Gene Sheldon was born Eugene Search on February 1st, 1908 in Columbus, Ohio. (Gene eventually changed his last name to "Sheldon", a name he chose from a street sign.) Known to millions as the deaf-mute Bernardo of the Zorro tv series starring Guy Williams, the versatile actor, pantomimist and musician was the son of Ada and Earl Search . He attended Dana Avenue Grade School and West High School in Columbus. He got his first job working in a shoe factory there and later a music store. Gene became very interested in show business when his father, who had invented a version of sawing a woman in half, presented the act onstage. Gene was about 13 years old at the time, and appeared with his father as the "girl" who was sawed apart. Before long, Gene was fully embarked on a theatrical career. Gene made his first professional bow as a radio performer in Toledo in 1925, and during the next decade, moved on to successes in every entertainment medium. In 1936 Gene began a three-year tour of Europe, appearing in a vaudeville act in Paris, Berlin and other capital cities. He played six months at the Palladium in London, then starred in a smash West End production of It's in the Bag. On Broadway in 1940, he scored with a hit in Priorities, which ran for a year. He starred in subsequent stage shows before making his Broadway debut in Take a Bow. Sheldon debuted in Hollywood as the heavy of Martin and Lewis' comedy, Three Ring Circus. He also acted with Betty Grable and June Haver in The Dolly Sisters and with Mitzi Gaynor in The Golden Girl.