9
Born · December 21, 1928
Died · August 9, 2014 (85 years old)
Known For: Acting
Place of Birth: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Edwin Stafford Nelson (born December 21, 1928) is an American actor. Nelson has appeared in numerous television shows, more than fifty motion pictures, and hundreds of stage productions. Until 2005, he was teaching acting and screenwriting in his native New Orleans at two local universities there. Hurricane Katrina prompted him to move his family to Sterlington near Monroe in Ouachita Parish in northeastern Louisiana. 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. 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. He portrayed a dangerous impostor in the adventure movie For the Love of Benji (1977). During the 1980s, Nelson took on the role of Senator Mark Denning in the daytime soap Capitol. Nelson also spent a couple of years as Harry Truman onstage replacing James Whitmore for the National Tour of "Give 'Em Hell, Harry." While living in Los Angeles, Nelson was an active member of the Screen Actors Guild and was elected to the union board for many years. Nelson is a long-standing member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and continues a long tradition of participation in voting for the Academy Awards. In 1999, Nelson returned to Tulane University to finish credits toward his undergraduate degree, which he completed the following year at the age of seventy-one. Nelson continues to act as the opportunity arises. He and his wife of fifty-eight years, Patsy, enjoy semi-retirement visiting his six children and fourteen grandchildren. Description above from the Wikipedia article Ed Nelson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
George Dressler
6.9
2003
General Sharman
7.1
1998
Dr. August Claiborne
7.5
1996
Jersey Callum
5.8
1991
General Stone
4.2
1989
D.A. Marcus Packard · (3 episodes)
5.9
1987
(1 episode)
5.0
1987
Victor Handler
6.0
1987
Governor Neilson
5.8
1986
Arthur Bandel · (1 episode)
7.7
1985
Dr. Michael Rossi
0.0
1985
Raymond 'Ray' Bascomb · (1 episode)
7.5
1984
Judge Willard Clinton · (1 episode)
7.5
1984
Henry Post · (1 episode)
7.5
1984
Mayor Albert Simpson · (1 episode)
7.5
1984
Carl Turnball · (1 episode)
7.5
1984
Bill Garnett · (1 episode)
5.7
1984
(1 episode)
6.2
1982
(1 episode)
6.8
1982
(260 episodes)
5.7
1982
Sgt. Steingrove · (1 episode)
6.9
1982
George Dobbs
5.0
1982
Carl Strickland
5.2
1981
President Harry S. Truman
5.5
1980
Mike Danvers
6.2
1980
Joseph Locordolos
5.2
1980
(1 episode)
5.0
1980
(1 episode)
6.3
1979
Mark Kane
5.5
1979
(4 episodes)
0.0
1979
Philip Mulwray
7.5
1978
(2 episodes)
7.0
1978
Mr. Clarkson
6.2
1978
Jeb Amos · (1 episode)
6.8
1978
Dr. Mike Wise
0.0
1978
George Beldridge
4.2
1978
Dr. Michael Rossi
5.0
1977
(1 episode)
7.2
1977
(1 episode)
6.5
1977
(1 episode)
6.8
1977
Chandler Dietrich
5.4
1977
(1 episode)
0.0
1976
(2 episodes)
7.5
1976
George Starrett · (1 episode)
6.7
1976
Admiral Harry Pearson
6.6
1976
Ray Hollister
3.7
1976
(1 episode)
7.0
1976
Robert Denby
2.6
1976
Carlton James
6.3
1975
5.0
1975
Major John Alexander
5.7
1974
(1 episode)
6.2
1974
Edgar 'Bud' Clement · (1 episode)
7.5
1974
Blake Sternlight · (1 episode)
7.5
1974
Lt. Calvin Zenger
0.0
1974
Gene Kranz, Flight Director
6.0
1974
Paul Reston
6.0
1973
Nick Staffo
5.3
1973
Larry Kinner · (1 episode)
6.9
1973
Warren Cole
4.3
1973
(1 episode)
7.6
1972
(1 episode)
7.0
1972
(1 episode)
6.9
1972
Geoff Holden · (1 episode)
8.6
1972
Carl Nesbitt
6.6
1972
(1 episode)
6.3
1972
6.0
1972
Paul Hamilton
6.7
1971
(1 episode)
6.5
1971
(1 episode)
6.9
1971
Tom Burke (segment “Little Girl Lost”) · (1 episode)
7.8
1970
(15 episodes)
5.0
1970
Dr. Martin Becker
4.3
1970
Hank · (3 episodes)
6.1
1969
(1 episode)
6.5
1968
Abe Strayhorn · (1 episode)
7.1
1968
(1 episode)
6.9
1967
(1 episode)
7.6
1966
Walter Swenson · (1 episode)
5.4
1965
Hamilton · (1 episode)
5.4
1965
Michael Rossi · (517 episodes)
6.6
1964
Cole Marteen
5.2
1963
James Priest
6.3
1963
(1 episode)
5.0
1963
Deke Allison · (2 episodes)
7.0
1963
Paul Clements · (1 episode)
7.2
1963
Steve Edson · (1 episode)
7.2
1963
Col. Luke Stone · (1 episode)
7.8
1963
(1 episode)
7.0
1963
(1 episode)
5.7
1963
(1 episode)
6.0
1962
(1 episode)
5.7
1962
Tom Keller · (1 episode)
7.8
1962
Alex Trevor · (1 episode)
7.8
1962
Ralph Slocum · (1 episode)
6.4
1962
Ray · (1 episode)
6.0
1962
(1 episode)
6.0
1962
Captain at Nightclub Announcing Call-up of Officers (uncredited)
8.0
1961
Jefty Bright · (1 episode)
7.0
1961
Roger Sykes · (1 episode)
7.0
1961
Dr. Keith Judge · (1 episode)
5.4
1961
(1 episode)
7.5
1961
Nick Richards / Pete Jensen
5.1
1961
Peter Stull · (1 episode)
4.7
1961
Brundage
0.0
1960
(1 episode)
5.0
1960
Chuck Palmer · (1 episode)
4.1
1960
Gil Stoneham · (1 episode)
4.1
1960
Chris Garland · (1 episode)
5.5
1960
Brundage · (2 episodes)
6.4
1960
Charlie · (1 episode)
6.4
1960
Tom Ellison / Daniel Le Jean · (1 episode)
6.4
1960
(1 episode)
6.3
1960
(1 episode)
6.0
1960
5.0
1960
Dino Michaelis
5.0
1960
Art Lacroix
6.5
1959
Alex Hendricks
4.8
1959
(3 episodes)
5.6
1959
Chad · (1 episode)
5.3
1959
The Stalker · (1 episode)
5.3
1959
Clint Mowbree · (1 episode)
5.3
1959
Doug · (1 episode)
5.3
1959
Kirk · (1 episode)
5.7
1959
Philip Redfield · (1 episode)
8.4
1959
Tomstedter · (1 episode)
5.7
1959
Sable · (1 episode)
6.4
1959
Jim Tyler · (1 episode)
6.2
1959
(1 episode)
5.5
1959
Norm Britt
5.0
1959
Sid - Henchman (uncredited)
6.5
1959
Lee Coogan · (1 episode)
6.0
1959
Roy Corey · (1 episode)
6.0
1959
Lt. Cory Clemens · (2 episodes)
7.1
1959
Sam Weber · (1 episode)
7.1
1959
Chuck Whittaker · (1 episode)
7.1
1959
(1 episode)
6.7
1958
Jedrow · (1 episode)
6.3
1958
Browder · (1 episode)
6.3
1958
(3 episodes)
7.0
1958
Dr. Paul Kettering
4.8
1958
Rick Connor
5.4
1958
Dave Randall
3.6
1958
Guard (uncredited)
3.2
1958
Blonde Tribe Member
3.9
1958
Cowboy · (1 episode)
6.3
1957
(1 episode)
4.0
1957
(2 episodes)
6.8
1957
2nd Classmate (uncredited) · (1 episode)
6.8
1957
Ward Nichols · (1 episode)
7.7
1957
Dirk Blake · (1 episode)
7.7
1957
Lenny Maston · (1 episode)
5.2
1957
Police Officer 'Dutch' / Blind Man
5.0
1957
(5 episodes)
7.4
1957
Cannon
4.4
1957
Tom
4.8
1957
Etienne (as Edwin Nelson)
2.6
1957
Pete
5.7
1957
Ensign Quinlan
5.1
1957
Nelson · (1 episode)
5.5
1956
Jack Bowen · (1 episode)
5.5
1956
Tantasi · (1 episode)
5.5
1956
Vince Harwell · (1 episode)
5.5
1956
Albie · (1 episode)
5.5
1956
Police Sergeant
3.5
1956
(1 episode)
5.8
1955
Lee Prentice · (1 episode)
6.5
1955
Rusk · (1 episode)
6.5
1955
Perce · (1 episode)
6.5
1955
Seth · (1 episode)
6.5
1955
Burt Cury · (1 episode)
6.5
1955
Tom · (1 episode)
6.5
1955
(1 episode)
6.7
1955
Charlie
4.5
1955