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 Seattle ( ) is the List of municipalities in Washington, most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the List of Unit ...

. By 1924, he and his parents moved to Santa Monica. 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, actor, singer, musician, choreographer, and presenter, whose career in stage, film, and television spanned 76 years. He is widely regarded as the "g ...

in films. After serving in the Army during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, during which he also performed in the musical ''

This Is the Army ''This Is the Army'' is a 1943 American wartime musical film, musical comedy film produced by Jack L. Warner and Hal B. Wallis and directed by Michael Curtiz, adapted from This Is the Army (musical), the wartime stage musical of the same name, d ...

'', Nelson landed his first Broadway role in '' Lend an Ear''. His performance earned a Theatre World Award. 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 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 ...

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's 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 lane between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Arctic Ocean, near the northern coast of North America via waterways through the Arctic Archipelago of Canada. The eastern route along the Arctic ...

'' 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'', hosted by

Groucho Marx Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx (; October 2, 1890 – August 19, 1977) was an American comedian, actor, writer, and singer who performed in films and vaudeville on television, radio, and the stage. He is considered one of America's greatest comed ...

. He and Groucho's daughter, Melinda, performed a dance number together. Nelson directed eight episodes of ''

The Rifleman ''The Rifleman'' is an American Western television series 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 Star Trek: The Original Series, series of the same name and became a worldwide Popular culture, pop-culture Cultural influence of ...

'', ''

I Dream of Jeannie ''I Dream of Jeannie'' is an American Fantasy television, fantasy sitcom television series created by Sidney Sheldon and starring Barbara Eden as a beautiful but guileless 2,000-year-old Jinn, genie and Larry Hagman as an astronaut with whom s ...

'' (the first season), ''

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

'' (and starred in many others including “Saludos” 959and “Say Uncle" 960, ''

The Silent Force ''The Silent Force'' is the third studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation, released on 15 November 2004, by GUN Records. On 5 August 2008, ''The Silent Force'' along with ''Mother Earth (Within Temptation album), Mother Eart ...

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

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...

films ''

Kissin' Cousins ''Kissin' 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 featured Presley playing two roles: an Air Force o ...

'' (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 (WGA) is the name of two American labor unions representing writers in film, television, radio, and online media: * The Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) is headquartered in New York City and is affiliated wit ...

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 (San Francisco State, SF State and SFSU) is a Public university, public research university in San Francisco, California, United States. It was established in 1899 as the San Francisco State Normal School and is ...

. He starred as Buddy in the 1971 Broadway musical '' Follies'', for which he received a 1972

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

nomination for Featured Actor in a Musical. The production featured a score by

Stephen Sondheim Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; March22, 1930November26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. Regarded as one of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theater, he is credited with reinventing the American musical. He received Lis ...

, 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 theat ...

, and co-starred Alexis Smith and

Dorothy Collins Dorothy Collins (born Marjorie Chandler;
''

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a landmark which consists of 2,813 five-pointed terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in the Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood dist ...

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

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

'' (1951) as Ted Lansing * '' Starlift'' (1951) as Gene Nelson * ''

She's Working Her Way Through College ''She's Working Her Way Through College'' is a 1952 American comedy film produced by Warner Bros. A musical comedy in Technicolor, it is directed by H. Bruce Humberstone, and stars Virginia Mayo and Ronald Reagan. The screenplay is based on the 1 ...

'' (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 * ''

'' (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'' (1963) * '' Your Cheatin' Heart'' (1964) * ''

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

(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

References

WW II Draft registration for Gene Leander Berg (Serial Number S-437)

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 Burials at sea 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