Ed Nelson


About

Also Known As
Ed Nelson Jr.
Born
December 21, 1928
Died
August 09, 2014

Biography

Like many character actors of his generation, Ed Nelson got his start working with the legendary B-movie director and producer Roger Corman, with small roles in deathless drive-in favorites such as the horror flick "Attack of the Crab Monsters," the sci-fi creature feature "Invasion of the Saucer Men," and the jukebox musical "Rock All Night." Soon, Nelson was elevated to co-starring rol...

Biography

Like many character actors of his generation, Ed Nelson got his start working with the legendary B-movie director and producer Roger Corman, with small roles in deathless drive-in favorites such as the horror flick "Attack of the Crab Monsters," the sci-fi creature feature "Invasion of the Saucer Men," and the jukebox musical "Rock All Night." Soon, Nelson was elevated to co-starring roles in Corman's low-budget film factory--one of his highest-profile movies from this era, the creepy "Night of the Blood Beast," got the "Mystery Science Theater 3000" treatment decades later, and another, the campy art-world satire "A Bucket of Blood," is widely considered among the best of all of Corman's movies. As the '50s went on, Nelson began working regularly in television, often appearing in multiple guest-star roles over the course of a show's run. In '64, Nelson began the role he was to become best known for, as the kindly doctor Michael Rossi on the first successful nighttime soap opera, "Peyton Place"; he was one of the few actors who remained with the series for the length of its five-year run. When the series ended in '69, Nelson moved effortlessly back into his niche as a character actor specializing in authority-figure parts, including many made-for-TV movies. One of his few major film roles came in '77, as the villain in the family drama "For the Love of Benji." Nelson continued appearing in film and television well into the 21st century.

Filmography

 

Cast (Feature Film)

Runaway Jury (2003)
There's Something About Mary (1998)
Who Am I? (1998)
General Sharman
Cries of Silence (1996)
The Boneyard (1991)
Brenda Starr (1989)
Deadly Weapon (1988)
Sworn to Silence (1987)
Victor Handler
Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986)
Peyton Place: The Next Generation (1985)
Help Wanted: Male (1982)
Born to Be Sold (1981)
Carl Strickland
The Return of Frank Cannon (1980)
Mike Danvers
Anatomy of a Seduction (1979)
Doctors' Private Lives (1978)
Dr Mike Wise
Acapulco Gold (1978)
Crash of Flight 401 (1978)
Leave Yesterday Behind (1978)
Superdome (1978)
For the Love of Benji (1977)
Chandler Dietrich
Murder in Peyton Place (1977)
Dr Michael Rossi*
Midway (1976)
Airport '75 (1975)
That's the Way of the World (1975)
The Missing Are Deadly (1975)
Houston, We've Got a Problem (1974)
Gene Kranz
Linda (1973)
Runaway! (1973)
Nick Staffo
Tenafly (1973)
Ted Harris
The Screaming Woman (1972)
Banacek: Detour to Nowhere (1972)
A Little Game (1971)
Paul Hamilton
The Man From Galveston (1963)
Cole Marteen
Soldier in the Rain (1963)
MP Sergeant Priest
The Devil's Partner (1961)
Nick Richards/Pete Jenson
Valley of the Redwoods (1960)
Dino Michaelis
Code of Silence (1960)
Paul Lane
Elmer Gantry (1960)
Young man on telephone
The Young Captives (1959)
Norm Britt
A Bucket of Blood (1959)
Art Lacroix
Night of the Blood Beast (1958)
Dave Randall
Teenage Cave Man (1958)
Clan member
Hot Car Girl (1958)
Policeman
The Cry Baby Killer (1958)
Rick
Carnival Rock (1957)
Cannon
Rock All Night (1957)
Pete
Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957)
Ensign Quinlan
Teenage Doll (1957)
Dutch
Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957)
Boy

Music (Feature Film)

Down Memory Lane (1949)
Composer

Cast (Special)

Clinic on 18th Street (1974)
Abe Strayhorn; The District Attorney

Cast (TV Mini-Series)

Girl, Goldwatch And Everything (1980)

Life Events

Bibliography