Ed Nelson
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- December 21, 1928
- Died
- August 9, 2014
- Birthplace
- New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Edwin Stafford Nelson (December 21, 1928 – August 9, 2014) was an American actor. 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.
Filmography
Runaway Jury 2003
as George Dressler
Who Am I? 1998
as General Sharman
Cries of Silence 1996
as Dr. August Claiborne
The Boneyard 1991
as Jersey Callum
Deadly Weapon 1989
as General Stone
Sworn to Silence 1987
as Victor Handler
Police Academy 3: Back in Training 1986
as Governor Neilson
Peyton Place: The Next Generation 1985
as Dr. Michael Rossi
Help Wanted: Male 1982
as George Dobbs
Born to Be Sold 1981
as Carl Strickland
Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb 1980
as President Harry S. Truman
The Return of Frank Cannon 1980
as Mike Danvers
The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything 1980
as Joseph Locordolos
Anatomy of a Seduction 1979
as Mark Kane
The Crash of Flight 401 1978
as Philip Mulwray
Leave Yesterday Behind 1978
as Mr. Clarkson
Doctors' Private Lives 1978
as Dr. Mike Wise
Superdome 1978
as George Beldridge
Murder in Peyton Place 1977
as Dr. Michael Rossi
A Little Game 1977
as Paul Hamilton
For the Love of Benji 1977
as Chandler Dietrich
Midway 1976
as Admiral Harry Pearson
Acapulco Gold 1976
as Ray Hollister
Riding with Death 1976
as Robert Denby
That's the Way of the World 1975
as Carlton James
The Missing Are Deadly 1975
Actor
Airport 1975 1974
as Major John Alexander
Police Headquarters 1974
as Lt. Calvin Zenger
Houston, We've Got a Problem 1974
as Gene Kranz, Flight Director
Linda 1973
as Paul Reston
Runaway! 1973
as Nick Staffo
Time to Run 1973
as Warren Cole
The Screaming Woman 1972
as Carl Nesbitt
Brink of Disaster! 1972
as Dr. Harden
Along Came a Spider 1970
as Dr. Martin Becker
The Man from Galveston 1963
as Cole Marteen
Soldier in the Rain 1963
as James Priest
Judgment at Nuremberg 1961
as Captain at Nightclub Announcing Call-up of Officers (uncredited)
Devil's Partner 1961
as Nick Richards / Pete Jensen
The Fatal Impulse 1960
as Brundage
Code of Silence 1960
Actor
Valley of the Redwoods 1960
as Dino Michaelis
A Bucket of Blood 1959
as Art Lacroix
T-Bird Gang 1959
as Alex Hendricks
I, Mobster 1959
as Sid - Henchman (uncredited)
The Young Captives 1959
as Norm Britt
The Brain Eaters 1958
as Dr. Paul Kettering, Producer
Hot Car Girl 1958
as Cop #2
Cry Baby Killer 1958
as Rick Connor
She Gods of Shark Reef 1958
as Guard (uncredited)
Night of the Blood Beast 1958
as Dave Randall
Teenage Cave Man 1958
as Blonde Tribe Member
Street of Darkness 1958
as Slavo
Teenage Doll 1957
as Police Officer 'Dutch' / Blind Man
Carnival Rock 1957
as Cannon
Invasion of the Saucer Men 1957
as Tom
Bayou 1957
as Etienne (as Edwin Nelson)
Rock All Night 1957
as Pete
Attack of the Crab Monsters 1957
as Ensign Quinlan, Special Effects
Swamp Women 1956
as Police Sergeant
New Orleans Uncensored 1955
as Charlie
The Steel Trap 1952
as Man in Ticket Line at Airport (uncredited)
Credits from TMDB.