Gene Nelson

About

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....

Known for

Star TrekSeries • 1966Murder, She WroteSeries • 1984The Andy Griffith ShowSeries • 1960Hawaii Five-OSeries • 1969IronsideSeries • 1967Matinee TheaterSeries • 1955Quincy, M.E.Series • 1976MaverickSeries • 1957Have Gun, Will TravelSeries • 1957The RiflemanSeries • 1958CannonSeries • 1971Studio OneSeries • 1948Fantasy IslandSeries • 1978I Dream of JeannieSeries • 1965Climax!Series • 1954Starsky & HutchSeries • 1975The Donna Reed ShowSeries • 1958The F.B.I.Series • 1965RawhideSeries • 1959Barnaby JonesSeries • 1973Burke's LawSeries • 1963The RookiesSeries • 1972Bat MastersonSeries • 1958GunsmokeSeries • 1955