Gene Nelson

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Gene Nelson (* 24. March 1920 in Seattle , Washington as Eugene Leander Berg ; † 16th September 1996 in Los Angeles , California ) was an American film director , actor , screenwriter and film producer .

life and career

Gene Nelson was 13 years old when he saw Fred Astaire in Flying Down to Rio in 1933 , a film that sparked his desire to become a dancer . After graduating from high school , he toured the States with Sonja Henie's ice show for three years before joining the army and fighting in World War II .

Nelson made his film debut as early as 1939 with a small role as a dancer in Second Fiddle . After his discharge from the Army in 1945, he continued his film career, working his way from initially small appearances to larger roles by the end of the decade. He was also known for his appearance on the Broadway musical Lend an Ear , which earned him a studio contract with 20th Century Fox . Nelson received the Golden Globe Award for Best Young Actor in 1951 for his role in the film Charming Woman with Doris Day . His film partners included Debbie Reynolds , Doris Day and Virginia Mayo . He played mostly in film musicals such as cowboy Will Parker in Oklahoma! , but was also seen in André De Toth's film noir Crime Wave . During the 1950s he also appeared in numerous television series.

In the 1960s and 1970s Nelson shifted mainly to his new job as a director. In addition to two music films with Elvis Presley , which he directed, Gene directed episodes of television series such as The Charming Jeannie , Spaceship Enterprise , Starsky & Hutch and Quincy . As an actor, he was seen again in the 1970s in the Broadway musicals Follies and Good News . Most recently he was in front of the camera as a guest actor in the television series Murder is Her Hobby in 1987 .

Gene Nelson was married three times: between 1940 and 1951 to Miriam Franklin, between 1958 and 1974 with Marilyn Morgan and from 1990 to 1994 with Jean Martin. Three children emerged from the relationship. Gene Nelson died in September 1996 at the age of 76 years to cancer .

Filmography (selection)

As an actor

As a director

  • 1961–1962: West of Santa Fé ( The Rifleman ; TV series, 8 episodes)
  • 1962: Hand of Death
  • 1962–1965: Mother is the very best ( The Donna Reed Show ; TV series, 22 episodes)
  • 1964: The Wild Women of Tennessee ( Kissin 'Cousins ; also screenplay)
  • 1965: Gilligan's Island ( Gilligan's Island ; TV series, 1 episode)
  • 1965: Enchanting Jeannie ( I Dream of Jeannie ; TV series, 8 episodes)
  • 1965: Lost in the Harem (Harum Scarum)
  • 1967–1970: FBI (TV series, 7 episodes)
  • 1968: Spaceship Enterprise ( Star Trek ; TV series, 1 episode)
  • 1968–1971: Twen-Police (TV series, 18 episodes)
  • 1969: Hawaii Five-Zero ( Hawaii Five-Nill ; TV series, 1 episode)
  • 1973/1974: Cannon (TV series, 2 episodes)
  • 1975: Starsky & Hutch (TV series, 1 episode)
  • 1976: The Invisible Man ( The Invisible Man ; TV Series, 1 episode)
  • 1978: Quincy (TV series, 1 episode)
  • 1979: Use of petticoat ( Operation Petticoat ; TV series, 2 episodes)
  • 1979: The Bad News Bears ( The Bad News Bears , television series, 1 episode)
  • 1980: Dan August: The Jealousy Factor (TV movie)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Gene Nelson | Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos | AllMovie. Retrieved June 26, 2018 .
  2. ↑ Dinitia Smith: Gene Nelson Is Dead at 76; Athletic Hollywood Dancer . ( nytimes.com [accessed June 26, 2018]).
personal data
SURNAME Nelson, Gene
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Berg, Eugene Leander (real name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American film director, actor, screenwriter, and film producer
DATE OF BIRTH March 24, 1920
PLACE OF BIRTH Seattle , Washington , USA
DATE OF DEATH September 16, 1996
Place of death Los Angeles , California , USA