Skip to content
David Nelson

Personal Information

Known ForActing
GenderMale
Born / DiedOct 24, 1936 (Died at 75)
Zodiac Sign♏Scorpio
Place of BirthNew York City, New York, USA
Career Span1952 – 2011
Known Credits32 Titles
Official Links
ActingPopularity Score 0.6

David Nelson

Also known as:David Oswald Nelson
Total Works

32

25 movies • 7 shows

Avg Rating

6.3 / 10

across rated releases

Box Office

—

worldwide gross

Global Reach

#1

TMDB star index

Biography

David Oswald Nelson (October 24, 1936 – January 11, 2011) was an American actor. He was the elder son of entertainment couple Harriet Hilliard Nelson and Ozzie Nelson and the older brother of musician Ricky Nelson. Nelson's acting career started in 1949 when he and his brother began playing themselves on his parents' radio series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, which lasted until 1954. His film debut came in Here Come the Nelsons, released in 1952. Also in 1952 Nelson continued playing himself on the television version of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, which ran until 1966.Starting in the early 1960s, he directed about a dozen episodes of the show. From the 1970s through 1990 Nelson had roles in Smash-Up on Interstate 5, Up In Smoke, The Love Boat, High School U.S.A., and A Family for Joe. Nelson's last film appearance was in John Waters' 1990 film Cry-Baby. Nelson died on January 11, 2011, in Century City, California, of complications of colon cancer.

Signature Roles & Milestones

Cry-Baby
6.5
Cry-Baby
1990•movie
as Wanda's Father
Up in Smoke
6.6
Up in Smoke
1978•movie
as Roxy Doorman
The Love Boat
6.2
The Love Boat
1977•series
as Gary Gage
Day of the Outlaw
6.8
Day of the Outlaw
1959•movie
as Gene, Bruhn's Gang

Full Filmography & Credits

Showing 32 titles featuring David Nelson

Cry-Baby
6.5
Cry-Baby
1990•movie

as Wanda's Father

Up in Smoke
6.6
Up in Smoke
1978•movie

as Roxy Doorman

The Love Boat
6.2
1 eps
The Love Boat
1977•series

as Gary Gage

Day of the Outlaw
6.8
Day of the Outlaw
1959•movie

as Gene, Bruhn's Gang

Peyton Place
6.7
Peyton Place
1957•movie

as Ted Carter

Adam-12
7.1
Adam-12
1968•series

Role: Director

Death Screams
4.4
Death Screams
1982•movie

Role: Director

High School U.S.A.
5.5
High School U.S.A.
1983•movie

as Mr. Krinsky, Janitor

The Movie Orgy
6.8
The Movie Orgy
1968•movie

as Self (archive footage)

The Big Circus
6.6
The Big Circus
1959•movie

as Tommy Gordon

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
6.2
435 eps
-30-
6.0
-30-
1959•movie

as Earl Collins

The Courtyard
4.7
The Courtyard
1995•movie

as Cop

Smash-Up on Interstate 5
5.5

as Berman

Off the Mark
3.9
Off the Mark
1987•movie

as Current Resident

The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker
7.1

as Henry Pennypacker

Hondo
6.9
1 eps
Hondo
1967•series
Swing Out, Sweet Land
5.7

as Union Soldier

The Steve Allen Show
6.2
1 eps

as Self - Recipient

The Big Show
5.8
The Big Show
1961•movie

as Eric Solden

In Search of Historic Jesus
4.8

as Leper

Sonic Boom
5.6
Sonic Boom
1974•movie

as Co-Pilot

The Hollywood Palace
5.0
2 eps

as Self - Trapeze Artist

Last Plane Out
4.2
Last Plane Out
1983•movie

Role: Director

Here Come the Nelsons
7.0

as David Nelson

Disneyland '59
7.3
Disneyland '59
1959•movie

as Self

Childish Things
3.0
Childish Things
1969•movie

Role: Director

Love and Kisses
9.0
Love and Kisses
1965•movie

as Cameo Appearance

Easy to Be Free
10.0
Easy to Be Free
1973•movie

Role: Director

A Rare Breed
7.0
A Rare Breed
1984•movie

Role: Director

O.K. Crackerby
10.0
O.K. Crackerby
1965•series

Role: Director

America, You're Too Young to Die

Role: Director