
David Nelson
Biography
David Oswald Nelson (October 24, 1936 – January 11, 2011) was an American actor. He was the elder son of entertainment couple Harriet Hilliard Nelson and Ozzie Nelson and the older brother of musician Ricky Nelson.
Nelson's acting career started in 1949 when he and his brother began playing themselves on his parents' radio series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, which lasted until 1954. His film debut came in Here Come the Nelsons, released in 1952.
Also in 1952 Nelson continued playing himself on the television version of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, which ran until 1966.Starting in the early 1960s, he directed about a dozen episodes of the show.
From the 1970s through 1990 Nelson had roles in Smash-Up on Interstate 5, Up In Smoke, The Love Boat, High School U.S.A., and A Family for Joe. Nelson's last film appearance was in John Waters' 1990 film Cry-Baby.
Nelson died on January 11, 2011, in Century City, California, of complications of colon cancer.
Gallery




Known For
Acting History
1999
Television: The First Fifty Years as Self (archive footage)
1995The Courtyard as Cop
1990Cry-Baby as Wanda's Father
1987Off the Mark as Current Resident
1983High School U.S.A. as Mr. Krinsky, Janitor
1979In Search of Historic Jesus as Leper
1978Up in Smoke as Roxy Doorman
1977The Love Boat as Gary Gage
1976Smash-Up on Interstate 5 as Berman
1974Sonic Boom as Co-Pilot
1970Swing Out, Sweet Land as Union Soldier
1968The Movie Orgy as Self (archive footage)
1967Hondo
1965Love and Kisses as Cameo Appearance
1964The Hollywood Palace as Self - Trapeze Artist
1961The Big Show as Eric Solden
1959-30- as Earl Collins
1959The Big Circus as Tommy Gordon
1959Disneyland '59 as Self
1959Day of the Outlaw as Gene, Bruhn's Gang
1959The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker as Henry Pennypacker
1957Peyton Place as Ted Carter
1956The Steve Allen Show as Self - Recipient
1952The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet as David
1952Here Come the Nelsons as David Nelson
—An LA Christmas Story as Comedy Club Patron








