Gower Champion

Biography

Gower Champion was an American dancer, actor, choreographer, and theater director who studied dance from a young age and worked on Broadway as a dancer and choreographer, often solo, in the late 1930s and early 1940s. He appeared in film musicals such as Show Boat (1951) and Give a Girl a Break (1953). In 1948, he began directing and took home the first of his eight Tony Awards for staging Lend an Ear. During the 1960s he directed a string of Broadway hits. Bye Bye Birdie won Tonys for his direction and choreography. Hello, Dolly! was a blockbuster that won ten Tonys including two for him. He also directed Carnival! and I Do! I Do!. After several disappointments in the 1970s, he returned with 42nd Street in 1980, winning a Tony for his choreography. He died in 1980.

61years old at death

Born June 22, 1919Geneva
Died August 25, 1980Manhattan
Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22
Also credited as Gower Carlyle Champion

Movie Career

Films: 3
Career span: 7 years1946 to 1953

Every film, newest first

1953Give a Girl a BreakIMDb rating 6.3
1951Show BoatIMDb rating 6.8
1946Till the Clouds Roll ByIMDb rating 6.4

Genres

Did you know?!

Behind the award
Champion also started directing in 1948. For staging Lend an Ear, which brought Carol Channing to New York City theater audiences, he received the first of his eight Tony Awards.
First role
Champion began dance lessons when he was young. At fifteen, he went on nightclub tours with his friend Jeanne Tyler, and the pair were billed as "Gower and Jeanne, America's Youngest Dance Team."

Gower Champion movies on Netflix

Give a Girl a Break1953IMDb rating 6.3as Ted Sturgis
Show Boat1951IMDb rating 6.8as Frank Schultz
Till the Clouds Roll By1946IMDb rating 6.4as Dance Specialty

Worked with

Gower Champion shares two films with Kathryn Grayson, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Kathryn Grayson

Marge Champion

Bess Flowers

Angela Lansbury

Chet Brandenburg

Frank Sinatra

George SidneyDirector, 2 films

Films together

Kathryn Grayson2 films together, 1946 to 1951
Kathryn Grayson's page
- Show Boat1951IMDb rating 6.8Champion as Frank SchultzGrayson as Magnolia Hawks
- Till the Clouds Roll By1946IMDb rating 6.4Champion as Dance SpecialtyGrayson as Magnolia Hawks / Kathryn Grayson
Marge Champion2 films together, 1951 to 1953
Marge Champion's page
- Give a Girl a Break1953IMDb rating 6.3Champion as Ted SturgisChampion as Madelyn Corlane
- Show Boat1951IMDb rating 6.8Champion as Frank SchultzChampion as Ellie May Shipley
Bess Flowers1 film together, 1951
Bess Flowers's page
- Show Boat1951IMDb rating 6.8Champion as Frank SchultzFlowers as Racetrack Spectator
Angela Lansbury1 film together, 1946
Angela Lansbury's page
- Till the Clouds Roll By1946IMDb rating 6.4Champion as Dance SpecialtyLansbury as London Specialty
Chet Brandenburg1 film together, 1951
Chet Brandenburg's page
- Show Boat1951IMDb rating 6.8Champion as Frank SchultzBrandenburg as Man at New Years Celebration
Frank Sinatra1 film together, 1946
Frank Sinatra's page
- Till the Clouds Roll By1946IMDb rating 6.4Champion as Dance SpecialtySinatra as Frank Sinatra
George SidneyDirector, 2 films, 1946 to 1951
All films by George Sidney
- Show Boat1951IMDb rating 6.8Champion as Frank Schultz
- Till the Clouds Roll By1946IMDb rating 6.4Champion as Dance Specialty

Awards

Five awards and honors from 1961 to 1968, three of them major.

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Gower Champion's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Result
Tony Awards
1968	Best Direction of a Musical	Won
1964	Best Direction of a Musical	Won
1961	Best Direction of a Musical	Won
Other honors
	American Choreography Awards	Won
	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame	Honored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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