David Nelson (actor)


David Oswald Nelson 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

Acting

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. His film debut came in Here Come the Nelsons, released in 1952.
Also in 1952, Nelson continued playing himself on the TV version of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, which ran until 1966. He directed about a dozen episodes of the show starting in the early 1960s.
During the '50s and '60s, Nelson appeared in Peyton Place, The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker, The Big Circus, Day of the Outlaw, -30-, and The Big Show.
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. Nelson's last film appearance was in the 1990 film Cry-Baby.

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

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, Teri, during his second marriage to Yvonne Huston.
Nelson died January 11, 2011, in Century City, California, of complications of colon cancer.

Filmography

Actor

Here Come the Nelsons The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Peyton Place The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker The Big Circus Day of the Outlaw -30- The Big Show Hondo Swing Out, Sweet Land The D.A. Smash-Up on Interstate 5 Up in Smoke The Love Boat An Ozzie and Harriet Christmas High School U.S.A. A Family for Joe

Director

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet O.K. Crackerby! Childish Things Easy to Be Free Ozzie's Girls Death Screams Last Plane Out Goodnight, Beantown
  • ''A Rare Breed''

Producer

Ozzie's Girls Easy to Be Free
  • ''Last Plane Out''