David Nelson (actor)
David Nelson | |
---|---|
Born | David Oswald Nelson October 24, 1936 New York City, U.S. |
Died | January 11, 2011 Century City, California, U.S. | (aged 74)
Resting place | Westwood Memorial Park |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | University of Southern California |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1948–1990 |
Spouses | Yvonne O'Connor Huston
(m. 1975) |
Children | 5 |
Parent(s) | Ozzie Nelson Harriet Nelson |
Relatives | Ricky Nelson (brother) Kristin Nelson (sister-in-law) Tracy Nelson (niece) Matthew Nelson (nephew) Gunnar Nelson (nephew) Sam Nelson (nephew) |
David Oswald Nelson (October 24, 1936 – January 11, 2011) was an American actor. He was the older brother of musician Ricky Nelson.
Early life
Nelson was born October 24, 1936, in New York City, the elder son of entertainment couple Harriet Hilliard Nelson and Ozzie Nelson. His younger brother was singer Ricky Nelson. In late 1941, Nelson moved with his parents from Tenafly, New Jersey, to Los Angeles, California.
He attended Hollywood High School, balancing his studies, playing on the football team and his TV work. He later attended the University of Southern California and was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity.
Career
Along with his brother and their parents, Nelson appeared on the long-running sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet in the 1950s and 1960s. Late in the run of the series, David directed several episodes. After the series' end, he continued acting, directing and producing. His most memorable break-out role was in the 1959 thriller The Big Circus, wherein he played a troubled youth. Nelson's last film appearance was in the 1990 film Cry-Baby. For his contributions to the motion picture industry, Nelson was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1501 Vine Street on May 9, 1996.
Personal life and death
Nelson had two sons—Daniel Blair and James Eric from his first marriage with June Blair, which ended in divorce. He later adopted two sons and a daughter—John, Eric, and Teri—during his second marriage to Yvonne Huston.
Nelson died on January 11, 2011, in Century City, California, of complications of colon cancer.
Filmography
Actor
|
Director
Producer
|
Awards
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1996 | Hollywood Walk of Fame | Television (star at 1501 Vine Street) |
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet | Honored |
2006 | TV Land Awards | Favorite Singing Siblings (shared with Ricky Nelson) |
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet | Nominated |
- 1936 births
- 2011 deaths
- American male television actors
- American male film actors
- American male child actors
- 20th-century American male actors
- Male actors from New York (state)
- American television directors
- Film directors from New Jersey
- Film producers from New Jersey
- University of Southern California alumni
- Actors from Tenafly, New Jersey
- American people of Swedish descent
- Deaths from cancer in California
- Deaths from colorectal cancer
- Burials at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
- Television producers from New Jersey
- American male comedy actors