Miriam Nelson (born Miriam Lois Frankel; September 21, 1919 – August 12, 2018) was an American choreographer, dancer, and actress. She choreographed many of Hollywood's Golden Age dance routines.

Career

Nelson first performed at Casa Manana in New York, where she danced with Van Johnson in the nightclub's revue. She debuted on Broadway in ''Sing Out the News'' (1938). Nelson was a contract performer with

Paramount Paramount (from the word ''paramount'' meaning "above all others") may refer to: Entertainment and music companies * Paramount Global, also known simply as Paramount, an American mass media company formerly known as ViacomCBS. **Paramount Picture ...

. She debuted on Broadway in 1938, and can be seen in 1944's classic film-noir ''

Double Indemnity ''Double Indemnity'' is a 1944 American film noir directed by Billy Wilder and produced by Buddy DeSylva and Joseph Sistrom. Wilder and Raymond Chandler adapted the screenplay from James M. Cain's Double Indemnity (novel), novel of the same na ...

'' as Barton Keye's secretary, and 1961's '' Breakfast at Tiffany's'', as Harriet at Holly Golightly's party. She worked with stars like

Gene Kelly Eugene Curran Kelly (August 23, 1912 – February 2, 1996) was an American dancer, actor, singer, director and choreographer. He was known for his energetic and athletic dancing style and sought to create a new form of American dance accessibl ...

Judy Garland Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer. Possessing a strong contralto voice, she was celebrated for her emotional depth and versatility across film, stage, and concert performance. ...

Doris Day Doris Day (born Doris Mary Kappelhoff; April 3, 1922 – May 13, 2019) was an American actress and singer. She began her career as a big band singer in 1937, achieving commercial success in 1945 with two No. 1 recordings, "Sentimental Journey ...

Ingrid Bergman Ingrid Bergman (29 August 191529 August 1982) was a Swedish actress.Obituary ''Variety Obituaries, Variety'', 1 September 1982. With a career spanning five decades, Bergman is often regarded as one of the most influential screen figures in cin ...

Fred Astaire Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz, May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American dancer, actor, singer, musician, choreographer, and presenter, whose career in stage, film, and television spanned 76 years. He is widely regarded as the "g ...

and

Bette Davis Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (; April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress of film, television, and theater. Regarded as one of the greatest actresses in Hollywood history, she was noted for her willingness to play unsympatheti ...

Personal life

Nelson was married to actor

Gene Nelson Gene Nelson (born Leander Eugene Berg; March 24, 1920 – September 16, 1996) was an American actor, dancer, screenwriter, and director. Biography Nelson was born Eugene Leander Berg in Seattle, Washington. By 1924, he and his parents mov ...

from 1941 to 1956. In 2009, she published a biography, ''My Life Dancing with the Stars''. She died on August 12, 2018, at the age of 98.

Filmography

*''

Let's Face It '' Let's Face It'' is the fifth studio album by American ska punk band The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. It was released on March 11, 1997, by Mercury Records and Big Rig Records. The album sold very well due to the success of its single "The Impr ...

'' (1943) as dancer *''

Lady in the Dark ''Lady in the Dark'' is a musical with music by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ira Gershwin and book and direction by Moss Hart. It was produced by Sam Harris. The protagonist, Liza Elliott, is the unhappy editor of a fashion magazine who is undergoing p ...

'' (1944) as dancer *''

Cover Girl A cover girl is a woman whose photograph is used for the front cover of magazines. She may be a model, celebrity or entertainer. The term would generally not be used to describe a person making a single, casual appearance on the cover of a magaz ...

'' (1944) as specialty dancer *''

'' (1944) as Keye's secretary *''

Hail the Conquering Hero ''Hail the Conquering Hero'' (1944) is a satirical comedy-drama film written and directed by Preston Sturges, starring Eddie Bracken, Ella Raines and William Demarest, and featuring Raymond Walburn, Franklin Pangborn, Elizabeth Patterson, ...

'' (1945) as tap dancer *''

Duffy's Tavern ''Duffy's Tavern'' is an American radio programming, radio sitcom that ran for a decade on several networks (CBS, 1941–42; Blue Network, NBC-Blue Network, 1942–44; and NBC, 1944–51), concluding with the December 28, 1951, broadcast. The ...

'' (1945) as dancer *'' Kitty'' (1945) as girl with St. Leger *'' Masquerade in Mexico'' (1938) as party guest *'' Breakfast at Tiffany's'' (1961) as Harriet

Television credits

*''

Father Knows Best ''Father Knows Best'' is an American sitcom starring Robert Young (actor), Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray (actor), Billy Gray and Lauren Chapin. The series, which began on radio in 1949, aired as a television show for six ...

'' (1959) as Miss Harris (1 episode) *'' Pete Kelly's Blues'' (1959) as Thelma Reegan (1 episode) *''

The Untouchables Untouchable or Untouchables may refer to: People * Untouchability, the practice of socially ostracizing a minority group of very low social status * Untouchables, word for the Dalits or Scheduled Castes of India * Untouchables (law enforcement), ...

'' (1959) as Grace Halloran (1 episode) *''

Bronco A bucking horse is any breed of horse, male or female, with a propensity to buck. They have been, and still are, referred to by various names, including bronco, broncho, and roughstock. The harder they buck, the more desirable they are for ro ...

'' (1960) as Emmy Coles (1 episode) *''U.S. Marshal'' (1960) as Polly Gregory (1 episode) *''

Westinghouse Playhouse ''Westinghouse Playhouse'' is an American Situation comedy, sitcom that aired from January to July 1961 on NBC. Starring Nanette Fabray, the series was also known as ''The Nanette Fabray Show'' and ''Westinghouse Playhouse Starring Nanette Fabr ...

'' (1961) as Miriam (1 episode) *''

Death Valley Days ''Death Valley Days'' is an American Western (genre), Western anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program was ...

'' (1961) as Mrs. Clayton (1 episode) *''

Mister Ed ''Mister Ed'' is an American television sitcom produced by Filmways that aired in syndication from January 5 to July 2, 1961, and then on CBS from October 1, 1961, to February 6, 1966. The show's title character is a talking horse which orig ...

'' (1962) as Miss Canfield (1 episode) *''

The Lucy Show ''The Lucy Show'' is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from 1962 to 1968. It was Lucille Ball's follow-up to ''I Love Lucy''. A significant change in cast and premise for the fourth season (1965–1966) divides the program into two distinct ...

'' (1965) as Miriam (1 episode) *''

Mrs. Columbo ''Mrs. Columbo'' (later called ''Kate Columbo'', ''Kate the Detective'', and ''Kate Loves a Mystery'') is an American crime drama television series, initially based on the wife of Lieutenant Columbo, the title character from the television ser ...

'' (1979) as ballet instructor (1 episode)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Miriam 1919 births 2018 deaths American film actresses 20th-century American actresses American choreographers American dancers 21st-century American women