Gene Nelson
Known for Acting · 57 credits
- Born
- 1920-03-24
- Died
- 1996-09-16
- Place of birth
- Astoria, Oregon, USA
- Also known as
- Gene Berg · Eugene A. Nelson · Leander Eugene Berg
Biography
Gene Nelson was an American dancer, actor, screenwriter, and director. Born Leander Eugene Berg in Astoria, Oregon, his family moved to Seattle when he was a year old. He was inspired to become a dancer by watching Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers when he was a child. After serving in the Army during World War II during which he also performed in the musical This Is the Army, Nelson landed his first Broadway role in Lend an Ear, for which he received the Theatre World Award. He also appeared onstage in Follies, which garnered him a Tony Award nomination, and Good News. Nelson's longtime professional dance partner during the 1950s was actress JoAnn Dean Killingsworth.
Gene Nelson co-starred with Doris Day in "Lullaby of Broadway" in 1951. He played Will Parker in the film Oklahoma!
In 1959, he appeared in Northwest Passage 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. He and Groucho's daughter, Melinda, performed a dance number together.
Nelson directed eight episodes of The Rifleman in the 1961-62 season, the original Star Trek, the first season of I Dream of Jeannie, Gunsmoke, The Silent Force, and The San Pedro Beach Bums. He directed the Elvis Presley films Kissin' Cousins, which screenplay he wrote, and Harum Scarum. For the Kissin' Cousins screenplay he received a WGA award nomination for best written musical. He later taught in the Theater Arts Department at San Francisco State University in the late 1980s.
He starred as Buddy in the 1971 Broadway musical Follies, for which he received a 1972 Tony Award nomination for Featured Actor In A Musical. The production featured a score by Stephen Sondheim and was co-directed by Michael Bennett and Harold Prince.
Known For
TV Shows (31)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
Murder, She Wrote
1984
as Louis Metcalf
Ironside
1967
Climax!
1954
as Jess Shepard
Maverick
1957
as Jim Hazlit
Matinee Theater
1955
Have Gun, Will Travel
1957
Studio One
1948
as Trout
Rawhide
1959
Burke's Law
1963
as Rick Mason / Danny Swift
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948
as Self
Gunsmoke
1955
as Hob Cannon / Foss / Hutch
Bat Masterson
1958
as Whit Morrison
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
as Self
The Streets of San Francisco
1972
The Steve Allen Show
1956
as Self - Dancer
The Millionaire
1955
as Lt. Steven Q. Forrest
The Detectives
1959
The Mod Squad
1968
Black Saddle
1959
as Wickes
The Bell Telephone Hour
1959
as Self
Ghost Story
1972
as Steve
Your Show of Shows
1950
Law of the Plainsman
1959
as Hardy O'Hara
Men Into Space
1959
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951
as Robert
Philip Marlowe
1959
General Electric Theater
1953
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
The Rosemary Clooney Show
1956
as Self
Movies (26)
Oklahoma!
1955
as Will Parker
Crime Wave
1953
as Steve Lacey
S.O.B.
1981
as Clive Lytell
Lullaby of Broadway
1951
as Tom Farnham
Second Fiddle
1939
as Minor Role
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
1947
as Tommy Yale
The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady
1950
as Doug Martin
This Is the Army
1943
as Soldier (uncredited)
Three Sailors and a Girl
1953
as Twitch
Tea for Two
1950
as Tommy Trainor
Starlift
1951
as Gene Nelson
Family Flight
1972
as Aircraft Carrier Captain
The Walls of Jericho
1948
as Legal Assistant
Painting the Clouds with Sunshine
1951
as Ted
Dial 999
1955
as Greg Carradine
Thunder Island
1963
as Billy Poole
Timeslip
1955
as Mike Delaney
The West Point Story
1950
as Hal Courtland
Everything Happens at Night
1939
as Skater
Apartment for Peggy
1948
as Jerry (uncredited)
She's Working Her Way Through College
1952
as Don Weston
So This Is Paris
1954
as Al Howard
A Brand New Life
1973
as Harry
She's Back on Broadway
1953
as Gordon Evans
The Purple Hills
1961
as Gil Shepard
20,000 Eyes
1961
as Dan Warren
About Gene Nelson
Gene Nelson was an American dancer, actor, screenwriter, and director. Born Leander Eugene Berg in Astoria, Oregon, his family moved to Seattle when he was a year old. He was inspired to become a dancer by watching Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers when he was a child. After serving in the Army during World War II during which he also performed in the musical This Is the Army, Nelson landed his first Broadway role in Lend an Ear, for which he received the Theatre World Award. He also appeared onstage in Follies, which garnered him a Tony Award no… With 57 credits spanning from 1939 to 1984, Gene Nelson has appeared in 26 films and 31 TV shows.
Fans searching for Gene Nelson movies, Gene Nelson filmography, or the latest projects starring Gene Nelson can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Gene Nelson Movies
- Oklahoma! (1955) — as Will Parker
- Crime Wave (1953) — as Steve Lacey
- S.O.B. (1981) — as Clive Lytell
- Lullaby of Broadway (1951) — as Tom Farnham
- Second Fiddle (1939) — as Minor Role
Where to Watch Gene Nelson Films
Most Gene Nelson movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Gene Nelson, check our movies catalogue and browse page.