B. March 24, 1920, Astoria, Oregon, USA d. September 16, 1996, Los Angeles, CA, USA American dancer, choreographer, actor, screenwriter, and director.
Had three children: Chris Nelson, Douglas M. Nelson , and Victoria Nelson Gordo.
Was romantically involved with Maureen Reagan for several years, although they never married.
He can be seen as one of the anonymous studio executives in the trailer for the original version of Miracle on 34th Street .
Nominated for a 1972 Tony Award for Supporting or Featured Actor for his performance as Buddy in the original production of "Follies".
First wife Miriam Nelson (nee Frankel) was a specialty film dancer from Broadway ("Panama Hattie"). Married in 1941, she worked in Hollywood while Gene served in the United States Army. He joined her later and she was instrumental in helping him work up his innovative dance routines on film.
Second wife Marilyn Morgen was a studio secretary he married in 1958. She was 12 years his junior.
Suffered a fractured pelvis in 1957 when a horse fell on him while on film location in Tennessee.
Born Eugene Leander Berg, he went to Superior Court in 1964 to change his legal name to Gene Nelson as he wanted to use this for himself and his family.
Made his professional stage debut as a member of the Fanchon and Marco Juvenile Revue at the Paramount Theater in Los Angeles in 1935. He also studied tap with Nick Castle.
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7005 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on September 24, 1990. (Source: http://www.walkoffame.com/gene-nelson).
In high school, he organized and trained a football cheering squad -- writing songs and cheers as well.
Attended and graduated from Santa Monica High School in Santa Monica, California.
He also served as a professor of Theater Arts at San Francisco State University.
Pitcher for the New York Yankees , Seattle Mariners (1982-1983), Chicago White Sox (1984-1986), Oakland Athletics (1987-1992), California Angels and Texas Rangers.
In my heyday, I could only do about four pirouettes without starting to,fall, but with film, I could do a dozen by cutting and editing. The,magic of film is that you can create anything you want.
