Nelson Eddy was an American actor and baritone singer who appeared in 19 musical films during the 1930s and 1940s, as well as in opera and on the concert stage, radio, television, and in nightclubs. He was best known for his eight films with soprano Jeanette MacDonald, who was his secret lover for 30 years. He was one of the first “crossover” stars, appealing to both classical and popular music fans, and was the highest paid singer in the world at his peak. He died on March 6, 1967, at the age of 65, of a stroke while performing on stage at the Sans Souci Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida.
A Life of Music and Romance
Nelson Eddy was born on June 29, 1901, in Providence, Rhode Island. He came from a musical family and developed his talent as a boy soprano in church choirs. He dropped out of school and moved to Philadelphia, where he worked as a reporter, a copywriter, and a clerk, while studying voice and performing in local productions. He made his operatic debut in 1924 and his Broadway debut in 1926. He also sang on radio and in nightclubs, where he was discovered by MGM producer Irving Thalberg, who signed him to a film contract in 1933.
Eddy’s first film was Dancing Lady (1933), where he had a small role as a singer. His first major film was Naughty Marietta (1935), where he co-starred with Jeanette MacDonald, a popular soprano who had already made several films with Maurice Chevalier. Eddy and MacDonald had an instant chemistry on screen and off, and their film was a huge hit. They went on to make seven more films together, including Rose-Marie (1936), Maytime (1937), Girl of the Golden West (1938), and New Moon (1940). Their films were lavish musicals with romantic plots, often set in historical or exotic locations, and featured their duets of operetta and popular songs. They were dubbed “America’s Singing Sweethearts” and became one of the most successful screen teams of all time.
Eddy and MacDonald also fell in love, but their relationship was complicated by their marriages to other people. Eddy married Ann Denitz Franklin, a former dancer, in 1939, and MacDonald married Gene Raymond, an actor, in 1937. Both marriages were unhappy and plagued by rumors of infidelity, alcoholism, and abuse. Eddy and MacDonald continued to see each other secretly, but never divorced their spouses, partly because of their Catholic faith and partly because of their fear of losing their fan base. They remained devoted to each other until MacDonald’s death in 1965, which devastated Eddy. He broke down during an interview when asked about her, and never fully recovered from his grief.
A Legacy of Art and Inspiration
Nelson Eddy’s film career declined in the 1940s, as musical tastes changed and his contract with MGM expired. He continued to perform on stage, radio, television, and nightclubs, and also recorded several albums of classical and popular songs. He received three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one each for film, recording, and radio, and left his footprints at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. He also sang at the third inauguration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941, and was a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild. He introduced millions of young Americans to classical music and inspired many of them to pursue a musical career.
Nelson Eddy died on March 6, 1967, while performing at the Sans Souci Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida. He had suffered a minor stroke a few days earlier, but refused to cancel his show. He collapsed on stage after singing his signature song, “Rose Marie”, and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. He had a cerebral hemorrhage, caused by high blood pressure and a heart condition. He was buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, next to his son, who had died in infancy. His wife and his lover both attended his funeral, along with hundreds of fans and friends.
Nelson Eddy is remembered as one of the greatest singers and actors of his generation, and one of the pioneers of the musical film genre. He is also celebrated as a romantic hero, who shared a passionate and enduring love with Jeanette MacDonald, despite the obstacles and sacrifices they faced. He is regarded as a cultural icon and a source of joy and inspiration for many people.
