Gene Nelson was barely a teen when he saw the 弗雷德·阿斯泰尔 movie 飞到里约 (1933), which would change his life. It was then that he decided he would be a dancer. After graduating from high school, Nelson joined the 索尼亚·海妮 Ice Show and toured for 3 years before joining the Army in World War II. After he was discharged, he appeared in a handful of movies before 1950. He worked with 黛比·雷诺斯 in The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady (1950), 多丽丝·黛 in 鸳鸯茶 (1950) and 弗吉尼亚·梅奥 in She's Working Her Way Through College (1952). He would be best known for his role of cowboy Will Parker in Oklahoma! (1955), where he would twirl the lasso to the tune of "Kansas City".

After his dancing days ended he turned to directing TV and films, including two 埃尔维斯·普雷斯利 movies, 亲亲表兄妹 (1964) and 玉面猫禁苑称雄 (1965). For television he directed episodes of I Dream of Jeannie (1965), Star Trek: The Original Series (1966), The Rifleman (1958), The Donna Reed Show (1958) and many others.