Gene Nelson (born Leander Eugene Berg; March 24, 1920 – September 16, 1996) was an American actor, dancer, screenwriter, and director.

Biography

Born Leander Eugene Berg in Astoria, Oregon, he and his family moved to Seattle when he was one year old. He was inspired to become a dancer during his childhood by watching

Fred Astaire Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz; May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American dancer, choreographer, actor, and singer. He is often called the greatest dancer in Hollywood film history. Astaire's career in stage, film, and tele ...

in films. After serving in the Army during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, during which he also performed in the musical ''

This Is the Army ''This Is the Army'' is a 1943 American wartime musical comedy film produced by Hal B. Wallis and Jack L. Warner, and directed by Michael Curtiz, adapted from a wartime stage musical with the same name, designed to boost morale in the U.S. duri ...

'', Nelson landed his first

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

role in ''

Lend an Ear ''Lend an Ear'' is a musical revue with a book, music, and lyrics by Charles Gaynor and additional sketches by Joseph Stein and Will Glickman.Gaynor, CharleLend an Ear:An Intimate Musical Revuegoogle books), Samuel French, Inc., 1948, Producti ...

''. His performance earned a

Theatre World Award The Theatre World Award is an American honor presented annually to actors and actresses in recognition of an outstanding New York City stage debut performance, either on Broadway theatre, Broadway or Off-Broadway. It was first awarded for the 1945� ...

. He also appeared onstage in '' Good News''. Nelson's longtime professional dance partner during the 1950s was actress JoAnn Dean Killingsworth. Nelson co-starred with Doris Day in '' Lullaby of Broadway'' in 1951. He played Will Parker in the film ''

Oklahoma! ''Oklahoma!'' is the first musical theater, musical written by the duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, ''Green Grow the Lilacs (play), Green Grow the Lilacs''. Set in farm country outside the town of ...

'' In 1959, he appeared in ''

Northwest Passage The Northwest Passage (NWP) is the sea route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America via waterways through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The eastern route along the Arc ...

'' as 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 ''You Bet Your Life'' is an American comedy quiz series that has aired on both radio and television. The original and best-known version was hosted by Groucho Marx of the Marx Brothers, with announcer and assistant George Fenneman. The show deb ...

", hosted by

Groucho Marx Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx (; October 2, 1890 – August 19, 1977) was an American comedian, actor, writer, stage, film, radio, singer, television star and vaudeville performer. He is generally considered to have been a master of quick wit an ...

. He and Groucho's daughter,

Melinda Melinda is a feminine given name. Etymology The modern name ''Melinda'' is a combination of "Mel" with the suffix "-inda". "Mel" can be derived from names such as Melanie meaning "dark, black" in Greek, or from Melissa (μέλισσα) meaning ...

, performed a dance number together. Nelson directed eight episodes of ''

The Rifleman ''The Rifleman'' is an American Western television program starring Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son Mark McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the fictional town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The show ...

'' in the 1961–62 season. He also directed episodes of the original ''

Star Trek ''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the eponymous 1960s television series and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon. The franchise has expanded into vari ...

'', ''

I Dream of Jeannie ''I Dream of Jeannie'' is an American fantasy sitcom television series, created by Sidney Sheldon that starred Barbara Eden as a sultry, 2,000-year-old genie and Larry Hagman, as an astronaut with whom she falls in love and eventually marrie ...

'' (the first season), ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central character ...

'' (and starred in many others including “Saludos” (1959) & “Say Uncle"

The Silent Force ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'', and ''The San Pedro Beach Bums''. Nelson directed the Elvis Presley films ''

Kissin' Cousins ''Kissin' Cousins'' (stylized onscreen as ''KISƧIN' COUSINS'') is a 1964 American musical Panavision Metrocolor comedy film directed by Gene Nelson and starring Elvis Presley. Written by Gerald Drayson Adams and Gene Nelson, the film featur ...

'' (1964), for which he also wrote the screenplay, and '' Harum Scarum'' (1965). For the ''Kissin' Cousins'' screenplay he received a

Writers Guild of America The Writers Guild of America is the joint efforts of two different US labor unions representing TV and film writers: * The Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE), headquartered in New York City and affiliated with the AFL–CIO * The Writers Guil ...

award nomination for best written musical. In the late 1980s, he taught in the Theater Arts Department at

San Francisco State University San Francisco State University (commonly referred to as San Francisco State, SF State and SFSU) is a public research university in San Francisco. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers 118 different ...

. He starred as Buddy in the 1971 Broadway musical ''

Follies ''Follies'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Goldman. The plot takes place in a crumbling Broadway theater, now scheduled for demolition, previously home to a musical revue (based on the ''Ziegfeld Fol ...

'', for which he received a 1972

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual cer ...

nomination for Featured Actor in a Musical. The production featured a score by Stephen Sondheim, was co-directed by Michael Bennett and

Harold Prince Harold Smith Prince (born Harold Smith; January 30, 1928 – July 31, 2019), commonly known as Hal Prince, was an American theatre director and producer known for his work in musical theatre. One of the foremost figures in 20th century America ...

, and co-starred

Alexis Smith Margaret Alexis Fitzsimmons-Smith (June 8, 1921 – June 9, 1993) was a Canadian-born American actress and singer. She appeared in several major Hollywood films in the 1940s and had a notable career on Broadway in the 1970s, winning a Tony Awar ...

and

Dorothy Collins Dorothy Collins (born Marjorie Chandler;
''

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Californ ...

. His star is located at 7005 Hollywood Boulevard.

Death

Nelson died of cancer, aged 76, in Los Angeles.

Filmography

Actor

* '' Second Fiddle'' (1939) as Minor Role (uncredited) * ''

Everything Happens at Night ''Everything Happens at Night'' is a 1939 American drama-comedy film starring Sonja Henie, Ray Milland and Robert Cummings. Plot American Geoffrey Thompson and Englishman Ken Morgan are reporters from rival newspapers who are sent to a remote ...

'' (1939) as Skater (uncredited) * ''

'' (1943) as Soldier (uncredited) * ''

I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now" is a popular song. The music was written by Harold Orlob, the lyrics by Will M. Hough and Frank R. Adams. Orlob worked for Joseph E. Howard generating songs for Howard's productions and Howard presented the song a ...

'' (1947) as Tommy Yale * ''

Gentleman's Agreement A gentlemen's agreement, or gentleman's agreement, is an informal and legally non-binding agreement between two or more parties. It is typically oral, but it may be written or simply understood as part of an unspoken agreement by convention or th ...

'' (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 "Painting the Clouds with Sunshine" is a popular song published in 1929. The music was written by Joe Burke and the lyrics by Al Dubin for the 1929 musical film ''Gold Diggers of Broadway'' when it was sung by Nick Lucas. ''Gold Diggers of Broa ...

'' (1951) as Ted Lansing * ''

Starlift ''Starlift'' (a.k.a. ''Operation Starlift'') is a 1951 American musical film released by Warner Bros. in directed by Roy Del Ruth and written by Karl Lamb and John D. Klorer. The film stars Janice Rule, Dick Wesson, Ron Hagerthy and Ruth Ro ...

'' (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'' (1953) as Steve Lacey * ''

Three Sailors and a Girl ''Three Sailors and a Girl'' is a 1953 Technicolor musical film made by Warner Bros. It was directed by Roy Del Ruth and written by Devery Freeman and Roland Kibbee, based on the George S. Kaufman play '' The Butter and Egg Man''. Ray Heindorf w ...

'' (1954) as Twitch * '' So This Is Paris'' (1954) as Al Howard * '' The Atomic Man'' (1955) as Mike Delaney * ''

'' (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 ''The Purple Hills'' (originally titled "The Vanishing Frontier") is a 1961 American Western film directed by Maury Dexter and written by Russ Bender and Edith Cash Pearl. The film stars Gene Nelson, Kent Taylor, Danny Zapien, Medford Salway, ...

'' (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

* ''Life with Archie'' (1962, TV Movie) * '' Hand of Death'' (1962) * ''

Hootenanny Hoot ''Hootenanny Hoot'' is a 1963 folk music musical film directed by Gene Nelson. It stars Peter Breck and Ruta Lee. Plot A TV director, having split up with his producer-wife, decides to telecast a traveling hootenanny show. Cast * Peter Breck ...

'' (1963) * ''

Your Cheatin' Heart "Your Cheatin' Heart" is a song written and recorded by country music singer-songwriter Hank Williams in 1952. It is regarded as one of country's most important standards. Williams was inspired to write the song while driving with his fiancé ...

'' (1964) * ''

'' (1964) * ''Archie'' (1964, TV Movie) * '' Harum Scarum'' (1965) * ''

(1965, Season 1) * ''Where's Everett'' (1966, TV Movie) * ''

The Cool Ones ''The Cool Ones'' (aka ''Cool, Baby Cool'') is a 1967 film starring Roddy McDowall and directed by Gene Nelson. The 1960s novelty singer known as Mrs. Miller performs in a cameo role, and the film features performances by the bands the Leaves and ...

'' (1967) * ''

Wake Me When the War Is Over ''Wake Me When the War Is Over'' is a 1969 American made-for-television comedy film directed by Gene Nelson and starring Ken Berry and Eva Gabor. It first aired as the ''ABC Movie of the Week'' on October 14, 1969.KEN BERRY: THE NEW KING OF THE ...

'' (1969, TV Movie) * '' The Letters'' (1973, TV Movie) * ''Dan August: The Jealousy Factor'' (1980, TV Movie)

Awards and nominations

References

External links

*
Gene Nelson at Apacheland Movie Ranch
' * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Gene 1920 births 1996 deaths American male dancers American male film actors American male musical theatre actors American male television actors American male screenwriters American television directors Male actors from Seattle Deaths from cancer in California New Star of the Year (Actor) Golden Globe winners 20th-century American male actors Male actors from Washington (state) People from Astoria, Oregon Male actors from Oregon Film directors from Washington (state) Film directors from Oregon Dancers from Washington (state) Dancers from Oregon Screenwriters from Washington (state) Screenwriters from Oregon 20th-century American dancers 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American writers 20th-century American screenwriters 20th-century American male singers 20th-century American singers