Gene Nelson(1920-1996)
- Director
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Gene Nelson was barely a teen when he saw the
Fred Astaire movie
Flying Down to Rio (1933),
which would change his life. It was then that he decided he would be a
dancer. After graduating from high school, Nelson joined the
Sonja Henie Ice Show and toured for 3 years
before joining the Army in World War II. After he was discharged, he
appeared in a handful of movies before 1950. He worked with
Debbie Reynolds in
The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady (1950),
Doris Day in
Tea for Two (1950) and
Virginia Mayo in
She's Working Her Way Through College (1952).
He would be best known for his role of cowboy Will Parker in
Oklahoma! (1955), where he would twirl
the lasso to the tune of "Kansas City".
After his dancing days ended he turned to directing TV and films, including two Elvis Presley movies, Kissin' Cousins (1964) and Harum Scarum (1965). For television he directed episodes of I Dream of Jeannie (1965), Star Trek (1966), The Rifleman (1958), The Donna Reed Show (1958) and many others.
After his dancing days ended he turned to directing TV and films, including two Elvis Presley movies, Kissin' Cousins (1964) and Harum Scarum (1965). For television he directed episodes of I Dream of Jeannie (1965), Star Trek (1966), The Rifleman (1958), The Donna Reed Show (1958) and many others.
