Gene Nelson
Nelson in 1953.
Born	Eugene Leander Berg (1920-03-24)March 24, 1920 Astoria, Oregon, U.S.
Died	September 16, 1996(1996-09-16) (aged 76) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other names	Gene Berg Eugene E. Nelson
Occupations	Actor dancer director
Years active	1938–1980

Gene Nelson (bornLeander Eugene Berg; March 24, 1920 – September 16, 1996) was an American actor, dancer, screenwriter, and director.^[1][2][3]

Nelson was born Eugene Leander Berg inSeattle, Washington. By 1924, he and his parents moved to Santa Monica. He was inspired to become a dancer during his childhood by watchingFred Astaire in films. After serving in the Army duringWorld War II, during which he also performed in the musicalThis Is the Army, Nelson landed his firstBroadway role inLend an Ear. His performance earned aTheatre World Award. He also appeared onstage inGood News.^{[citation needed]} Nelson's longtime professional dance partner during the 1950s was actressJoAnn Dean Killingsworth.^[4]

Nelson co-starred withDoris Day inLullaby of Broadway in 1951. He played Will Parker in the filmOklahoma!^[5]

In 1959, he appeared inNorthwest Passage as a young man trying to prove his innocence in a murder case. Nelson appeared on the March 17, 1960 episode ofYou Bet Your Life, hosted byGroucho Marx. He and Groucho's daughter,Melinda, performed a dance number together.^[6]

Nelson directed eight episodes ofThe Rifleman in the 1961–62 season. He also directed episodes of the originalStar Trek,I Dream of Jeannie (the first season),Gunsmoke (and starred in many others including “Saludos” [1959] and “Say Uncle" [1960]),The Silent Force, andThe San Pedro Beach Bums. Nelson directed theElvis Presley filmsKissin' Cousins (1964), for which he also wrote the screenplay, andHarum Scarum (1965). For theKissin' Cousins screenplay he received aWriters Guild of America award nomination for best written musical. In the late 1980s, he taught in the Theater Arts Department atSan Francisco State University.

He starred as Buddy in the 1971 Broadway musicalFollies, for which he received a 1972Tony Award nomination for Featured Actor in a Musical.^{[citation needed]} The production featured a score byStephen Sondheim, was co-directed byMichael Bennett andHarold Prince, and co-starredAlexis Smith andDorothy Collins.^[7]

In 1990, for contributions to the motion picture industry, Nelson was inducted into theHollywood Walk of Fame. His star is located at 7005 Hollywood Boulevard.

Nelson died of cancer, aged 76, in Los Angeles.^[2][8]

WW II Draft registration for Gene Leander Berg (Serial Number S-437)

• Gene Nelson at Apacheland Movie Ranch
• Gene Nelson at theInternet Broadway Database
• Gene Nelson atIMDb
• Gene Nelson atMemory Alpha

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