Gene Nelson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gene Nelson
Nelson in 1953.
Born	Leander Eugene Berg (1920-03-24)March 24, 1920 Astoria, Oregon, U.S.
Died	September 16, 1996(1996-09-16) (aged 76) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other names	Gene Berg Eugene E. Nelson
Occupation	Actor dancer director
Years active	1938–1980
Spouse(s)	Miriam Nelson ​ ​ (m. 1941; div. 1956)​ Marilyn Morgan ​ ​ (m. 1958; div. 1974)​ Jean Martin ​ ​ (m. 1990; div. 1994)​
Children	3

Gene Nelson (born Leander Eugene Berg; March 24, 1920 – September 16, 1996) was an American actor, dancer, and director. He was known for his energetic dance moves and for directing movies, including some starring Elvis Presley.

Gene Nelson's Life and Career

Gene Nelson was born as Eugene Leander Berg in Seattle, Washington. When he was about four years old, his family moved to Santa Monica, California. As a child, he was inspired to become a dancer by watching the famous Fred Astaire in movies.

During World War II, Gene served in the Army. He even performed in a musical called This Is the Army while serving. After the war, he got his first role on Broadway, which is a famous theater district in New York City. His performance in Lend an Ear earned him a special Theatre World Award. He also appeared in another Broadway show called Good News. For many years in the 1950s, Gene often danced with his professional partner, actress JoAnn Dean Killingsworth.

Dancing and Acting in Movies

Gene Nelson starred with Doris Day in the movie Lullaby of Broadway in 1951. He also played the character Will Parker in the movie Oklahoma! in 1955.

He appeared in a TV show called Northwest Passage in 1959. Gene also danced on an episode of the TV show "You Bet Your Life" in 1960. He performed a dance number with Groucho Marx's daughter, Melinda.

Directing Films and TV Shows

Gene Nelson became a director later in his career. He directed several episodes of popular TV shows. These included The Rifleman, the original Star Trek, I Dream of Jeannie, and Gunsmoke.

He also directed two movies starring the famous singer Elvis Presley. These were Kissin' Cousins (1964) and Harum Scarum (1965). Gene even wrote the story for Kissin' Cousins. For his writing, he was nominated for a Writers Guild of America award. In the late 1980s, he shared his knowledge by teaching theater arts at San Francisco State University.

Later Career and Recognition

In 1971, Gene Nelson starred in the Broadway musical Follies. For his role, he was nominated for a Tony Award in 1972. This is a very important award for theater performances.

In 1990, Gene Nelson was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This is a special sidewalk in Hollywood, California, where stars are placed to celebrate people who have made great contributions to the entertainment industry. His star is located at 7005 Hollywood Boulevard.

Death

Gene Nelson passed away from cancer in Los Angeles when he was 76 years old.

Filmography

Actor

Director

Awards and Nominations