Ricky Nelson


Actor, Singer

About

Also Known As
Eric Hilliard Nelson, Rick Nelson
Birth Place
Teaneck, New Jersey, USA
Born
May 08, 1940
Died
December 31, 1985
Cause of Death
Plane Crash

Biography

Ricky Nelson grew up in the public spotlight and is widely considered to be the first teen idol. He began his career at the age of nine performing along with his older brother and his parents on the radio sitcom "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet," which was spun-off to television in 1952 where it ran for 14 seasons. 1952 also marked the year of his film debut with "Here Come the Nelsons...

Photos & Videos

Family & Companions

Kristin Harmon
Wife
Former actor. Divorced.

Biography

Ricky Nelson grew up in the public spotlight and is widely considered to be the first teen idol. He began his career at the age of nine performing along with his older brother and his parents on the radio sitcom "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet," which was spun-off to television in 1952 where it ran for 14 seasons. 1952 also marked the year of his film debut with "Here Come the Nelsons." He had a second movie role, without his family this time, in the 1953 musical romantic-drama "The Story of Three Loves," which starred Kirk Douglas. By 1957, he was already a major star when he embarked on a hugely successful singing career. He had the first number-one song on the newly created Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1958, and from then until 1973, had 53 songs place on the chart. His starring role, alongside John Wayne and Dean Martin, in the 1959 western "Rio Bravo" earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Male Newcomer. He went on from there to star in the comedies "Love and Kisses" in 1965, and "The Wackiest Ship in the Army" in 1960, but mainly focused on television and his music career. He later could be seen on TV series like "McCloud" in 1972 and "The Love Boat" in 1978, as well as in TV movies like 1974's "Three on a Date" and "High School U.S.A.," where he made his final acting performance as the school principal in 1984.

Life Events

Photo Collections

Rio Bravo - Movie Poster
Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for Rio Bravo (1959), directed by Howard Hawks. One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

Videos

Movie Clip

Rio Bravo (1959) -- (Movie Clip) Opening, Spitoon Modest credit sequence followed by grisly scene with lush deputy Dude (Dean Martin) being taunted by evil Joe (Claude Akins), until Sheriff Chance (John Wayne) intervenes, in Howard Hawks' Rio Bravo, 1959.
Rio Bravo (1959) -- (Movie Clip) My Rifle, My Pony and Me One expects the specialty number ("My Rifle, My Pony and Me," Dimitri Tiomkin and Paul Francis Webster) for Dude (Dean Martin) and Colorado (Ricky Nelson), but maybe not the encore with Stumpy (Walter Brennan) in Howard Hawks' Rio Bravo, 1959.
Rio Bravo (1959) -- (Movie Clip) He'd Better Be Introductions including a strong one for Colorado (Ricky Nelson) as Wheeler (Ward Bond) and his men are greeted by Chance (John Wayne) and crew in Howard Hawks' laconic Rio Bravo, 1959.
Rio Bravo (1959)-- (Movie Clip) I Found Some Were Faster Than Me Colorado (Ricky Nelson, comfortable with cigarettes and six-guns) helps Chance (John Wayne) out of a jam with an assist from Feathers (Angie Dickinson) in Howard Hawks' Rio Bravo, 1959.
Wackiest Ship In The Army, The -- (Movie Clip) First Command Joining the opening narration, introducing Jack Lemmon (as Lt. Crandall) and later Ricky Nelson (as Ens. Hanson), from the service comedy The Wackiest Ship In The Army, 1960.
Wackiest Ship In The Army, The -- (Movie Clip) New Orleans American military club in Australia, 1943, Lt. Crandall (Jack Lemmon) killing time before he can turn down his assignment, his eager aide Ens. Hanson (Ricky Nelson), with a tune by Eddie DeLange and Louis Alter, in The Wackiest Ship In The Army, 1960.

Family

Ozzie Nelson
Father
Actor, bandleader, producer, writer.
Harriet Nelson
Mother
David Nelson
Brother
Older.
Tracy Nelson
Daughter
Actor. Born on October 25, 1963.
Matthew Nelson
Son
Singer, musician. Twin of Gunnar; born on September 20, 1967.
Gunnar Nelson
Son
Singer, musician. Twin of Matthew; born on September 20, 1967.
Sam Nelson
Son
Born in 1974; subject of custody dispute between his mother and her brother, actor Mark Harmon, after Nelson's death.

Companions

Kristin Harmon
Wife
Former actor. Divorced.

Bibliography