Ed Nelson
Acting
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.
Known for
Acting144
movieRunaway Jury
2003
George Dressler
movieWho Am I?
1998
General Sharman
movieCries of Silence
1996
Dr. August Claiborne
movieThe Boneyard
1991
Jersey Callum
movieDeadly Weapon
1989
General Stone
tvJake and the Fatman
1987
D.A. Marcus Packard
movieSworn to Silence
1987
Victor Handler
moviePolice Academy 3: Back in Training
1986
Governor Neilson
tvMacGyver
1985
Arthur Bandel
moviePeyton Place: The Next Generation
1985
Dr. Michael Rossi
tvMurder, She Wrote
1984
Raymond 'Ray' Bascomb / Judge Willard Clinton / Henry Post / Mayor Albert Simpson / Carl Turnball
tvFinder of Lost Loves
1984
Bill Garnett
tvCagney & Lacey
1982
Sgt. Steingrove
movieHelp Wanted: Male
1982
George Dobbs
movieBorn to Be Sold
1981
Carl Strickland
movieEnola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb
1980
President Harry S. Truman
movieThe Return of Frank Cannon
1980
Mike Danvers
movieThe Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything
1980
Joseph Locordolos
movieAnatomy of a Seduction
1979
Mark Kane
movieThe Crash of Flight 401
1978
Philip Mulwray
movieLeave Yesterday Behind
1978
Mr. Clarkson
tvDallas
1978
Jeb Amos
movieDoctors' Private Lives
1978
Dr. Mike Wise
movieSuperdome
1978
George Beldridge
movieMurder in Peyton Place
1977
Dr. Michael Rossi
tvLogan's Run
1977
Dr. Rowan
movieA Little Game
1977
Paul Hamilton
movieFor the Love of Benji
1977
Chandler Dietrich
tvCharlie's Angels
1976
George Starrett
movieMidway
1976
Admiral Harry Pearson
movieAcapulco Gold
1976
Ray Hollister
movieRiding with Death
1976
Robert Denby
movieThat's the Way of the World
1975
Carlton James
movieAirport 1975
1974
Major John Alexander
tvThe Rockford Files
1974
Edgar 'Bud' Clement / Blake Sternlight
moviePolice Headquarters
1974
Lt. Calvin Zenger
movieHouston, We've Got a Problem
1974
Gene Kranz, Flight Director
movieLinda
1973
Paul Reston
movieRunaway!
1973
Nick Staffo
tvBarnaby Jones
1973
Larry Kinner
movieTime to Run
1973
Warren Cole
tvKung Fu
1972
Sheriff Walter Raha
movieThe Screaming Woman
1972
Carl Nesbitt
movieBrink of Disaster!
1972
Dr. Harden
tvNight Gallery
1970
Tom Burke (segment “Little Girl Lost”)
movieAlong Came a Spider
1970
Dr. Martin Becker
tvAdam-12
1968
Abe Strayhorn
tvMission: Impossible
1966
Van Cleve
tvThe F.B.I.
1965
Walter Swenson / Hamilton
tvPeyton Place
1964
Michael Rossi
movieThe Man from Galveston
1963
Cole Marteen
movieSoldier in the Rain
1963
James Priest
tvChanning
1963
Deke Allison
tvThe Fugitive
1963
Paul Clements / Steve Edson
tvThe Outer Limits
1963
Col. Luke Stone
tvThe Alfred Hitchcock Hour
1962
Tom Keller / Alex Trevor
tvThe Virginian
1962
Ralph Slocum
tvSam Benedict
1962
Neil Bracket
movieJudgment at Nuremberg
1961
Captain at Nightclub Announcing Call-up of Officers (uncredited)
tvThe New Breed
1961
Jefty Bright / Roger Sykes
tvDr. Kildare
1961
Dr. Keith Judge
movieDevil's Partner
1961
Nick Richards / Pete Jensen
tvCain's Hundred
1961
Peter Stull
movieThe Fatal Impulse
1960
Brundage
tvCheckmate
1960
Gil Stoneham / Chuck Palmer
tvThe Aquanauts
1960
Chris Garland
tvThriller
1960
Brundage / Charlie / Tom Ellison / Daniel Le Jean
movieValley of the Redwoods
1960
Dino Michaelis
movieA Bucket of Blood
1959
Art Lacroix
movieT-Bird Gang
1959
Alex Hendricks
tvThe Rebel
1959
Chad / Doug / The Stalker / Clint Mowbree
tvJohnny Ringo
1959
Kirk / Tomstedter
tvThe Twilight Zone
1959
Philip Redfield
tvLaramie
1959
Sable
tvRiverboat
1959
Jim Tyler
movieThe Young Captives
1959
Norm Britt
movieI, Mobster
1959
Sid - Henchman (uncredited)
tvBlack Saddle
1959
Lee Coogan / Roy Corey
tvRawhide
1959
Lt. Cory Clemens / Sam Weber / Chuck Whittaker
tvBat Masterson
1958
Jedrow / Browder
movieThe Brain Eaters
1958
Dr. Paul Kettering
movieHot Car Girl
1958
Cop #2
movieCry Baby Killer
1958
Rick Connor
movieNight of the Blood Beast
1958
Dave Randall
movieShe Gods of Shark Reef
1958
Guard (uncredited)
movieTeenage Cave Man
1958
Blonde Tribe Member
tvMaverick
1957
2nd Classmate (uncredited)
tvPerry Mason
1957
Ward Nichols / Dirk Blake
tvM Squad
1957
Lenny Maston
movieTeenage Doll
1957
Police Officer 'Dutch' / Blind Man
movieCarnival Rock
1957
Cannon
movieBayou
1957
Etienne (as Edwin Nelson)
movieAttack of the Crab Monsters
1957
Ensign Quinlan
tvDick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
Nelson / Jack Bowen / Albie / Tantasi / Vince Harwell
movieSwamp Women
1956
Police Sergeant
tvGunsmoke
1955
Lee Prentice / Rusk / Perce / Seth / Burt Cury / Tom
movieThe Steel Trap
1952
Man in Ticket Line at Airport (uncredited)
Crew1
movieAttack of the Crab Monsters
1957
Special Effects
Production1
movieThe Brain Eaters
1958
Producer