David Nelson (actor)

For other people named David Nelson, see David Nelson.

David Nelson
David Nelson in c. 1964
Born
David Oswald Nelson

(1936-10-24)October 24, 1936
New York City, U.S.
DiedJanuary 11, 2011(2011-01-11) (aged 74)
Century City, California, U.S.
Resting placeWestwood Memorial Park
Alma materUniversity of Southern California
OccupationActor
Years active1948–1990
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1961; div. 1975)​
Yvonne O'Connor Huston
​
​
(m. 1975)​
Children5[a]
Parent(s)Ozzie Nelson
Harriet Nelson
RelativesRicky Nelson (brother)
Kristin Nelson
(former sister-in-law)
Tracy Nelson (niece)
Matthew Nelson (nephew)
Gunnar Nelson
(nephew)
Sam Nelson (nephew)
Chuck Woolery (former-son-in-law)

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.[1] His younger brother was singer Ricky Nelson. In late 1941, Nelson moved with his parents from Tenafly, New Jersey, to Los Angeles, California.[2]

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.[3]

Career

Acting

The Nelson family, c. 1952

Nelson's acting career started in 1949 when he and his brother began playing themselves on their parents' radio series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, which lasted until 1954.[4] His film debut came in Here Come the Nelsons, released in 1952.[1]

Also in 1952 Nelson continued playing himself on the television version of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, which ran until 1966.[5] Starting in the early 1960s he directed about a dozen episodes of the show.[1]

During the 1950s and 60s he appeared in Peyton Place, The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker, The Big Circus, Day of the Outlaw, -30-, and The Big Show.[1]

From the 1970s through 1990 Nelson had roles in Smash-Up on Interstate 5, Up In Smoke, The Love Boat, High School U.S.A., and A Family for Joe.[6] Nelson's last film appearance was in the 1990 film Cry-Baby.[1]

Directing and producing

Nelson directed episodes of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, O.K. Crackerby!, Ozzie's Girls and Goodnight, Beantown. He directed several films, including Childish Things, Death Screams and Last Plane Out.[6]

In 1973 he was the producer of Ozzie's Girls, a spinoff/revival of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.[7]

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.[2]

Nelson died on January 11, 2011, in Century City, California, of complications of colon cancer.[8]

Filmography

Awards

Year Award Category Work Result
1996 Hollywood Walk of Fame Television
(star at 1501 Vine Street) 		The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet[9] Honored
2006 TV Land Awards Favorite Singing Siblings
(shared with Ricky Nelson) 		The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b c d e McLellan, Dennis, Ozzie and Harriet’s oldest son, longtime director, The Orlando Sentinel, January 13, 2011, page A4
  2. ^ a b Weber, Bruce. "David Nelson, Son in Ozzie and Harriet, Dies at 74", The New York Times, January 12, 2011. Accessed May 11, 2017. "David Oswald Nelson was born in Manhattan on Oct. 24, 1936. The family lived for a time in Tenafly, N.J., but moved to California when David was about 5."
  3. ^ "UCF IFC Rush, Kappa Sigma, Kappa Sig UCF, Fraternity Rush". Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  4. ^ John Dunning, Tune In Yesterday the Ultimate Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio 1925-1976, page 11, Prentice-Hall, 1976
  5. ^ Brooks, Tim and Marsh, Earle, The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows 1946 – Present, Ballantine Books, 1979, page 12
  6. ^ a b David Nelson, 74, The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, CA), January 13, 2011, page 20
  7. ^ Lloyd, Robert, A team player for the family, The Los Angeles Times, January 14, 2011, page 52
  8. ^ McLellan, Dennis (January 12, 2011). "David Nelson dies at 74; last surviving member of the TV sitcom family". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  9. ^ "Welcome – Hollywood Chamber of Commerce". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2011.

Notes

  1. ^ Two biological and three adopted.
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