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).
Filmography (20 titles)
6.0Movie42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
Self (archive footage) · 2006
7.0MovieThat's Entertainment, Part II
(archive footage) · 1976
6.6ShowThe Merv Griffin Show
Self · 1962
8.0ShowThe Bell Telephone Hour
Self · 1959
6.0MovieThe All-Star Christmas Show
Self · 1958
What Day Is It?
Conroy Gregory · 1956
ShowTony Awards
Self - Presenter · 1956
5.9MovieThree for the Show
Vernon Lowndes · 1955
4.9MovieJupiter's Darling
Varius · 1955
5.4MovieGive a Girl a Break
Ted Sturgis · 1953
5.8MovieEverything I Have Is Yours
Chuck Hubbard · 1952
5.5MovieLovely to Look At
Jerry Ralby · 1952
6.2MovieShow Boat
Frank Schultz · 1951
6.5MovieMr. Music
Gower Champion · 1950
7.0ShowWhat's My Line?
Self · 1950
The Admiral Broadway Revue
1949
5.8MovieWords and Music
Specialty Dancer (uncredited) · 1948
6.8ShowThe Ed Sullivan Show
Self · 1948
5.7MovieTill the Clouds Roll By
Dance Specialty · 1946
6.6MovieRhapsody in Blue
Tap Dancer at Remick's (uncredited) · 1945