Gene Nelson(bornLeander Eugene Berg;March 24, 1920 – September 16, 1996) was an American actor, dancer, screenwriter, and director.[1][2][3]
Gene Nelson | |
|---|---|
 Nelson in 1953. | |
| Born | Leander Eugene Berg March 24, 1920 Astoria, Oregon,U.S. |
| Died | September 16, 1996(aged 76) |
| Other names | Gene Berg Eugene E. Nelson |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1938–1980 |
Biography
editNelson was born Eugene Leander Berg inSeattle, Washington.By 1924, he his parents moved to Santa Monica. He was inspired to become a dancer during his childhood by watchingFred Astairein films. After serving in the Army duringWorld War II,during which he also performed in the musicalThis Is the Army,Nelson landed his firstBroadwayrole inLend an Ear.His performance earned aTheatre World Award.He also appeared onstage inGood News.[citation needed]Nelson's longtime professional dance partner during the 1950s was actressJoAnn Dean Killingsworth.[4]
Nelson co-starred withDoris DayinLullaby of Broadwayin 1951. He played Will Parker in the filmOklahoma![5]
In 1959, he appeared inNorthwest Passageas a young man trying to prove his innocence in a murder case. Nelson appeared on the March 17, 1960 episode of "You Bet Your Life",hosted byGroucho Marx.He and Groucho's daughter,Melinda,performed a dance number together.[6]
Nelson directed eight episodes ofThe Riflemanin the 1961–62 season. He also directed episodes of the originalStar Trek,I Dream of Jeannie(the first season),Gunsmoke(and starred in many others including “Saludos” (1959) & “Say Uncle" [S6E4),The Silent Force,andThe San Pedro Beach Bums.Nelson directed theElvis PresleyfilmsKissin' Cousins(1964), for which he also wrote the screenplay, andHarum Scarum(1965). For theKissin' Cousinsscreenplay he received aWriters Guild of Americaaward nomination for best written musical. In the late 1980s, he taught in the Theater Arts Department atSan Francisco State University.
He starred as Buddy in the 1971 Broadway musicalFollies,for which he received a 1972Tony Awardnomination for Featured Actor in a Musical.[citation needed]The production featured a score byStephen Sondheim,was co-directed byMichael BennettandHarold Prince,and co-starredAlexis SmithandDorothy Collins.[7]
In 1990, for contributions to the motion picture industry, Nelson was inducted into theHollywood Walk of Fame.His star is located at 7005 Hollywood Boulevard.
Death
editFilmography
editActor
edit- Second Fiddle(1939) as Minor Role (uncredited)
- Everything Happens at Night(1939) as Skater (uncredited)
- This Is the Army(1943) as Soldier (uncredited)
- I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now(1947) as Tommy Yale
- Gentleman's Agreement(1947) as Second Ex-GI in Restaurant (uncredited)
- The Walls of Jericho(1948) as Assistant Prosecutor (uncredited)
- Apartment for Peggy(1948) as Jerry (uncredited)
- The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady(1950) as Doug Martin
- Tea for Two(1950) as Tommy Trainor
- The West Point Story(1950) as Hal Courtland
- Lullaby of Broadway(1951) as Tom Farnham
- Painting the Clouds with Sunshine(1951) as Ted Lansing
- Starlift(1951) as Gene Nelson
- She's Working Her Way Through College(1952) as Don Weston
- She's Back on Broadway(1953) as Gordon Evans
- Crime Wave(1954) as Steve Lacey
- Three Sailors and a Girl(1954) as Twitch
- So This Is Paris(1954) as Al Howard
- The Atomic Man(1955) as Mike Delaney
- Oklahoma!(1955) as Will Parker
- The Way Out(1956) as Greg Carradine
- Little New Orleans Girl(1956) as Gregory Gold
- Shangri-La(1960, TV movie) as Robert
- 20,000 Eyes(1961) as Dan Warren
- The Purple Hills(1961) as Gil Shepard
- Thunder Island(1963) as Billy Poole
- Family Flight(1972, TV Movie) as Aircraft Carrier Captain
- S.O.B.(1981) as Clive Lytell
Director
edit- Life with Archie(1962, TV Movie)
- Hand of Death(1962)
- Hootenanny Hoot(1963)
- Your Cheatin' Heart(1964)
- Kissin' Cousins(1964)
- Archie(1964, TV Movie)
- Harum Scarum(1965)
- I Dream of Jeannie(1965, Season 1)
- Where's Everett(1966, TV Movie)
- The Cool Ones(1967)
- Wake Me When the War Is Over(1969, TV Movie)
- The Letters(1973, TV Movie)
- Dan August: The Jealousy Factor(1980, TV Movie)
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Result | Category | Film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Golden Globe Award | Win | Most Promising Newcomer | Tea for Two |
| 1965 | Writers Guild of America Award | Nominated | Best Written American Musical | Kissin' Cousins(Shared withGerald Drayson Adams) |
References
edit- ^Hal Erickson(2009)."The New York Times".Movies & TV Dept.Baseline&All Movie Guide.Archived fromthe originalon May 3, 2009.RetrievedFebruary 8,2017.
- ^abSmith, Dinitia (September 18, 1996)."Gene Nelson Is Dead at 76; Athletic Hollywood Dancer".The New York Times.
- ^Crowther, Bosley(July 10, 1952)."'She's Working Her Way Through College,' With Virginia Mayo, New Bill at Paramount ".The New York Times.
- ^Chawkins, Steve (June 25, 2015)."JoAnn Dean Killingsworth dies at 91; Disneyland's first Snow White".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedJuly 17,2015.
- ^Crowther, Bosley (October 11, 1955)."'Oklahoma!' Is Okay; Musical Shown in New Process at Rivoli ".The New York Times.
- ^"You Bet Your Life #59-26 My, how Melinda has grown... ('Door', Mar 17, 1960)".YouTube.March 17, 1960.Archivedfrom the original on December 21, 2021.RetrievedSeptember 15,2016.
- ^"FolliesBroadway "Playbill(vault), accessed November 20, 2016
- ^Thomas, Bob (September 17, 1996)."Gene Nelson, Dancer in '50s Musicals, Also Directed Features and TV".AP News.RetrievedDecember 26,2021.
WW II Draft registration for Gene Leander Berg (Serial Number S-437)
External links
edit- Gene Nelson at Apacheland Movie Ranch
- Gene Nelsonat theInternet Broadway Database
- Gene NelsonatIMDb
- Gene NelsonatMemory Alpha
