Ed Nelson
Acting • Born 1928-12-21 – Died 2014-08-09
Biography
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
175 credits
Born to Be Sold
Movie • 1981
Carl Strickland
A Bucket of Blood
Movie • 1959
Art Lacroix
Code of Silence
Movie • 1960
Attack of the Crab Monsters
Movie • 1957
Ensign Quinlan
Airport 1975
Movie • 1974
Major John Alexander
Time to Run
Movie • 1973
Warren Cole
Carnival Rock
Movie • 1957
Cannon
New Orleans Uncensored
Movie • 1955
Charlie
Invasion of the Saucer-Men
Movie • 1957
Tom
The Brain Eaters
Movie • 1958
Dr. Paul Kettering
The Boneyard
Movie • 1991
Jersey Callum
Devil's Partner
Movie • 1961
Nick Richards / Pete Jensen
Night of the Blood Beast
Movie • 1958
Dave Randall
The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything
Movie • 1980
Joseph Locordolos
Houston, We've Got a Problem
Movie • 1974
Gene Kranz, Flight Director
Deadly Weapon
Movie • 1989
General Stone
The Man from Galveston
Movie • 1963
Cole Marteen
The Screaming Woman
Movie • 1972
Carl Nesbitt
The Young Captives
Movie • 1959
Norm Britt
Anatomy of a Seduction
Movie • 1979
Mark Kane
A Little Game
Movie • 1977
Paul Hamilton
Along Came a Spider
Movie • 1970
Dr. Martin Becker
Runaway!
Movie • 1973
Nick Staffo
T-Bird Gang
Movie • 1959
Alex Hendricks
Valley of the Redwoods
Movie • 1960
Dino Michaelis
Murder in Peyton Place
Movie • 1977
Dr. Michael Rossi
Superdome
Movie • 1978
George Beldridge
Linda
Movie • 1973
Paul Reston
Who Am I?
Movie • 1998
General Sharman
Midway
Movie • 1976
Admiral Harry Pearson
Brink of Disaster!
Movie • 1972
Dr. Harden
Bayou
Movie • 1957
Etienne (as Edwin Nelson)
Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb
Movie • 1980
President Harry S. Truman
Riding with Death
Movie • 1976
Robert Denby
Doctors' Private Lives
Movie • 1978
Dr. Mike Wise
Sworn to Silence
Movie • 1987
Victor Handler
Judgment at Nuremberg
Movie • 1961
Captain at Nightclub Announcing Call-up of Officers (uncredited)
Leave Yesterday Behind
Movie • 1978
Mr. Clarkson
I, Mobster
Movie • 1959
Sid - Henchman (uncredited)
Cries of Silence
Movie • 1996
Dr. August Claiborne
Swamp Women
Movie • 1956
Police Sergeant
Acapulco Gold
Movie • 1976
Ray Hollister
The Fatal Impulse
Movie • 1960
Brundage
The Crash of Flight 401
Movie • 1978
Philip Mulwray
The Return of Frank Cannon
Movie • 1980
Mike Danvers
The Missing Are Deadly
Movie • 1975
Teenage Cave Man
Movie • 1958
Blonde Tribe Member
For the Love of Benji
Movie • 1977
Chandler Dietrich
Police Headquarters
Movie • 1974
Lt. Calvin Zenger
Peyton Place: The Next Generation
Movie • 1985
Dr. Michael Rossi
Runaway Jury
Movie • 2003
George Dressler
Help Wanted: Male
Movie • 1982
George Dobbs
Cry Baby Killer
Movie • 1958
Rick Connor
Soldier in the Rain
Movie • 1963
James Priest
That's the Way of the World
Movie • 1975
Carlton James
Police Academy 3: Back in Training
Movie • 1986
Governor Neilson
Rock All Night
Movie • 1957
Pete
Teenage Doll
Movie • 1957
Police Officer 'Dutch' / Blind Man
She Gods of Shark Reef
Movie • 1958
Guard (uncredited)
Hot Car Girl
Movie • 1958
Cop #2
The Steel Trap
Movie • 1952
Man in Ticket Line at Airport (uncredited)
Lou Grant
TV • 1977
Murder, She Wrote
TV • 1984
Raymond 'Ray' Bascomb
CHiPs
TV • 1977
The Gallant Men
TV • 1962
77 Sunset Strip
TV • 1958
Cain's Hundred
TV • 1961
Peter Stull
Trapper John, M.D.
TV • 1979
Kung Fu
TV • 1972
Sheriff Walter Raha
The F.B.I.
TV • 1965
Walter Swenson
The Bionic Woman
TV • 1976
Quincy, M.E.
TV • 1976
The Streets of San Francisco
TV • 1972
Alias Smith and Jones
TV • 1971
Charlie's Angels
TV • 1976
George Starrett
Hotel
TV • 1982
MacGyver
TV • 1985
Arthur Bandel
Surfside 6
TV • 1960
The Mod Squad
TV • 1968
Medical Center
TV • 1969
Hank
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Lee Prentice
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Ward Nichols
Arrest and Trial
TV • 1963
Cagney & Lacey
TV • 1982
Sgt. Steingrove
Johnny Ringo
TV • 1959
Kirk
Dallas
TV • 1978
Jeb Amos
Mission: Impossible
TV • 1966
Van Cleve
Jake and the Fatman
TV • 1987
D.A. Marcus Packard
Cannon
TV • 1971
Saints and Sinners
TV • 1962
Ray
Black Saddle
TV • 1959
Lee Coogan
The Twilight Zone
TV • 1959
Philip Redfield
Ironside
TV • 1967
The Tall Man
TV • 1960
87th Precinct
TV • 1961
Sam Benedict
TV • 1962
Neil Bracket
Redigo
TV • 1963
Rawhide
TV • 1959
Lt. Cory Clemens
Vega$
TV • 1978
Police Woman
TV • 1974
Have Gun, Will Travel
TV • 1957
Highway Patrol
TV • 1955
The Fugitive
TV • 1963
Paul Clements
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Ralph Slocum
Capitol
TV • 1982
Thriller
TV • 1960
Brundage
Search
TV • 1972
The Aquanauts
TV • 1960
Chris Garland
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
TV • 1955
Matt Houston
TV • 1982
M Squad
TV • 1957
Lenny Maston
Peyton Place
TV • 1964
Michael Rossi
The Sixth Sense
TV • 1972
Black Saddle
TV • 1959
Roy Corey
The Rebel
TV • 1959
Chad
The Dakotas
TV • 1963
The Rifleman
TV • 1958
Bat Masterson
TV • 1958
Jedrow
Riverboat
TV • 1959
Jim Tyler
The New Breed
TV • 1961
Jefty Bright
The Detectives
TV • 1959
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
TV • 1956
Nelson
Stoney Burke
TV • 1962
Johnny Ringo
TV • 1959
Tomstedter
Tightrope
TV • 1959
Dr. Kildare
TV • 1961
Dr. Keith Judge
Coronado 9
TV • 1960
The Outer Limits
TV • 1963
Col. Luke Stone
The Silent Force
TV • 1970
Harbor Command
TV • 1957
Gibbsville
TV • 1976
Doctors' Private Lives
TV • 1979
The Fugitive
TV • 1963
Steve Edson
Channing
TV • 1963
Deke Allison
Hagen
TV • 1980
J.J. Starbuck
TV • 1987
Logan's Run
TV • 1977
Dr. Rowan
Maverick
TV • 1957
Laramie
TV • 1959
Sable
Tombstone Territory
TV • 1957
Cowboy
Murder, She Wrote
TV • 1984
Judge Willard Clinton
Murder, She Wrote
TV • 1984
Henry Post
Night Gallery
TV • 1970
Tom Burke (segment “Little Girl Lost”)
Rawhide
TV • 1959
Sam Weber
The F.B.I.
TV • 1965
Hamilton
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Rusk
The New Breed
TV • 1961
Roger Sykes
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Perce
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Seth
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Burt Cury
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Tom
Adam-12
TV • 1968
Abe Strayhorn
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
TV • 1956
Jack Bowen
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
TV • 1956
Tantasi
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
TV • 1956
Vince Harwell
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
TV • 1956
Albie
Murder, She Wrote
TV • 1984
Mayor Albert Simpson
Checkmate
TV • 1960
Chuck Palmer
Checkmate
TV • 1960
Gil Stoneham
Thriller
TV • 1960
Charlie
Thriller
TV • 1960
Tom Ellison / Daniel Le Jean
The Rebel
TV • 1959
The Stalker
The Rebel
TV • 1959
Clint Mowbree
The Rebel
TV • 1959
Doug
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Dirk Blake
Bat Masterson
TV • 1958
Browder
Maverick
TV • 1957
2nd Classmate (uncredited)
The Rockford Files
TV • 1974
Edgar 'Bud' Clement
Finder of Lost Loves
TV • 1984
Bill Garnett
Barnaby Jones
TV • 1973
Larry Kinner
The Rockford Files
TV • 1974
Blake Sternlight
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
TV • 1962
Tom Keller
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
TV • 1962
Alex Trevor
Murder, She Wrote
TV • 1984
Carl Turnball
Rawhide
TV • 1959
Chuck Whittaker