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Ed Nelson

Known for: Acting

Born 21/12/1928

Died 2014-08-09

Place of birth 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

Series ★ 7,7

Perry Mason

Ward Nichols

1957

Series ★ 7,7

Perry Mason

Dirk Blake

1957

Series ★ 7,5

Murder, She Wrote

Raymond 'Ray' Bascomb

1984

Series ★ 7,5

Murder, She Wrote

Judge Willard Clinton

1984

Series ★ 7,5

Murder, She Wrote

Henry Post

1984

Series ★ 7,5

Murder, She Wrote

Mayor Albert Simpson

1984

Series ★ 7,5

Murder, She Wrote

Carl Turnball

1984

Series ★ 6,8

Dallas

Jeb Amos

1978

Series ★ 7,3

The Fugitive

Paul Clements

1963

Series ★ 7,3

The Fugitive

Steve Edson

1963

Series ★ 7,7

MacGyver

Arthur Bandel

1985

Series ★ 6,9

Ironside

1967

Series ★ 7,1

Adam-12

Abe Strayhorn

1968

Series ★ 6,7

Charlie's Angels

George Starrett

1976

Series ★ 7,5

Quincy, M.E.

1976

Series ★ 6,9

Maverick

1957

Series ★ 6,9

Maverick

2nd Classmate (uncredited)

1957

Series ★ 7,6

Mission: Impossible

Van Cleve

1966

Series ★ 7,1

The Rifleman

1958

Series ★ 7,8

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

Alex Trevor

1962

Series ★ 7,8

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

Tom Keller

1962

Series ★ 8,5

The Twilight Zone

Philip Redfield

1959

Series ★ 6,5

The Virginian

Ralph Slocum

1962

Series ★ 7,3

Have Gun, Will Travel

1957

Series ★ 6,8

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp

1955

Series ★ 5,7

Dr. Kildare

Dr. Keith Judge

1961

Series ★ 7,6

The Rockford Files

Edgar 'Bud' Clement

1974

Series ★ 7,6

The Rockford Files

Blake Sternlight

1974

Series ★ 6,8

Hotel

1982