Gower Champion

Biography

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).

Known For

Show Boat

as Frank Schultz

That's Entertainment, Part II

as (archive footage)

What's My Line?

as Self - Mystery Guest

Till the Clouds Roll By

as Dance Specialty

The Ed Sullivan Show

as Self

Words and Music

as Specialty Dancer (uncredited)

Give a Girl a Break

as Ted Sturgis

Rhapsody in Blue

as Tap Dancer at Remick's (uncredited)

Tony Awards

as Self - Presenter

Tony Awards

as Self - Nominee