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

The Fugitive

The Fugitive

Perry Mason

Perry Mason

Murder, She Wrote

Murder, She Wrote

Murder, She Wrote

Murder, She Wrote
All Movies (61)
- Runaway Jury2003 · as George Dressler
- Who Am I?1998 · as General Sharman
- Cries of Silence1996 · as Dr. August Claiborne
- The Boneyard1991 · as Jersey Callum
- Deadly Weapon1989 · as General Stone
- Sworn to Silence1987 · as Victor Handler
- Police Academy 3: Back in Training1986 · as Governor Neilson
- Peyton Place: The Next Generation1985 · as Dr. Michael Rossi
- Help Wanted: Male1982 · as George Dobbs
- Born to Be Sold1981 · as Carl Strickland
- Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb1980 · as President Harry S. Truman
- The Return of Frank Cannon1980 · as Mike Danvers
- The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything1980 · as Joseph Locordolos
- Anatomy of a Seduction1979 · as Mark Kane
- The Crash of Flight 4011978 · as Philip Mulwray
- Leave Yesterday Behind1978 · as Mr. Clarkson
- Doctors' Private Lives1978 · as Dr. Mike Wise
- Superdome1978 · as George Beldridge
- Murder in Peyton Place1977 · as Dr. Michael Rossi
- A Little Game1977 · as Paul Hamilton
- For the Love of Benji1977 · as Chandler Dietrich
- Midway1976 · as Admiral Harry Pearson
- Acapulco Gold1976 · as Ray Hollister
- Riding with Death1976 · as Robert Denby
- That's the Way of the World1975 · as Carlton James
- The Missing Are Deadly1975
- Airport 19751974 · as Major John Alexander
- Police Headquarters1974 · as Lt. Calvin Zenger
- Houston, We've Got a Problem1974 · as Gene Kranz, Flight Director
- Linda1973 · as Paul Reston
- Runaway!1973 · as Nick Staffo
- Time to Run1973 · as Warren Cole
- The Screaming Woman1972 · as Carl Nesbitt
- Brink of Disaster!1972 · as Dr. Harden
- Along Came a Spider1970 · as Dr. Martin Becker
- The Man from Galveston1963 · as Cole Marteen
- Soldier in the Rain1963 · as James Priest
- Judgment at Nuremberg1961 · as Captain at Nightclub Announcing Call-up of Officers (uncredited)
- Devil's Partner1961 · as Nick Richards / Pete Jensen
- The Fatal Impulse1960 · as Brundage
- Code of Silence1960
- Valley of the Redwoods1960 · as Dino Michaelis
- A Bucket of Blood1959 · as Art Lacroix
- T-Bird Gang1959 · as Alex Hendricks
- The Young Captives1959 · as Norm Britt
- I, Mobster1959 · as Sid - Henchman (uncredited)
- The Brain Eaters1958 · as Dr. Paul Kettering
- Hot Car Girl1958 · as Cop #2
- Cry Baby Killer1958 · as Rick Connor
- Night of the Blood Beast1958 · as Dave Randall
- She Gods of Shark Reef1958 · as Guard (uncredited)
- Teenage Cave Man1958 · as Blonde Tribe Member
- Teenage Doll1957 · as Police Officer 'Dutch' / Blind Man
- Carnival Rock1957 · as Cannon
- Invasion of the Saucer Men1957 · as Tom
- Bayou1957 · as Etienne (as Edwin Nelson)
- Rock All Night1957 · as Pete
- Attack of the Crab Monsters1957 · as Ensign Quinlan
- Swamp Women1956 · as Police Sergeant
- New Orleans Uncensored1955 · as Charlie
- The Steel Trap1952 · as Man in Ticket Line at Airport (uncredited)
All TV Shows (114)
- Jake and the Fatman1987 · as D.A. Marcus Packard
- J.J. Starbuck1987
- MacGyver1985 · as Arthur Bandel
- Murder, She Wrote1984 · as Raymond 'Ray' Bascomb
- Murder, She Wrote1984 · as Judge Willard Clinton
- Murder, She Wrote1984 · as Henry Post
- Murder, She Wrote1984 · as Mayor Albert Simpson
- Murder, She Wrote1984 · as Carl Turnball
- Finder of Lost Loves1984 · as Bill Garnett
- Matt Houston1982
- Hotel1982
- Capitol1982
- Cagney & Lacey1982 · as Sgt. Steingrove
- Hagen1980
- Trapper John, M.D.1979
- Doctors' Private Lives1979
- Vega$1978
- Dallas1978 · as Jeb Amos
- Lou Grant1977
- Logan's Run1977 · as Dr. Rowan
- CHiPs1977
- Gibbsville1976
- Quincy, M.E.1976
- Charlie's Angels1976 · as George Starrett
- The Bionic Woman1976
- Police Woman1974
- The Rockford Files1974 · as Edgar 'Bud' Clement
- The Rockford Files1974 · as Blake Sternlight
- Barnaby Jones1973 · as Larry Kinner
- Kung Fu1972 · as Sheriff Walter Raha
- The Streets of San Francisco1972
- Search1972
- The Sixth Sense1972
- Cannon1971
- Alias Smith and Jones1971
- Night Gallery1970 · as Tom Burke (segment “Little Girl Lost”)
- The Silent Force1970
- Medical Center1969 · as Hank
- The Mod Squad1968
- Adam-121968 · as Abe Strayhorn
- Ironside1967
- Mission: Impossible1966 · as Van Cleve
- The F.B.I.1965 · as Walter Swenson
- The F.B.I.1965 · as Hamilton
- Peyton Place1964 · as Michael Rossi
- Redigo1963
- Channing1963 · as Deke Allison
- The Fugitive1963 · as Paul Clements
- The Fugitive1963 · as Steve Edson
- The Outer Limits1963 · as Col. Luke Stone
- Arrest and Trial1963
- The Dakotas1963
- The Gallant Men1962
- Stoney Burke1962
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour1962 · as Tom Keller
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour1962 · as Alex Trevor
- The Virginian1962 · as Ralph Slocum
- Saints and Sinners1962 · as Ray
- Sam Benedict1962 · as Neil Bracket
- The New Breed1961 · as Jefty Bright
- The New Breed1961 · as Roger Sykes
- Dr. Kildare1961 · as Dr. Keith Judge
- 87th Precinct1961
- Cain's Hundred1961 · as Peter Stull
- Surfside 61960
- Checkmate1960 · as Gil Stoneham
- Checkmate1960 · as Chuck Palmer
- The Aquanauts1960 · as Chris Garland
- Thriller1960 · as Brundage
- Thriller1960 · as Charlie
- Thriller1960 · as Tom Ellison / Daniel Le Jean
- The Tall Man1960
- Coronado 91960
- The Detectives1959
- The Rebel1959 · as Chad
- The Rebel1959 · as Doug
- The Rebel1959 · as The Stalker
- The Rebel1959 · as Clint Mowbree
- Johnny Ringo1959 · as Kirk
- The Twilight Zone1959 · as Philip Redfield
- Johnny Ringo1959 · as Tomstedter
- Laramie1959 · as Sable
- Riverboat1959 · as Jim Tyler
- Tightrope1959
- Black Saddle1959 · as Lee Coogan
- Black Saddle1959 · as Roy Corey
- Rawhide1959 · as Lt. Cory Clemens
- Rawhide1959 · as Sam Weber
- Rawhide1959 · as Chuck Whittaker
- 77 Sunset Strip1958
- Bat Masterson1958 · as Jedrow
- Bat Masterson1958 · as Browder
- The Rifleman1958
- Tombstone Territory1957 · as Cowboy
- Harbor Command1957
- Maverick1957
- Maverick1957 · as 2nd Classmate (uncredited)
- Perry Mason1957 · as Ward Nichols
- Perry Mason1957 · as Dirk Blake
- M Squad1957 · as Lenny Maston
- Have Gun, Will Travel1957
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre1956 · as Nelson
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre1956 · as Jack Bowen
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre1956 · as Albie
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre1956 · as Tantasi
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre1956 · as Vince Harwell
- Highway Patrol1955
- Gunsmoke1955 · as Lee Prentice
- Gunsmoke1955 · as Rusk
- Gunsmoke1955 · as Perce
- Gunsmoke1955 · as Seth
- Gunsmoke1955 · as Burt Cury
- Gunsmoke1955 · as Tom
- The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp1955