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Stanley Nelson

Directing Born Jul 7, 1955 New York City, New York, USA 85 credits
85
Total Credits
1976–2026
51 Years Career Span
5
Vault Titles
10
Key Co-Stars

Biography

Stanley Nelson works in directing. Born July 7, 1955 in New York City, New York, USA. Archytele tracks 85 screen credits across canonical film and television databases.

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Ask anything about Stanley Nelson.

Known for

Film

American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez

2026
Film

Diary of a Mad Housewife

1970

The Daily Show

as Self

American Experience

1988

American Experience

1988

Frequent co-stars

Divyendu Sharma 4 shared titles
Zakir Hussain 2 shared titles
Ram Charan 1 shared title
Janhvi Kapoor 1 shared title
Shiva Rajkumar 1 shared title
Jagapati Babu 1 shared title
Boman Irani 1 shared title
Ravi Kishan 1 shared title
Rao Ramesh 1 shared title
Upendra Limaye 1 shared title

Career timeline

American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez · Executive ProducerThe Color of Cola · DirectorThe Color of Cola · Executive Producer
We Want the Funk! · DirectorThe Inquisitor · Executive ProducerFree for All: The Public Library · Executive ProducerCindy Tran: From Here to Here · Executive ProducerBecoming Thurgood: America's Social Architect · Executive Producer
Hollywood BlackDisco's Revenge · Executive ProducerSan Juan Hill: Manhattan’s Lost Neighborhood · DirectorSister Úna Lived a Good Death · Executive Producer
Sound of the Police · DirectorSound of the Police · ProducerBirthing a Nation: The Resistance of Mary Gaffney · Executive ProducerSydney G. James: How We See Us · Executive ProducerJonathan Thunder: Good Mythology · Executive Producer
Hazing · Executive ProducerBecoming Frederick Douglass · DirectorBecoming Frederick Douglass · Executive ProducerBecoming Frederick Douglass · ProducerAfter Jackie · Producer
Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy · DirectorTulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre · DirectorAttica · DirectorAttica · WriterAttica · Producer
Vick · DirectorBlack Panthers · Director
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool · DirectorMiles Davis: Birth of the Cool · ProducerBOSS: The Black Experience in Business · DirectorBOSS: The Black Experience in Business · Producer
Black Memorabilia · Script SupervisorThe Story of Access · Director
Picket Line · Executive ProducerGavin Grimm vs. · Executive ProducerAmerican Carnage · Executive ProducerTell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities · DirectorTell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities · Producer
Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band · Executive ProducerThe Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution · DirectorThe Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution · WriterThe Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution · Producer
Freedom Summer · DirectorFreedom Summer · Writer
Focus Forward: Short Films, Big Ideas · DirectorJesse Owens · ProducerJesse Owens · Writer
Freedom Riders · WriterFreedom Riders · DirectorFreedom Riders · Producer
30 for 30 · DirectorWe Shall Remain · Director
Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans · Executive Producer
Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple · Director
A Place of Our OwnA Place of Our Own · WriterA Place of Our Own · DirectorA Place of Our Own · ProducerBeyond Brown: Pursuing the Promise · Director
The Murder of Emmett Till · Director
Marcus Garvey: Look for Me in the Whirlwind · Director
The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords · ProducerThe Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords · DirectorThe Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords · Writer
The Daily Show
American Experience · WriterAmerican Experience · Producer
Two Dollars and A Dream: The Story of Madame C.J. Walker · DirectorTwo Dollars and A Dream: The Story of Madame C.J. Walker · EditorTwo Dollars and A Dream: The Story of Madame C.J. Walker · ResearcherTwo Dollars and A Dream: The Story of Madame C.J. Walker · Producer
Frederick Douglass: An American Life · Sound Recordist
Puerto Rico: Our Right to Decide · Writer
Just Doin’ It (A Tale of Two Barbershops) · SoundJust Doin’ It (A Tale of Two Barbershops) · Assistant Editor

Full Filmography

85 titles
  • American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez (2026) Executive Producer
  • The Color of Cola (2026) Director
  • The Color of Cola (2026) Executive Producer
  • We Want the Funk! (2025) Director
  • The Inquisitor (2025) Executive Producer
  • Free for All: The Public Library (2025) Executive Producer
  • Cindy Tran: From Here to Here (2025) Executive Producer
  • Becoming Thurgood: America's Social Architect (2025) Executive Producer
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  • True North: Canadian Myths and Black Power (2025) Executive Producer
  • Sun Ra: Do the Impossible (2025) Executive Producer
  • Lani B. Supreme: Legacy (2025) Executive Producer
  • Critical Condition: Health in Black America (2025) Director
  • Hollywood Black (2024) as Self
  • Disco's Revenge (2024) Executive Producer
  • San Juan Hill: Manhattan’s Lost Neighborhood (2024) Director
  • Sister Úna Lived a Good Death (2024) Executive Producer
  • Sound of the Police (2023) Director
  • Sound of the Police (2023) Producer
  • Birthing a Nation: The Resistance of Mary Gaffney (2023) Executive Producer
  • Sydney G. James: How We See Us (2023) Executive Producer
  • Jonathan Thunder: Good Mythology (2023) Executive Producer
  • Bulls and Saints (2023) Executive Producer
  • Hazing (2022) Executive Producer
  • Becoming Frederick Douglass (2022) Director
  • Becoming Frederick Douglass (2022) Executive Producer
  • Becoming Frederick Douglass (2022) Producer
  • After Jackie (2022) Producer
  • Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy (2021) Director
  • Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre (2021) Director
  • Attica (2021) Director
  • Attica (2021) Writer
  • Attica (2021) Producer
  • Lynching Postcards: Token of a Great Day (2021) Executive Producer
  • Harriet Tubman: Visions of Freedom (2021) Director
  • Vick (2020) Director
  • Black Panthers (2020) Director
  • Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool (2019) Director
  • Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool (2019) Producer
  • BOSS: The Black Experience in Business (2019) Director
  • BOSS: The Black Experience in Business (2019) Producer
  • Black Memorabilia (2018) Script Supervisor
  • The Story of Access (2018) Director
  • Picket Line (2017) Executive Producer
  • Gavin Grimm vs. (2017) Executive Producer
  • American Carnage (2017) Executive Producer
  • Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities (2017) Director
  • Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities (2017) Producer
  • Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities (2017) Screenplay
  • Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band (2015) Executive Producer
  • The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution (2015) Director
  • The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution (2015) Writer
  • The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution (2015) Producer
  • Freedom Summer (2014) Director
  • Freedom Summer (2014) Writer
  • Focus Forward: Short Films, Big Ideas (2012) Director
  • Jesse Owens (2012) Producer
  • Jesse Owens (2012) Writer
  • Freedom Riders (2010) Writer
  • Freedom Riders (2010) Director
  • Freedom Riders (2010) Producer
  • 30 for 30 (2009) Director
  • We Shall Remain (2009) Director
  • Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans (2008) Executive Producer
  • Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple (2006) Director
  • A Place of Our Own (2004) as Self - Narrator (voice)
  • A Place of Our Own (2004) Writer
  • A Place of Our Own (2004) Director
  • A Place of Our Own (2004) Producer
  • Beyond Brown: Pursuing the Promise (2004) Director
  • The Murder of Emmett Till (2003) Director
  • Marcus Garvey: Look for Me in the Whirlwind (2001) Director
  • The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords (1999) Producer
  • The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords (1999) Director
  • The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords (1999) Writer
  • The Daily Show (1996) as Self
  • American Experience (1988) Writer
  • American Experience (1988) Producer
  • Two Dollars and A Dream: The Story of Madame C.J. Walker (1987) Director
  • Two Dollars and A Dream: The Story of Madame C.J. Walker (1987) Editor
  • Two Dollars and A Dream: The Story of Madame C.J. Walker (1987) Researcher
  • Two Dollars and A Dream: The Story of Madame C.J. Walker (1987) Producer
  • Frederick Douglass: An American Life (1985) Sound Recordist
  • Puerto Rico: Our Right to Decide (1981) Writer
  • Just Doin’ It (A Tale of Two Barbershops) (1976) Sound
  • Just Doin’ It (A Tale of Two Barbershops) (1976) Assistant Editor

Frequently Asked Questions

What movies or TV shows is Stanley Nelson best known for?

Stanley Nelson is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez (2026), Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970), The Daily Show (1996), American Experience (1988).

When and where was Stanley Nelson born?

Stanley Nelson was born on July 7, 1955 in New York City, New York, USA.

How many credits does Stanley Nelson have?

Stanley Nelson has accumulated over 85 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1976 to 2026.

What is Stanley Nelson's background in cinema and television?

Stanley Earl Nelson Jr. (born June 7, 1951) is an American documentary filmmaker and a MacArthur Fellow known as a director, writer and producer of documentaries examining African-American history and experiences. He is a recipient of the 2013 National Humanities Medal from President Obama. He has won three Primetime E...

Stanley Nelson by the numbers

85credits
78films
7TV series
1976–2026active years

Age in their best-rated roles

Full filmography (85) Born on July 7

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