Nelson Eddy's professional trajectory was inextricably linked to his passion for singing, a pursuit that was deeply ingrained in his family's cultural heritage. His parents, Isabel Kendrick and William Darius Eddy, were both singers, while his grandparents were musicians. Due to financial constraints, Eddy was unable to secure a formal singing teacher, instead opting to learn by imitating opera recordings. This self-taught approach served him well, and by the age of 14, he was already working as a telephone operator in a Philadelphia iron foundry, where he simultaneously honed his skills by selling newspaper advertising and performing in amateur musicals.
Eddy's big break came when Dr. Edouard Lippe, a renowned coach, took him under his wing and provided him with the financial support necessary to study in Dresden and Paris. In 1928, he made his concert recital debut in Philadelphia, a performance that marked the beginning of his professional singing career.
In 1933, Eddy's talent caught the attention of an assistant to MGM studio chief Louis B. Mayer, who subsequently signed him to a seven-year contract. Following MGM's acting lessons and initial trials, Eddy's breakthrough role came as the Yankee scout to Jeanette MacDonald's French princess in Naughty Marietta (1935),a resounding box-office success made on a modest budget.
Eddy and MacDonald were paired twice more in Rose-Marie (1936) and Maytime (1937),with the latter film being particularly notable due to the absence of metropolitan Opera star Grace Moore. The duo's on-screen chemistry was undeniable, and they went on to become an institution in Hollywood. Their final collaboration was in 1942.
Despite receiving predominantly negative reviews for his acting, Eddy maintained a significant radio following, with his theme song being "Short'nin Bread". In 1959, he and MacDonald released a recording of their movie hits, which proved to be a commercial success. Eddy also enjoyed a successful nightclub routine with Gale Sherwood, which ran until his death in 1967. He was married to Anne Denitz and did not have any children.
