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Ed Nelson
Actor

Ed Nelson

21 Dec 1928Born
9 Aug 2014Died
85Age at death
144Credits

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Edwin Stafford Nelson (December 21, 1928 – August 9, 2014) was an American actor.

Nelson began acting while attending Tulane University in New Orleans. He left college after two years to study at the New York School of Radio and Television Technique. After graduating, he took a position as a director at WDSU-TV in New Orleans. By 1956, acting became his central focus and he moved to the Los Angeles area. Early in his career he worked with famed B-movie producer Roger Corman on such Corman films as Cry Baby Killers, A Bucket of Blood, Teenage Cave Man and Attack of the Crab Monsters.

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In 1958 he participated in Bruno VeSota's science fiction horror film The Brain Eaters.

His early television career featured many guest starring roles in such series as The Fugitive, Gunsmoke, Harbor Command, Tombstone Territory, Tightrope, The Blue Angels (as arrogant flight instructor Lieutenant Dayl Martin), Laramie, COronado 9, The Eleventh Hour, Bonanza, Thriller (US TV series), and Channing, an ABC drama about college life.

In 1964 he won his most famous role portraying Dr. Michael Rossi on the ABC drama Peyton Place, which ran from 1964 to 1969. Nelson's fellow cast members included Mia Farrow, Ryan O'Neal, and Dorothy Malone. Dr. Rossi proved to be so popular that by 1968, he became the lead actor on the show. Nelson reprised his role in two made-for-TV movies, Murder in Peyton Place and Peyton Place: The Next Generation.

After Peyton Place ended, Nelson worked in many more productions of all varieties, including starring role in many movies of the week, a second TV series, "The Silent Force," and a popular morning talk show which he hosted for three years.

Soon after, Nelson struck gold with his critically acclaimed portrayal of elusive pit crew chief Robert Denby in the hit film Riding with Death (1976), earning him several prestigious accolades and legions of devoted fans.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 144 credits.

  1. 2003Runaway JuryFilm: George Dressler
  2. 1998Who Am I?Film: General Sharman
  3. 1996Cries of SilenceFilm: Dr. August Claiborne
  4. 1991The BoneyardFilm: Jersey Callum
  5. 1989Deadly WeaponFilm: General Stone
  6. 1987Jake and the FatmanSeries: D.A. Marcus Packard (3 episodes)
  7. 1987J.J. StarbuckSeries (1 episode)
  8. 1987Sworn to SilenceFilm: Victor Handler
  9. 1986Police Academy 3: Back in TrainingFilm: Governor Neilson
  10. 1985MacGyverSeries: Arthur Bandel (1 episode)
  11. 1985Peyton Place: The Next GenerationFilm: Dr. Michael Rossi
  12. 1984Murder, She WroteSeries: Raymond 'Ray' Bascomb, Judge Willard Clinton, Henry Post, Mayor Albert Simpson, Carl Turnball (1 episode)
  13. 1984Finder of Lost LovesSeries: Bill Garnett (1 episode)
  14. 1982Matt HoustonSeries (1 episode)
  15. 1982HotelSeries (1 episode)
  16. 1982CapitolSeries (260 episodes)
  17. 1982Cagney & LaceySeries: Sgt. Steingrove (1 episode)
  18. 1982Help Wanted: MaleFilm: George Dobbs
  19. 1981Born to Be SoldFilm: Carl Strickland
  20. 1980Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic BombFilm: President Harry S. Truman
  21. 1980The Return of Frank CannonFilm: Mike Danvers
  22. 1980The Girl, the Gold Watch & EverythingFilm: Joseph Locordolos
  23. 1980HagenSeries (1 episode)
  24. 1979Trapper John, M.D.Series (1 episode)
  25. 1979Anatomy of a SeductionFilm: Mark Kane
  26. 1979Doctors' Private LivesSeries (4 episodes)
  27. 1978The Crash of Flight 401Film: Philip Mulwray
  28. 1978Vega$Series (2 episodes)
  29. 1978Leave Yesterday BehindFilm: Mr. Clarkson
  30. 1978DallasSeries: Jeb Amos (1 episode)
  31. 1978Doctors' Private LivesFilm: Dr. Mike Wise
  32. 1978SuperdomeFilm: George Beldridge
  33. 1977Murder in Peyton PlaceFilm: Dr. Michael Rossi
  34. 1977Lou GrantSeries (1 episode)
  35. 1977Logan's RunSeries: Dr. Rowan (1 episode)
  36. 1977CHiPsSeries (1 episode)
  37. 1977A Little GameFilm: Paul Hamilton
  38. 1977For the Love of BenjiFilm: Chandler Dietrich
  39. 1976GibbsvilleSeries (1 episode)
  40. 1976Quincy, M.E.Series (2 episodes)
  41. 1976Charlie's AngelsSeries: George Starrett (1 episode)
  42. 1976MidwayFilm: Admiral Harry Pearson
  43. 1976Acapulco GoldFilm: Ray Hollister
  44. 1976The Bionic WomanSeries (1 episode)
  45. 1976Riding with DeathFilm: Robert Denby
  46. 1975That's the Way of the WorldFilm: Carlton James
  47. 1975The Missing Are DeadlyFilm
  48. 1974Airport 1975Film: Major John Alexander
  49. 1974Police WomanSeries (1 episode)
  50. 1974The Rockford FilesSeries: Edgar 'Bud' Clement, Blake Sternlight (1 episode)
  51. 1974Police HeadquartersFilm: Lt. Calvin Zenger
  52. 1974Houston, We've Got a ProblemFilm: Gene Kranz, Flight Director
  53. 1973LindaFilm: Paul Reston
  54. 1973Runaway!Film: Nick Staffo
  55. 1973Barnaby JonesSeries: Larry Kinner (1 episode)
  56. 1973Time to RunFilm: Warren Cole
  57. 1972Kung FuSeries: Sheriff Walter Raha (1 episode)
  58. 1972SearchSeries (1 episode)
  59. 1972The Screaming WomanFilm: Carl Nesbitt
  60. 1972The Sixth SenseSeries (1 episode)
  61. 1972Brink of Disaster!Film: Dr. Harden
  62. 1971CannonSeries (1 episode)
  63. 1971Alias Smith and JonesSeries (1 episode)
  64. 1970Night GallerySeries: Tom Burke (segment “Little Girl Lost”) (1 episode)
  65. 1970The Silent ForceSeries (15 episodes)
  66. 1970Along Came a SpiderFilm: Dr. Martin Becker
  67. 1969Medical CenterSeries: Hank (3 episodes)
  68. 1968The Mod SquadSeries (1 episode)
  69. 1968Adam-12Series: Abe Strayhorn (1 episode)
  70. 1967IronsideSeries (1 episode)
  71. 1966Mission: ImpossibleSeries: Van Cleve (1 episode)
  72. 1965The F.B.I.Series: Walter Swenson, Hamilton (1 episode)
  73. 1964Peyton PlaceSeries: Michael Rossi (514 episodes)
  74. 1963The Man from GalvestonFilm: Cole Marteen
  75. 1963Soldier in the RainFilm: James Priest
  76. 1963RedigoSeries (1 episode)
  77. 1963ChanningSeries: Deke Allison (2 episodes)
  78. 1963The FugitiveSeries: Paul Clements, Steve Edson (1 episode)
  79. 1963The Outer LimitsSeries: Col. Luke Stone (1 episode)
  80. 1963Arrest and TrialSeries (1 episode)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.