Gene Nelson

Birth Name:

Leander Eugene Berg

Birth Place:

Seattle, Washington, United States

Profession

Actor, Director, Soundtrack, Writer, Producer

Was nominated for a 1965 Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written American Musical for "Kissin' Cousins․"
Won a Tony award for his 1971 performance in "Follies․"
His early Broadway roles were as a dancer in "This Is the Army" and "Lend an Ear․"
Seeing Fred Astaire dance in "Flying Down to Rio" inspired him to go into show business
Started his career in the late 1940s as a skater in Sonja Henie's ice show
Best known as the singing, dancing cowboy Will Parker in the 1955 film version of "Oklahoma!"
The height of his popularity was during the 1950s era of musical films in Hollywood
Organized and trained a football cheering squad in high school, writing their songs and cheers
Over the course of his career, he danced on ships, up a banister and over a Volkswagen
Performed as a gymnast and an ice skater in high school

Fast Facts