Champion, Gower

From Astro-Databank
Jump to: navigation, search
Portrait of Gower Champion
Gower Champion
Name
Champion, Gower Gender: M
born on 22 June 1921 at 19:07 (= 7:07 PM )
Place Geneva IL, USA, 41n53, 88w18
Timezone CST h6w (is standard time)
Data source
Quoted BC/BR Rodden Rating AA
Astrology data s_su.18.gif s_cancol.18.gif 01°01' s_mo.18.gif s_aqucol.18.gif 00°21 Asc.s_sagcol.18.gif 26°35'



Biography

American dancer, choreographer, actor, director and showman. He was a partner in marriage and dance with Marge in 1947 for 25 years of night clubs and theaters, films, TV and tours. They were the premier dance team of the '50s, bringing to the stage a happy and graceful act that pleased audiences everywhere. They gave their last performance together in 1960 in "Sabrina Fair" in summer stock. The following year they both went into directing. His debut was outstanding with "Hello Dolly," 1964. The couple separated in 1971 and divorced the following year. They had two sons, Gregg and Blake.

Champion's parents were divorced when he was two and his mom took him and his brother, John, to Los Angeles. As a Junior in Fairfax High School, he teamed up with fellow classmate Jeanne Tyler, to win an amateur dance contest. Both 16, they appeared at a number of West Coast supper clubs and then went to New York for a two-week engagement at the Waldorf-Astoria. Their youthful grace and charm brought them parts in several Broadway reviews.

Champion began to study dance seriously and began ballet training with Ernest Belcher, the father of Marjorie Belcher. Interrupted by war, champion enlisted in the Coast Guard and spent time on transport patrols in both the Atlantic and Pacific. Returning to civilian life, he found that his former partner had married and retired, and he began to work with his former teacher's daughter, Marge. They teamed as Gower and Bell, with their pro debut in Montreal in 1947. They married a few months later.

As a team, Marge and Gower Champion became one of the most successful pair in the postwar era, drawing good crowds and excellent reviews. Their careers blossomed in the '50s, leading to Broadway reviews and Hollywood films.

After their divorce, Gower made a second marriage, to Karla, that ended in divorce in 1979.

Champion died of Waldenstrom's disease 8/25/1980, New York.

Link to Wikipedia biography

Relationships

Events

  • Death by Disease 25 August 1980 (Waldenstrom's disease; age 59)
  • Relationship : Marriage 1947 (Marge)
  • Work : Published/ Exhibited/ Released 1960 (Last appearance dancing together)
  • Work : New Career 1964 (Directed "Hello Dolly")
  • Relationship : End significant relationship 1971 (Separated from Marge)

Source Notes

Gauquelin Book of American Charts

Categories

  • Vocation : Entertain/Music : Dancer/ Teacher (Pro)
  • Family : Relationship : Mate - Noted (Marge Champion)
  • Family : Relationship : Marriage more than 15 Yrs (25 years, divorce)
  • Lifestyle : Work : Travel for work (Tours)
  • Vocation : Entertainment : Actor/ Actress (Secondary)
  • Vocation : Entertain/Business : Director
  • Notable : Extraordinary Talents : For Gross motor control
  • Family : Relationship : Number of Marriages (Two)
  • Family : Parenting : Kids 1-3 (Two sons)
  • Lifestyle : Financial : Gain - Financial success in field
  • Lifestyle : Work : Work in team/ Tandem (Partnership)
  • Diagnoses : Major Diseases : Other Major diseases (Waldenstrom disease)

Personal tools