Anecdotes

When the Ford Motor Co. introduced the 1955 Thunderbird, Lori was one of the first Hollywood actresses to get one. It came in white, but she had it custom-painted canary yellow.

An expert pistol shot.

As a child, toured veterans hospitals as an entertainer.

In the early 1950s, 19-year-old Debbie Reynolds was 20-year-old Tab Hunter's first date; both she and 19-year-old Lori were constantly linked with Hunter as his romantic--and dating--companion by the movie colony's fan magazine reporters, with photographs of either actress with him during their studio film appearances as a couple. When Reynolds became engaged to crooner Eddie Fisher, Lori became his primary studio dating partner. Upon the success of La Fureur de vivre (1955), Natalie Wood was matched with Hunter by Warner Bros. casting and publicity department as the new generation Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. Wood engaged Hunter's agent Henry Willson as her agent just so she could meet another of Willson's clients--Robert Wagner.

At the age 5, won the title of "Little Miss America" in a nationwide contest sponsored by the Screen Children's Guild.

In 1956, named "National Poppy Girl" by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Great grandniece of General John J. Pershing.

Universal Pictures had considered the names "Dixie Walker" and "Dixie Nelson" for Lori--whose real name is Dixie Kay Nelson--before settling on"Lori Nelson".

1955 Deb Star.

Claimed to prefer popcorn and peanut butter to champagne and caviar.

Collected toy animals.

Upon her death, she was cremated and her ashes returned to her family.

Interviewed in Tom Weaver's book "They Fought in the Creature Features" (McFarland & Co., 1995).