Benthall's death on September 6, 1974.

He added the extra 'n' to his stage name to avoid there being 13 letters to this.

He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1964 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to ballet.

Has a theatre named after him in Mount Gambier: Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre.

During the production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), Helpmann was incredibly warm and caring, and would make his child co-stars laugh between takes to ease the tension, often resulting in them finding difficulty in keeping a straight face.

When Helpmann was employed in 1933 as a member of the corps de ballet, Dame Ninette de Valois Vic-Wells Ballet wrote his review in her logbook as: "Talented, enthusiastic, extremely intelligent with great facility, witty, cute as a monkey, quick as a squirrel, a sense of theater and his own possible achievements therein." On the debit side, he was "Academically technically weak, lacking in concentration, too fond of a good time and too busy having it.".

He was awarded Knight of the National Order of Cedar in Lebanon in 1957.

The Helpmann Academy in South Australia was named in his honor.

He was a long-time smoker and died of smoking-related illness.

He was a student at Prince Alfred College, but departed at age 14 to completely whole-heartedly pursue a career/life in ballet.

His parents were a sheep farmer and an actress. His mother's thespian career was not-so-successful.

Before his death in 1986, he was still dancing two months before the role of the Red King in "Checkmate".

At age 11, he made his stage debut dressed in a tutu at a charity concert in the presence of Dame Nellie Melba.

In 1965, he was appointed Deputy Director of the Australian Ballet and helped boost the international reputation of the fledgling company. When announcing Helpmann's award, Sir Norman Martin observed: "During 1965, Mr. Helpmann, by his world-wide success and association with the Australian Ballet overseas, won renown for himself and honor for the land of his birth.".

He was awarded the Scroll of Honour in Norway in 1950.

The Australian Entertainment Industry Association's annual awards are named The Helpmann Awards in Helpmann's honour.

On his "This is Your Life" (in Australia), the guest of honour was Michael Powell who came on with a pair of "Red Shoes".

He died on September 28, 1986 and was cremated after a state funeral in St Andrew's Anglican Cathedral in Sydney, Australia.

Was the person who showed American actress Katharine Hepburn her first Lyrebirds during a working tour of Australia, when they co-starred in Shakespearian plays.

He worked with Vivien Leigh, Moira Shearer, Dame Margot Fonteyn and Sir Frederick Ashton.

In 1968, he had served as consultant and in 1970 as Artistic Director for the Adelaide Festival of Arts.

Helpmann died in Sydney and was given a state funeral in St Andrew's Cathedral. The Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, gave a tribute in the Parliament of Australia, and a motion of condolence was passed - a rare tribute for a non-politician.

Helpmann and Margot Fonteyn were especially popular during World War II, and danced a large classical repertoire. He left Sadler's Wells in 1950, but occasionally returned as guest artist and choreographer. He would do so for her.

Winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award.

Winner of the 1965 Australian of the Year Award.

A memorial service was held for him at St. Paul's Church, Covent Garden on 28th November 1986.

Brother of Sheila Helpmann.