LOS ANGELES - Veteran movie director George Sidney, famed for such musicals as *****Anchors Aweigh*****, and *****Annie Get Your Gun*****, died at his Las Vegas home on Sunday, trade paper ***daily Variety*** reported.

Sidney, who was 85, succumbed to complications of Lymphoma, the paper said in its Monday edition.

Born into a show business family, the Long Island, New York, native shot 28 features in 27 years, and worked with such stars as Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, Tony Curtis, Lana Turner, Dick Van Dyke, Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret. He once defined a star as "someone who attracts your attention even when he or she isn't doing anything."

After making his mark in short films, Sidney moved to features in 1941 with ****Thousands Cheer******, a hit musical starring Kathryn Grayson and Gene Kelly.

****Anchors Aweigh**** (1945), which starred Sinatra and Gene Kelly as sailors on liberty, received five Oscar nominations including best picture. In 1950, Sidney took over the troubled production of ****Annie Get Your Gun***** which was a major success.

In 1963, he directed Presley and Ann-Margret in ****Viva Las Vegas****, considered one of the better entries in the Rock legend's woeful Hollywood career. Sidney's last film was the 1968 British musical *****Half a Sixpence*****, starring Tommy Steele.

Sidney served two stints as president of the Directors Guild of America, and helped animators William Hanna and Joseph Barbera set up what would become a cartoon powerhouse.