Ed Nelson
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.
Known For
Carl Strickland
Born to Be Sold
Art Lacroix
A Bucket of Blood
Code of Silence
Ensign Quinlan
Attack of the Crab Monsters
Major John Alexander
Airport 1975
Warren Cole
Time to Run
Cannon
Carnival Rock
Charlie
New Orleans Uncensored
Tom
Invasion of the Saucer-Men
Dr. Paul Kettering
The Brain Eaters
Jersey Callum
The Boneyard
Nick Richards / Pete Jensen
Devil's Partner
Dave Randall
Night of the Blood Beast
Joseph Locordolos
The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything
Gene Kranz, Flight Director
Houston, We've Got a Problem
General Stone
Deadly Weapon
Cole Marteen
The Man from Galveston
Carl Nesbitt
The Screaming Woman
Norm Britt
The Young Captives
Mark Kane
Anatomy of a Seduction
Dr. Martin Becker
Along Came a Spider
Paul Hamilton
A Little Game
Nick Staffo
Runaway!
Alex Hendricks
T-Bird Gang
Dino Michaelis
Valley of the Redwoods
Dr. Michael Rossi
Murder in Peyton Place
George Beldridge
Superdome
Paul Reston
Linda
General Sharman
我是誰
Admiral Harry Pearson
Midway
Dr. Harden
Brink of Disaster!
Etienne (as Edwin Nelson)
Bayou
President Harry S. Truman
Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb
Robert Denby
Riding with Death
Dr. Mike Wise
Doctors' Private Lives
Victor Handler
Sworn to Silence
Captain at Nightclub Announcing Call-up of Officers (uncredited)
Judgment at Nuremberg
Mr. Clarkson
Leave Yesterday Behind
Sid - Henchman (uncredited)
I, Mobster
Dr. August Claiborne
Cries of Silence
Police Sergeant
Swamp Women
Ray Hollister
Acapulco Gold
Brundage
The Fatal Impulse
Philip Mulwray
The Crash of Flight 401
Mike Danvers
The Return of Frank Cannon
The Missing Are Deadly
Blonde Tribe Member
Teenage Cave Man
Chandler Dietrich
For the Love of Benji
Lt. Calvin Zenger
Police Headquarters
Dr. Michael Rossi
Peyton Place: The Next Generation
George Dressler
Runaway Jury
George Dobbs
Help Wanted: Male
Rick Connor
Cry Baby Killer
James Priest
Soldier in the Rain
Carlton James
That's the Way of the World
Governor Neilson
Police Academy 3: Back in Training
Pete
Rock All Night
Police Officer 'Dutch' / Blind Man
Teenage Doll
Guard (uncredited)
She Gods of Shark Reef
Cop #2
Hot Car Girl
Man in Ticket Line at Airport (uncredited)
The Steel Trap
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
61
Gender
Male
Birthday
1928-12-21
Place of Birth
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Also Known As
Edwin Stafford Nelson