David Nelson (actor)

David Oswald Nelson (October 24, 1936 – January 11, 2011) was an American actor, director, and producer.

David Nelson
David Nelson in c. 1964
Born
David Oswald Nelson

(1936-10-24)October 24, 1936
New York City, US
DiedJanuary 11, 2011(2011-01-11) (aged 74)
Century City, California, U.S.
Resting placeWestwood Memorial Park
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Southern California
OccupationActor, director, producer
Years active1948–1990
Spouse(s)
​
(
m. 1961; div. 1975)

Yvonne O'Connor Huston
​
(
m. 1975)
Children5
Parent(s)Ozzie Nelson
Harriet Nelson
RelativesRicky Nelson (brother)
Kristin Nelson
(sister-in-law)
Tracy Nelson (niece)
Matthew Nelson (nephew)
Gunnar Nelson (nephew)

Early life

David Oswald Nelson was born October 24, 1936 in New York City. Nelson was the elder son of entertainment couple Harriet Hilliard Nelson (born Peggy Lou Snyder; July 18, 1909 – October 2, 1994) and Ozzie Nelson (March 20, 1906 – June 3, 1975). He was the older brother of singer Eric Hilliard "Ricky" Nelson (May 8, 1940 – December 31, 1985). In late 1941, Nelson moved with his parents from Tenafly, New Jersey to Los Angeles, California.[1] Infant brother Ricky stayed behind with his paternal grandmother until 1942 when the family was settled.

Career
The Nelson family, c. 1952

Along with his brother and their parents, Nelson appeared on the long-running sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet in the 1950s and 1960s. Late in the run of the series, Nelson directed several episodes. After the series' end, he continued acting, directing and producing. His most memorable 'break-out' performance was in the 1959 thriller The Big Circus, wherein Nelson played a disturbed, apparently homicidal 'troubled youth', while his last film appearance was in the campier Cry-Baby (1990). For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Nelson was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1501 Vine Street, on May 9, 1996.[2]

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.[3]

Personal life

Nelson had two sons—Daniel Blair and James Eric—from his first marriage with June Blair, which ended in divorce, and adopted two sons and a daughter—John, Eric, and Teri—during his second marriage, to Yvonne Huston.[1]


Death

Nelson died on January 11, 2011, in Century City, California, from complications of colon cancer.[4]

Nelson was cremated and chose not to be interred in the Nelson family plot in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, California, instead choosing a niche in Westwood Memorial Park's outdoor Garden of Serenity columbarium.

Filmography

Awards
Year Award Category Work Result
1996 Hollywood Walk of Fame Television
(star at 1501 Vine Street)		 The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Honored
2006 TV Land Awards Favorite Singing Siblings
(shared with Ricky Nelson)		 The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Nominated
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References
  1. Weber, Bruce. "David Nelson, Son in Ozzie and Harriet, Dies at 74", The New York Times, January 12, 2011. Accessed May 11, 2017. "David Oswald Nelson was born in Manhattan on Oct. 24, 1936. The family lived for a time in Tenafly, N.J., but moved to California when David was about 5."
  2. "Welcome – Hollywood Chamber of Commerce". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
  3. "UCF IFC Rush, Kappa Sigma, Kappa Sig UCF, Fraternity Rush". Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  4. Dennis, McLellan (January 12, 2001). "David Nelson dies at 74; last surviving member of the TV sitcom family". latimes.com. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
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