Michael J. Nelson
Known for: Writing
Michael J. Nelson is the former host and writer of the Emmy-nominated, Peabody Award-winning Mystery Science Theater 3000. Since that time, he has appeared on numerous radio and TV shows, penned a regular column for TV Guide, and authored best-selling books for both HarperCollins and Abrams. His first book, Mike Nelson's Movie Megacheese, thrilled critics, including Richard Schickel of Time Magazine, who said of Mike, "He's more fun than a barrel of Val Kilmers... Smarter than a roomful of Patrick Swayzes... and almost as hilarious as Keanu Reeves." Mike's laugh-out-loud follow-up, Mind Over Matters, prompted Kirkus Reviews to enthuse, "From someplace called Minnesota comes a Nelson funnier than Ozzie, Ricky, Lord or Half," and even dared to compare him to another legendary writer, saying of his Serious Speech to Business People, "[It] could easily precede [Robert] Benchley's immortal Treasurer's Report." And Kirkus Reviews loved his novel, Death Rat!, saying, "Fast-paced, outrageous and funny, first-novelist Nelson's mockery of media mendacity is as biting as La Dolce Vita or Network--only funnier!" Nelson speaks all over the country, is a frequent guest on radio and television, and along with fellow former MST3K writers/performers Bill Corbett and Kevin Murphy operate a podcast called RiffTrax, which, in a similar vein to MST3K, targets more mainstream films.
Filmography
Series
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Valeria
1989
Series
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mike Nelson
1989
Series
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Torgo
1989
Series
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Tony Travis (voice)
1989
Series
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Morrissey
1989
Series
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Officer Mike
1989
Series
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Holo-Clown
1989
Series
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Imperialistic Alien
1989
Series
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Isaac Asimov Literary Doomsday Device (voice)
1989
Series
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Kenny
1989
Series
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Megaweapon (voice)
1989
Series
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Baywatch characters (voice)
1989
Series
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Virtual comedy heckler (voice)
1989
Series
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Frank Sinatra (voice)
1989
The Adventures of Edward the Less
The Noble One (voice)
2001
Series
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments
Mike Nelson
2026
Film
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
Mike Nelson
1996
Film
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death
Mike Nelson
2026
Film
2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
Mike Nelson
1998
Film
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2013
Himself
2013
Film
GrimTrax Returns
Self
2026
Film
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2016
Self
2016
Film
RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party
Self
2017
Film
RiffTrax Live: Christmas Shorts-stravaganza!
Himself
2009
Film
The Year of Laughing Dangerously
Joel Williams
Film
RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
Self
2016
Film
RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill
himself
2010
Film
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2015
Himself
2015
Film
RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus
Self
2014
Film
RiffTrax Live: Space Mutiny
Self
2018
Film
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 2
Mike Nelson
1999
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
Michael J. Nelson
1964
Film
Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers
Self
2013
Film
The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo
Self
2007
Film
RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny
2015
Film
RiffTrax Live: Miami Connection
2015
Film
1st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
Mike Nelson
1997
Film
RiffTrax Live: Point Break
Self
2024
Film
The Rifftrax Yule Log
Self
2018
Film
RiffTrax Live: Time Chasers
Self
2016
Film
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3
Mike Nelson
2000
Film
RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate
Self
2012
Film
The Last Dance: RAW
Himself / Mike Nelson
1999
Film
RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders
Self
2019
Film
RiffTrax Live: Giant Spider Invasion
Self
2019
Film
The Film Crew: Killers from Space
Self
2007
Film
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Motion Picture Odyssey
Himself
2013
Film
The Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon
Self
2007
Film
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 1
Mike Nelson
1998
Film
Rifftrax Live: Samurai Cop
Self
2017
Film
MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special
Mike Nelson
1995
Film
Hunks of Junk
Self
2026
Film
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Living Dead
Self
2013
Film
RiffTrax Live: Plan 9 from Outer Space
Self
2009
Film
Rifftrax Live: The Room
Self
2015
Film
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado 2
Self
2015
Film
Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness
2010
Film
This Is MST3K
Self
1992
Film
RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing
Self
2022
Film
RiffTrax Live: Birdemic - Shock and Terror
Himself
2012
The Three Stooges in Color
2005
Film
RiffTrax Live: Amityville - The Evil Escapes
2022
Film
RiffTrax Live: Timecop
Self
2025
Total Riff Off
2014
Poopie Parade of Values
Mike Nelson
1995
Film
RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors
Self
2017
Max the Hero
Stew (voice)
2007
Santa's Village of Madness
Self
2012
Film
Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Self
2013
Film
Rifftrax Live: Carnival of Souls
2016
Film
Rifftrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer
2011
Film
RiffTrax Live: RAD
Self
2023
Film
GrimTrax
Self
2024
Poopie!
1995
Film
RiffTrax Live: Octaman
Self
2019
Film
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado
Himself
2014
Film
RiffTrax Live: Hobgoblins
Self
2021
Film
RiffTrax Live: Godzilla
Self
2014
Film
RiffTrax Live: Mothra
Self
2016
Film
The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark
Self