Home > Nelson Eddy

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Eddy's parents were both singers, and he would later say that singing was the only career he ever contemplated. He studied in Dresden and Paris before performing his first concert recital in Philadelphia in 1928. He continued performing in opera, oratorios, concerts and radio over the next few years, and in 1933 impressed Ida Koverman , secretary to MGM executive Louis B. Mayer who was in the audience.

Eddy's first success was in the film Naughty MariettaNaughty Marietta is a musical comedy, with libretto by Rida Johnson Young and music by Victor Herbert, which opened on Broadway on November 7, 1910: one of its best-known songs is Ah! Sweet Mystery Of Life''. In the 1935 movie based on the operetta, Jeane ( 1935Events January January 1 Italian colonies of Tripoli and Kyrenaika are joined together as Libya January 7 World War II: Italian premier Benito Mussolini and French foreign minister Pierre Laval conclude agreement in which each power undertakes not to oppo) opposite Jeanette MacDonaldJeanette MacDonald ( June 18, 1903 January 14, 1965) was a singer and actress best known for her film duets with Nelson Eddy, such as Rose-Marie (aka Indian Love Call ( 1936). Jeanette Anna MacDonald was born in Philadelphia and made her professional debu. The two became so closely identified by the public that MGM continued pairing them in such films as Rose-MarieThis article is about the operetta. For the actress, see Rose Marie. Rose-Marie is an operetta by Rudolf Friml, Otto Harbach, and Oscar Hammerstein II, first seen on Broadway in 1924. The show was filmed several times, the first time in the silent era, th ( 1936Events January-February January 15 The first building to be completely covered in glass is completed in Toledo, Ohio, for the Owens-Illinois Glass Company. January 20 Death of George V of the United Kingdom. His son Edward VIII succeedes him as King of th), Maytime ( 1937Events January January 1 Anastasio Somoza becomes President of Nicaragua January 11 The first issue of Look magazine goes on sale in the United States. January 19 Howard Hughes sets a new air record by flying from Los Angeles to New York City in 7 hours,), The Girl of the Golden West ( 1938Events January -June January 3 The March of Dimes is established by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. January 11 Frances Moulton is the first woman to become president of a US national bank. January 20 Wedding of king Farouk I of Egypt and Farida Zulficar in Cai) Sweethearts ( 1938), New Moon ( 1940) Bitter Sweet ( 1940) and I Married an Angel ( 1942). His solo films included Rosalie ( 1937) Let Freedom Ring ( 1939), Balalaika ( 1939) The Chocolate Soldier ( 1941) and Phantom of the Opera ( 1943). Though admired for his singing voice, critics were usually scathing in their comments regarding his acting abilities, and he found it difficult to break away from the typecasting of the light operetta roles to which he was assigned. Still, he became the highest paid singer in the world and his concerts were mob scenes of screaming female fans--not unlike a rock star of today. During World War II he left films to do government work. After the war, the operetta film roles were out of vogue and his career was greatly diminished. He continued appearing on radio (occasionally with MacDonald) and attracted a large following with his own nightclub show during the 1950s. He and MacDonald shared a gold record album when, in 1958, they released "Favorites in HiFi (and Stereo)."

In later years, he established himself as a popular concert performer with audiences who remembered nostalgically his popular movie roles.

He collapsed on stage while performing in Miami Beach, Florida and died shortly after as a result of a stroke. He is interred in Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Hollywood, California.

Eddy married Ann Franklin in 1939 and remained married until his death, when rumors began to emerge that he had an off-screen relationship with Jeanette MacDonald. Sweethearts by Sharon Rich ( revised edition, 2001 ), BooksEnthsiast.com, discusses Eddy's lengthy affair with MacDonald, drawing on excerpts from letters, diaries, interviews and the unpublished memoirs of Eddy's mother. Nelson Eddy:The Opera Years by Sharon Rich ( 2001), BooksEnthsiast.com, covers Eddy's complete opera and concert career from 1922-35.

Nelson Eddy was given three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to Recordings, Radio and Motion Pictures (at 6311 Hollywood Boulevard).