Gower Champion
Gower Carlyle Champion (June 22, 1919 – August 25, 1980) was an American actor, theatre director, choreographer, and dancer.
Champion was born on June 22, 1919, in Geneva, Illinois, as the son of John W. Champion and Beatrice Carlisle. He was raised in Los Angeles, California, where he graduated from Fairfax High School. He studied dance from an early age and, at the age of fifteen, toured nightclubs with friend Jeanne Tyler billed as "Gower and Jeanne, America's Youngest Dance Team". In 1939, "Gower and Jeanne" danced to the music of Larry Clinton and his Orchestra in a Warner Brothers & Vitaphone film short-subject, "The Dipsy Doodler" (released in 1940).
Acting
Movie
Show Boat
as Frank Schultz
1951
Movie
That's Entertainment, Part II
as (archive footage)
1976
Movie
Till the Clouds Roll By
as Dance Specialty
1946
TV
What's My Line?
as Self - Mystery Guest
1950
TV
The Ed Sullivan Show
as Self
1948
Movie
Words and Music
as Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
1948
Movie
Give a Girl a Break
as Ted Sturgis
1953
Movie
Rhapsody in Blue
as Tap Dancer at Remick's (uncredited)
1945
Movie
Lovely to Look At
as Jerry Ralby
1952
TV
The Merv Griffin Show
as Self
1962
Movie
Three for the Show
as Vernon Lowndes
1955
Movie
Jupiter's Darling
as Varius
1955
Movie
Everything I Have Is Yours
as Chuck Hubbard
1952
TV
The Bell Telephone Hour
as Self
1959
Movie
Mr. Music
as Gower Champion
1950
Movie
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
as Self (archive footage)
2006
Movie
The All-Star Christmas Show
as Self
1958
Movie
What Day Is It?
as Conroy Gregory
1956
TV
The Admiral Broadway Revue
1949
TV
Tony Awards
as Self - Presenter
1956
TV
Tony Awards
as Self - Nominee
1956
Crew
Movie
The Bank Shot
Director
1974
Movie
Give a Girl a Break
Musical
1953
Movie
My Six Loves
Director
1963
Movie
42nd Street
Choreographer
2019
Movie
Once Upon a Honeymoon
Director
1956
Movie
The Girl Most Likely
Choreographer
1958
Movie
Everything I Have Is Yours
Choreographer
1952
TV
Startime
Director
1959
Movie
42nd Street
Choreographer
1986
Movie
What Day Is It?
Director
1956
Movie
Forty-five Minutes from Broadway
Director
1959