Gower Champion facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gower Champion
Gower and Marge Champion in 1957
Born	Gower Carlyle Champion (1919-06-22)June 22, 1919 Geneva, Illinois, United States
Died	August 25, 1980(1980-08-25) (aged 61) Manhattan, New York, United States
Occupation	Actor theatre director choreographer dancer
Years active	1939–80
Spouse(s)	Marjorie Belcher ​ ​ (m. 1947; div. 1973)​ Karla Russell Champion ​ ​ (m. 1976)​
Children	2
Awards	Hollywood Walk of Fame 6162 Hollywood Boulevard

Gower Carlyle Champion (born June 22, 1919 – died August 25, 1980) was a talented American actor, theatre director, choreographer, and dancer. He was famous for his amazing dance moves and for directing many popular Broadway shows.

Early Life and Dance Beginnings

Gower Champion was born in Geneva, Illinois. He grew up in Los Angeles, California, where he went to Fairfax High School. From a young age, Gower loved to dance. When he was only fifteen, he toured nightclubs with his friend Jeanne Tyler. They were known as "Gower and Jeanne, America's Youngest Dance Team." In 1939, they even danced in a short film called "The Dipsy Doodler."

A Career on Stage and Screen

In the late 1930s and early 1940s, Gower Champion worked on Broadway, which is the famous theater district in New York City. He performed as a solo dancer and also created dance routines. After serving in the United States Coast Guard during World War II, Gower met Marjorie Belcher. She became his new dance partner, and they got married in 1947.

Dancing Duo: Marge and Gower

In the early 1950s, Marge and Gower Champion became a popular dance team in Hollywood. They starred in seven movie musicals together. Some of their famous films include Mr. Music (1950) with Bing Crosby, Show Boat (1951), and Everything I Have Is Yours (1952). They also appeared in Give a Girl a Break (1953) with Debbie Reynolds and Jupiter's Darling (1955).

Marge and Gower also performed on many television variety shows. In 1957, they even had their own short TV show called The Marge and Gower Champion Show. It was a sitcom based on their real-life experiences.

Broadway Director and Choreographer

In 1948, Gower Champion started directing shows. He won his first of many Tony Awards for his work on a show called Lend an Ear. This show helped introduce the famous actress Carol Channing to New York audiences.

During the 1950s, Gower spent most of his time in Hollywood. But in the 1960s, he returned to Broadway and directed many huge hit musicals. These shows made him one of the top directors and choreographers in the theater world.

Big Broadway Hits

• Bye Bye Birdie (1960): This show was about a rock star joining the army. It starred Chita Rivera and Dick Van Dyke. The show ran for a long time and won four Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Gower won two Tony Awards for his directing and choreography.
• Carnival! (1961): This musical was another success, running for over 700 performances. Gower was nominated for a Tony Award for his direction.
• Hello, Dolly! (1964): This was one of Broadway's biggest shows ever! It ran for almost seven years and starred Carol Channing. The show won ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Gower won two more Tony Awards for his direction and choreography.
• I Do! I Do! (1966): This unique show had only two actors, Mary Martin and Robert Preston. They played a couple through many years of their marriage. The show was very popular and ran for 560 performances.

After these big successes, Gower had some shows that didn't do as well in the 1970s. For example, Mack & Mabel (1974) and Rockabye Hamlet (1976) had shorter runs. Also, he and Marge divorced in 1973.

A Final Triumph

After a challenging decade, Gower Champion made an amazing comeback. In 1980, he directed and choreographed a stage version of the classic movie 42nd Street. This show became his longest-running success, playing for 3,486 performances! It won the Tony Award for Best Musical, and Gower won a Tony for his choreography.

Personal Life

Gower Champion married actress Marjorie Celeste Belcher in 1947. They had two sons, Blake and Gregg. They divorced in 1973. In 1976, Gower married Karla Russell.

His Passing

In early 1979, Gower Champion was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer. He began treatment but was advised to rest. Gower Champion passed away on August 25, 1980, in Manhattan.

His death happened just ten hours before the opening night of 42nd Street, the musical he had directed. The show's producer, David Merrick, kept the news a secret from everyone, even the cast, until after the first performance. After the show, during the curtain calls, Merrick went on stage and told the stunned cast and audience the sad news. 42nd Street went on to be a huge success, running for nine years.

Broadway Shows Gower Champion Worked On

Awards and Nominations

Gower Champion won many awards for his amazing work in theater.

Awards

• 1949 Tony Award for Best Choreography – Lend an Ear
• 1961 Tony Award for Best Choreography – Bye Bye Birdie
• 1961 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – Bye Bye Birdie
• 1964 Tony Award for Best Choreography – Hello, Dolly!
• 1964 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – Hello, Dolly!
• 1968 Tony Award for Best Choreography – The Happy Time
• 1968 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – The Happy Time
• 1981 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography – 42nd Street
• 1981 Tony Award for Best Choreography – 42nd Street

Nominations

• 1962 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – Carnival!
• 1967 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – I Do! I Do!
• 1973 Tony Award for Best Choreography – Sugar
• 1973 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – Sugar
• 1975 Tony Award for Best Choreography – Mack & Mabel
• 1975 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – Mack & Mabel
• 1981 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – 42nd Street

See also

In Spanish: Gower Champion para niños