Gene Nelson

'Gene Nelson' (qv) was barely a teen when he saw the 'Fred Astaire' (qv) movie _Flying Down to Rio (1933)_ (qv), 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' (qv) 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' (qv) in _The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady (1950)_ (qv), 'Doris Day' (qv) in _Tea for Two (1950)_ (qv) and 'Virginia Mayo' (qv) in _She's Working Her Way Through College (1952)_ (qv). He would be best known for his role of cowboy Will Parker in _Oklahoma! (1955)_ (qv), 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' (qv) movies, _Kissin' Cousins (1964)_ (qv) and _Harum Scarum (1965)_ (qv). For television he directed episodes of _I Dream of Jeannie (1965)_ (qv), _Star Trek: The Original Series (1966)_ (qv), _The Rifleman (1958)_ (qv), _The Donna Reed Show (1958)_ (qv) and many others.::Tony Fontana <tony.fontana@spacebbs.com> (qv's & corrections by A. Nonymous)