Ed Nelson
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.
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Known For
Runaway Jury
George Dressler
2003
Who Am I?
General Sharman
1998
Cries of Silence
Dr. August Claiborne
1996
The Boneyard
Jersey Callum
1991
Deadly Weapon
General Stone
1989
Jake and the Fatman
D.A. Marcus Packard · (3 episodes)
1987
J.J. Starbuck
(1 episode)
1987
Sworn to Silence
Victor Handler
1987
Police Academy 3: Back in Training
Governor Neilson
1986
MacGyver
Arthur Bandel · (1 episode)
1985
Peyton Place: The Next Generation
Dr. Michael Rossi
1985
Murder, She Wrote
Raymond 'Ray' Bascomb · (1 episode)
1984
Murder, She Wrote
Judge Willard Clinton · (1 episode)
1984
Murder, She Wrote
Henry Post · (1 episode)
1984
Murder, She Wrote
Mayor Albert Simpson · (1 episode)
1984
Murder, She Wrote
Carl Turnball · (1 episode)
1984
Finder of Lost Loves
Bill Garnett · (1 episode)
1984
Matt Houston
(1 episode)
1982
Hotel
(1 episode)
1982
Capitol
(260 episodes)
1982
Cagney & Lacey
Sgt. Steingrove · (1 episode)
1982
Help Wanted: Male
George Dobbs
1982
Born to Be Sold
Carl Strickland
1981
Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb
President Harry S. Truman
1980
The Return of Frank Cannon
Mike Danvers
1980
The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything
Joseph Locordolos
1980
Hagen
(1 episode)
1980
Trapper John, M.D.
(1 episode)
1979
Anatomy of a Seduction
Mark Kane
1979
Doctors' Private Lives
(4 episodes)
1979
The Crash of Flight 401
Philip Mulwray
1978
Vega$
(2 episodes)
1978
Leave Yesterday Behind
Mr. Clarkson
1978
Dallas
Jeb Amos · (1 episode)
1978
Doctors' Private Lives
Dr. Mike Wise
1978
Superdome
George Beldridge
1978
Murder in Peyton Place
Dr. Michael Rossi
1977
Lou Grant
(1 episode)
1977
Logan's Run
(1 episode)
1977
CHiPs
(1 episode)
1977
For the Love of Benji
Chandler Dietrich
1977
Gibbsville
(1 episode)
1976
Quincy, M.E.
(2 episodes)
1976
Charlie's Angels
George Starrett · (1 episode)
1976
Midway
Admiral Harry Pearson
1976
Acapulco Gold
Ray Hollister
1976
The Bionic Woman
(1 episode)
1976
Riding with Death
Robert Denby
1976
That's the Way of the World
Carlton James
1975
The Missing Are Deadly
1975
Airport 1975
Major John Alexander
1974
Police Woman
(1 episode)
1974
The Rockford Files
Edgar 'Bud' Clement · (1 episode)
1974
The Rockford Files
Blake Sternlight · (1 episode)
1974
Police Headquarters
Lt. Calvin Zenger
1974
Houston, We've Got a Problem
Gene Kranz, Flight Director
1974
Linda
Paul Reston
1973
Runaway!
Nick Staffo
1973
Barnaby Jones
Larry Kinner · (1 episode)
1973
Time to Run
Warren Cole
1973
Kung Fu
Sheriff Walter Raha · (1 episode)
1972
The Streets of San Francisco
(1 episode)
1972
Search
(1 episode)
1972
The Screaming Woman
Carl Nesbitt
1972
The Sixth Sense
(1 episode)
1972
Brink of Disaster!
Dr. Harden
1972
A Little Game
Paul Hamilton
1971
Cannon
(1 episode)
1971
Alias Smith and Jones
(1 episode)
1971
Night Gallery
Tom Burke (segment “Little Girl Lost”) · (1 episode)
1970
The Silent Force
(15 episodes)
1970
Along Came a Spider
Dr. Martin Becker
1970
Medical Center
Hank · (3 episodes)
1969
The Mod Squad
(1 episode)
1968
Adam-12
Abe Strayhorn · (1 episode)
1968
Ironside
(1 episode)
1967
Mission: Impossible
(1 episode)
1966
The F.B.I.
Walter Swenson · (1 episode)
1965
The F.B.I.
Hamilton · (1 episode)
1965
Peyton Place
Michael Rossi · (517 episodes)
1964
The Man from Galveston
Cole Marteen
1963
Soldier in the Rain
James Priest
1963
Redigo
(1 episode)
1963
Channing
Deke Allison · (2 episodes)
1963
The Fugitive
Paul Clements · (1 episode)
1963
The Fugitive
Steve Edson · (1 episode)
1963
The Outer Limits
Col. Luke Stone · (1 episode)
1963
Arrest and Trial
(1 episode)
1963
The Dakotas
(1 episode)
1963
The Gallant Men
(1 episode)
1962
Stoney Burke
(1 episode)
1962
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Tom Keller · (1 episode)
1962
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Alex Trevor · (1 episode)
1962
The Virginian
Ralph Slocum · (1 episode)
1962
Saints and Sinners
Ray · (1 episode)
1962
Sam Benedict
(1 episode)
1962
Judgment at Nuremberg
Captain at Nightclub Announcing Call-up of Officers (uncredited)
1961
The New Breed
Jefty Bright · (1 episode)
1961
The New Breed
Roger Sykes · (1 episode)
1961
Dr. Kildare
Dr. Keith Judge · (1 episode)
1961
87th Precinct
(1 episode)
1961
Devil's Partner
Nick Richards / Pete Jensen
1961
Cain's Hundred
Peter Stull · (1 episode)
1961
The Fatal Impulse
Brundage
1960
Surfside 6
(1 episode)
1960
Checkmate
Gil Stoneham · (1 episode)
1960
Checkmate
Chuck Palmer · (1 episode)
1960
The Aquanauts
Chris Garland · (1 episode)
1960
Thriller
Brundage · (2 episodes)
1960
Thriller
Charlie · (1 episode)
1960
Thriller
Tom Ellison / Daniel Le Jean · (1 episode)
1960
The Tall Man
(1 episode)
1960
Coronado 9
(1 episode)
1960
Code of Silence
1960
Valley of the Redwoods
Dino Michaelis
1960
A Bucket of Blood
Art Lacroix
1959
T-Bird Gang
Alex Hendricks
1959
The Detectives
(3 episodes)
1959
The Rebel
Chad · (1 episode)
1959
The Rebel
Doug · (1 episode)
1959
The Rebel
The Stalker · (1 episode)
1959
The Rebel
Clint Mowbree · (1 episode)
1959
Johnny Ringo
Kirk · (1 episode)
1959
The Twilight Zone
Philip Redfield · (1 episode)
1959
Johnny Ringo
Tomstedter · (1 episode)
1959
Laramie
Sable · (1 episode)
1959
Riverboat
Jim Tyler · (1 episode)
1959
Tightrope
(1 episode)
1959
The Young Captives
Norm Britt
1959
I, Mobster
Sid - Henchman (uncredited)
1959
Black Saddle
Lee Coogan · (1 episode)
1959
Black Saddle
Roy Corey · (1 episode)
1959
Rawhide
Lt. Cory Clemens · (1 episode)
1959
Rawhide
Sam Weber · (1 episode)
1959
Rawhide
Chuck Whittaker · (1 episode)
1959
77 Sunset Strip
(1 episode)
1958
Bat Masterson
Jedrow · (1 episode)
1958
Bat Masterson
Browder · (1 episode)
1958
The Rifleman
(3 episodes)
1958
The Brain Eaters
Dr. Paul Kettering
1958
The Cry Baby Killer
Rick Connor
1958
Night of the Blood Beast
Dave Randall
1958
She Gods of Shark Reef
Guard (uncredited)
1958
Teenage Cave Man
Blonde Tribe Member
1958
Tombstone Territory
Cowboy · (1 episode)
1957
Harbor Command
(1 episode)
1957
Maverick
(2 episodes)
1957
Maverick
2nd Classmate (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1957
Perry Mason
Ward Nichols · (1 episode)
1957
Perry Mason
Dirk Blake · (1 episode)
1957
M Squad
Lenny Maston · (1 episode)
1957
Teenage Doll
Police Officer 'Dutch' / Blind Man
1957
Have Gun, Will Travel
(5 episodes)
1957
Carnival Rock
Cannon
1957
Invasion of the Saucer-Men
Tom
1957
Bayou
Etienne (as Edwin Nelson)
1957
Rock All Night
Pete
1957
Attack of the Crab Monsters
Ensign Quinlan
1957
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Nelson · (1 episode)
1956
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Jack Bowen · (1 episode)
1956
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Albie · (1 episode)
1956
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Tantasi · (1 episode)
1956
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Vince Harwell · (1 episode)
1956
Swamp Women
Police Sergeant
1956
Highway Patrol
(1 episode)
1955
Gunsmoke
Lee Prentice · (1 episode)
1955
Gunsmoke
Rusk · (1 episode)
1955
Gunsmoke
Perce · (1 episode)
1955
Gunsmoke
Seth · (1 episode)
1955
Gunsmoke
Burt Cury · (1 episode)
1955
Gunsmoke
Tom · (1 episode)
1955
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
(1 episode)
1955
New Orleans Uncensored
Charlie
1955