Ed Nelson
Biography
Edwin Stafford Nelson was born on December 21, 1928 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and died on August 9, 2014 at the age of eighty‑five. He began acting while a student at Tulane University, left after two years to study at the New York School of Radio and Television Technique, and after graduation worked as a director for WDSU‑TV in New Orleans. By 1956 he moved to the Los Angeles area to concentrate on acting. Early in his career he appeared in several Roger Corman B‑movies, including Cry Baby Killers, A Bucket of Blood, Teenage Cave Man and Attack of the Crab Monsters, and in 1958 took part in a Bruno VeSota science‑fiction horror film. He is best known for playing Dr. Michael Rossi on the television series Peyton Place and accumulated more than one hundred film and television credits.
Career overview
Edwin Stafford Nelson was born on December 21, 1928 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He began acting while a student at Tulane University, but left after two years to attend the New York School of Radio and Television Technique. Upon completing his studies he returned to New Orleans and worked as a director for the local station WDSU‑TV. By 1956 Nelson had decided to devote himself fully to acting and relocated to the Los Angeles area to pursue opportunities in film and television.
In the early phase of his screen career Nelson collaborated with B‑movie producer Roger Corman, appearing in a series of low‑budget genre pictures that included Cry Baby Killers, A Bucket of Blood, Teenage Cave Man and Attack of the Crab Monsters. The following year he took part in a science‑fiction horror film directed by Bruno VeSota, further establishing his presence in the mid‑century genre circuit.
Nelson’s most widely recognized television work came with the role of Dr. Michael Rossi on the series Peyton Place. Over a career that spanned several decades, he accumulated more than one hundred acting credits, becoming a familiar face in both cinematic and television productions until his death on August 9, 2014 at the age of eighty‑five.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
177 titles- Runaway Jury (2003) as George Dressler
- Who Am I? (1998) as General Sharman
- Cries of Silence (1996) as Dr. August Claiborne
- The Boneyard (1991) as Jersey Callum
- Deadly Weapon (1989) as General Stone
- Jake and the Fatman (1987) as D.A. Marcus Packard
- J.J. Starbuck (1987)
- Sworn to Silence (1987) as Victor Handler
- Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986) as Governor Neilson
- MacGyver (1985) as Arthur Bandel
- Peyton Place: The Next Generation (1985) as Dr. Michael Rossi
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Raymond 'Ray' Bascomb
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Judge Willard Clinton
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Henry Post
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Mayor Albert Simpson
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Carl Turnball
- Finder of Lost Loves (1984) as Bill Garnett
- Cagney & Lacey (1982) as Sgt. Steingrove
- Hotel (1982)
- Matt Houston (1982)
- Capitol (1982)
- Help Wanted: Male (1982) as George Dobbs
- Born to Be Sold (1981) as Carl Strickland
- Hagen (1980)
- The Return of Frank Cannon (1980) as Mike Danvers
- Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb (1980) as President Harry S. Truman
- The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything (1980) as Joseph Locordolos
- Trapper John, M.D. (1979)
- Anatomy of a Seduction (1979) as Mark Kane
- Doctors' Private Lives (1979)
- Dallas (1978) as Jeb Amos
- Vega$ (1978)
- Doctors' Private Lives (1978) as Dr. Mike Wise
- The Crash of Flight 401 (1978) as Philip Mulwray
- Leave Yesterday Behind (1978) as Mr. Clarkson
- Superdome (1978) as George Beldridge
- Lou Grant (1977)
- CHiPs (1977)
- Logan's Run (1977) as Dr. Rowan
- For the Love of Benji (1977) as Chandler Dietrich
- Murder in Peyton Place (1977) as Dr. Michael Rossi
- A Little Game (1977) as Paul Hamilton
- Quincy, M.E. (1976)
- Charlie's Angels (1976) as George Starrett
- The Bionic Woman (1976)
- Midway (1976) as Admiral Harry Pearson
- Gibbsville (1976)
- Riding with Death (1976) as Robert Denby
- Acapulco Gold (1976) as Ray Hollister
- The Missing Are Deadly (1975)
- That's the Way of the World (1975) as Carlton James
- The Rockford Files (1974) as Edgar 'Bud' Clement
- The Rockford Files (1974) as Blake Sternlight
- Police Woman (1974)
- Airport 1975 (1974) as Major John Alexander
- Houston, We've Got a Problem (1974) as Gene Kranz, Flight Director
- Police Headquarters (1974) as Lt. Calvin Zenger
- Barnaby Jones (1973) as Larry Kinner
- Runaway! (1973) as Nick Staffo
- Linda (1973) as Paul Reston
- Time to Run (1973) as Warren Cole
- The Streets of San Francisco (1972)
- The Sixth Sense (1972)
- Search (1972)
- Kung Fu (1972) as Sheriff Walter Raha
- The Screaming Woman (1972) as Carl Nesbitt
- Brink of Disaster! (1972) as Dr. Harden
- Cannon (1971)
- Alias Smith and Jones (1971)
- Night Gallery (1970) as Tom Burke (segment “Little Girl Lost”)
- The Silent Force (1970)
- Along Came a Spider (1970) as Dr. Martin Becker
- Medical Center (1969) as Hank
- Adam-12 (1968) as Abe Strayhorn
- The Mod Squad (1968)
- Ironside (1967)
- Mission: Impossible (1966) as Van Cleve
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Walter Swenson
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Hamilton
- Peyton Place (1964) as Michael Rossi
- The Fugitive (1963) as Paul Clements
- The Fugitive (1963) as Steve Edson
- The Outer Limits (1963) as Col. Luke Stone
- Arrest and Trial (1963)
- Channing (1963) as Deke Allison
- The Dakotas (1963)
- Redigo (1963)
- The Man from Galveston (1963) as Cole Marteen
- Soldier in the Rain (1963) as James Priest
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Tom Keller
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Alex Trevor
- The Virginian (1962) as Ralph Slocum
- Stoney Burke (1962)
- Sam Benedict (1962) as Neil Bracket
- The Gallant Men (1962)
- Saints and Sinners (1962) as Ray
- Dr. Kildare (1961) as Dr. Keith Judge
- 87th Precinct (1961)
- Cain's Hundred (1961) as Peter Stull
- The New Breed (1961) as Jefty Bright
- The New Breed (1961) as Roger Sykes
- Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) as Captain at Nightclub Announcing Call-up of Officers (uncredited)
- Devil's Partner (1961) as Nick Richards / Pete Jensen
- Thriller (1960) as Brundage
- Thriller (1960) as Charlie
- Thriller (1960) as Tom Ellison / Daniel Le Jean
- The Tall Man (1960)
- Surfside 6 (1960)
- Checkmate (1960) as Gil Stoneham
- Checkmate (1960) as Chuck Palmer
- The Aquanauts (1960) as Chris Garland
- Coronado 9 (1960)
- The Fatal Impulse (1960) as Brundage
- Valley of the Redwoods (1960) as Dino Michaelis
- Code of Silence (1960)
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Philip Redfield
- Rawhide (1959) as Lt. Cory Clemens
- Rawhide (1959) as Sam Weber
- Rawhide (1959) as Chuck Whittaker
- The Rebel (1959) as Chad
- The Rebel (1959) as Doug
- The Rebel (1959) as The Stalker
- The Rebel (1959) as Clint Mowbree
- Laramie (1959) as Sable
- The Detectives (1959)
- Riverboat (1959) as Jim Tyler
- Black Saddle (1959) as Lee Coogan
- Black Saddle (1959) as Roy Corey
- Johnny Ringo (1959) as Kirk
- Johnny Ringo (1959) as Tomstedter
- Tightrope (1959)
- A Bucket of Blood (1959) as Art Lacroix
- T-Bird Gang (1959) as Alex Hendricks
- I, Mobster (1959) as Sid - Henchman (uncredited)
- The Young Captives (1959) as Norm Britt
- The Rifleman (1958)
- Bat Masterson (1958) as Jedrow
- Bat Masterson (1958) as Browder
- 77 Sunset Strip (1958)
- Night of the Blood Beast (1958) as Dave Randall
- Cry Baby Killer (1958) as Rick Connor
- Teenage Cave Man (1958) as Blonde Tribe Member
- The Brain Eaters (1958) as Dr. Paul Kettering
- The Brain Eaters (1958) Producer
- She Gods of Shark Reef (1958) as Guard (uncredited)
- Hot Car Girl (1958) as Cop #2
- Perry Mason (1957) as Ward Nichols
- Perry Mason (1957) as Dirk Blake
- Maverick (1957)
- Maverick (1957) as 2nd Classmate (uncredited)
- Have Gun, Will Travel (1957)
- Tombstone Territory (1957) as Cowboy
- M Squad (1957) as Lenny Maston
- Harbor Command (1957)
- Bayou (1957) as Etienne (as Edwin Nelson)
- Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957) as Tom
- Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957) as Ensign Quinlan
- Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957) Special Effects
- Rock All Night (1957) as Pete
- Teenage Doll (1957) as Police Officer 'Dutch' / Blind Man
- Carnival Rock (1957) as Cannon
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Nelson
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Jack Bowen
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Albie
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Tantasi
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Vince Harwell
- Swamp Women (1956) as Police Sergeant
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Lee Prentice
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Rusk
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Perce
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Seth
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Burt Cury
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Tom
- The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955)
- Highway Patrol (1955)
- New Orleans Uncensored (1955) as Charlie
- The Steel Trap (1952) as Man in Ticket Line at Airport (uncredited)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Ed Nelson best known for?
Ed Nelson is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Runaway Jury (2003), Who Am I? (1998), Jake and the Fatman (1987), Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986).
When and where was Ed Nelson born?
Ed Nelson was born on December 21, 1928 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. They passed away on August 9, 2014.
How many credits does Ed Nelson have?
Ed Nelson has accumulated over 177 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1952 to 2003.
What is Ed Nelson's background in cinema and television?
Edwin Stafford Nelson was born on December 21, 1928 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and died on August 9, 2014 at the age of eighty‑five. He began acting while a student at Tulane University, left after two years to study at the New York School of Radio and Television Technique, and after graduation worked as a director for...
Ed Nelson by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Philip Redfield — aged about 30
- Arrest and Trial (1963) — aged about 34
- Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) as Captain at Nightclub Announcing Call-up of Officers (uncredited) — aged about 32
- Night Gallery (1970) as Tom Burke (segment “Little Girl Lost”) — aged about 41
- The Outer Limits (1963) as Col. Luke Stone — aged about 34
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Tom Keller — aged about 33
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