M-G-M had dozens of dancers under year-round contracts to populate their many musical movies. 

If you look carefully, you can see Bert in "Ziegfeld Follies," "Easter Parade," "On the Town," "Meet Me In St. Louis," "Royal Wedding," "The Pirate," and "The Barkleys of Broadway," among many others. 

He was a favorite of choreographers Charles Walters, Robert Alton, Hermes Pan, Stanley Donen, Michael Kidd, and -- even more importantly -- he was a favorite of Gene Kelly and, especially, Fred Astaire and Judy Garland. 

Judy liked him and his work so much, he repeated his part in the "Get Happy" number for both of her extended Palace Theatre runs in 1951 and 1956, as well as on her first TV special in 1955.



Here's Bert (dressed in bright yellow shirt and socks) in the Nanette Fabray number "Louisiana Hayride" from the movie "The Bandwagon" in 1953:



That same year, Bert was working as an uber-focused Olympian in the Jane Russell number "Ain't There Anyone Here for Love" from the 20th Century-Fox film "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes."

At the 2:35 mark, Bert is the left guy on the bench with the back of his head facing the camera:



Bert was practically the star dancer of the "Luck Be a Lady" crapshoot ballet in 1955's "Guys 'n Dolls."    He's in the red shirt, light-pink suspenders, & loud striped pants:



That same year, Bert -- as an ill-fated suitor -- supported Dolores Gray as "Jasper" in the number "Thanks A Lot" in "It's Always Fair Weather."



In 1958, Bert finally got to play an actual part -- Enrico Gallini, one of the five brothers of Pier Angeli in the Danny Kaye musical "Merry Andrew." 

Here he is in "Salud,"" once again wearing a  yellow shirt!



We mentioned that Bert May was a favorite of Astaire.  He appeared in the Astaire TV specials in 1958, 1959 and 1960.

Here in the third special, "Astaire Time," you'll see Bert in a variety of dances, but most prominently in the number starting at the 22 minute mark. 

Bert wears his by-now-signature-yellow-shirt, only this time with added stripes:



Nearing age 40 in 1963, Bert was too old to play one of the teenagers in the movie version of "Bye Bye Birdie,"" but he was the perfect age to play one of the Shriners mesmerized by Janet Leigh in "The Fez Dance."

Bert is at the head table, seated at the far left:





Bert spent much of the mid-60's as a regular dancer on "The Andy Williams TV Variety Series." 

A year or so ago, we were at a birthday dinner for a friend, and we were seated at a table with Bob Mackie.  (We know, "Name-Drop #1)

Bert May's name came up in conversation, and Mackie exclaimed:  "Bert May was one of the dancers when I worked on the Andy Williams show.  I loved Bert.  He was always so funny.  Everyone loved him."  Which may explain why Bert kept working well past a dancer's normal expiration date.

In 1969, Bert was one of the galloping waiters in the movie "Hello Dolly" with Barbra Streisand.  He's in front, just to Streisand's left, when the waiters enter the scene



And at age 50, Bert was a dancing German soldier -- (he's on the right) -- supporting Madeline Kahn singing "I'm Tired" in the movie "Blazing Saddles."

I'm Tired