Gene Nelson (March 24, 1920 - September 16, 1996), was an American dancer, actor, and television director.
Born Leander Eugene Berg in Seattle, Washington, he was inspired to become a dancer by watching Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies when he was a child. After serving in the Army during World War II, Nelson landed his first Broadway role in Lend an Ear, for which he received the Theatre World Award. He also appeared on stage in Follies, which garnered him a Tony Award nomination, and Good News.
Nelson's film acting credits include This is the Army (1943), I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (1947), Gentlemen's Agreement (1947), Apartment for Peggy (1948), The Walls of Jericho (1948), The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady (1950), Tea for Two (1950), The West Point Story(1950), Lullaby of Broadway (1951), Painting the Clouds with Sunshine (1951), Starlift (1951), She's Working Her Way Through College (1952), She's Back on Broadway (1953), Three Sailors and a Girl (1953), Crime Wave (1954), So This is Paris (1954), Oklahoma! (1955), The Atomic Man (1956), The Way Out (1956), The Purple Hills (1961), 20,000 Eyes (1961), Thunder Island (1963), A Brand New Life (1972), Family Flight (1972) and S.O.B. (1981). Nelson directed episodes of the original Star Trek, the first season of I Dream of Jeannie, and Gunsmoke.
In 1957, a horse fell on Nelson and fractured his pelvis. He legally changed his name in 1964. He died of cancer, aged 76, in Los Angeles, California. He was survived by three children, Douglas, Victoria and Chris.
Wayland Eugene Nelson (born December 3, 1960 in Tampa, Florida), is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1981 to 1993. After beginning his career as a starting pitcher with the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners, Nelson gradually converted to a relief role starting in 1983. He was a key member of the ace relief staff that helped propel the Oakland Athletics to three pennant-winning seasons from 1988 to 1990, frequently setting up Dennis Eckersley for his saves. Nelson posted a 1.57 ERA in 1990 and earned a 9-6 record in 1988. After seeing his performance slip in 1991 and 1992, he closed out his career in 1993 with a 3.12 ERA while pitching for the California Angels and Texas Rangers.
Nelson was barely a teen when he saw the Fred Astaire movie 'Flying Down to Río (1933)' which would change his life. After that, he decided that 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 including two Elvis Presley films 'Kissin' Cousins (1963)' and 'Harum Scarum (1965)'. For Television, he directed episodes for "I Dream Of Jeannie", "Star Trek", "The Donna Reed Show" and others.
