Posted on 08/13/2014 7:33:07 AM PDT by Captain Peter Blood
Ed Nelson, a star of the 1960s primetime soap “Peyton Place” and an actor with almost 200 credits, mostly in television, died on Saturday in Greensboro, N.C. He was 85.
Nelson had most recently appeared in the 2003 courtroom thriller “Runaway Jury,” starring Gene Hackman. He had a more significant role as General Sherman in the 1998 Jackie Chan vehicle “Who Am I.”
On “Peyton Place,” he played Dr. Michael Rossi during the entire five-year run of the series — 436 episodes. He returned in 1985 for reunion telepic “Peyton Place: The Next Generation.”
But Nelson was already a TV veteran by the time he was cast on “Peyton Place” in 1964. After a string of small parts in Roger Corman B movies during the mid to late ’50s, he began guesting on Westerns such as “Zane Grey Theater,” “Have Gun — Will Travel,” “The Rifleman,” “Maverick,” “Rawhide” and “Gunsmoke” plus other series such as “Twilight Zone,” “The Untouchables,” “The Fugitive” and “Dr. Kildare.”
Nelson appeared with James Shigeta and Martin Sheen in what would become a famous episode of “The Outer Limits” in which astronauts are experimented upon by aliens.
He had uncredited roles in the films “Elmer Gantry” and “Judgement at Nuremberg.”
After “Peyton Place,” Nelson starred in the brief series “The Silent Force” with Lynda Day George.
During the 1970s he guested on every conceivable series, including “Marcus Welby, M.D.,” “Cannon,” “Night Gallery,” “Mod Squad,” “Mission: Impossible,” “Kung Fu,” “Ironside” and “Police Woman.”
He appeared in the film “Airport ’75” as Major John Alexander and in 1976 war epic “Midway” as Admiral Harry Pearson. He also appeared in kidpic “For the Love of Benji.”
Credits during the ’80s include “Lou Grant,” “Quincy M.E.,” “The Fall Guy,” “Dynasty,” “MacGyver” and “Murder, She Wrote.”
Nelson played President Harry S Truman in the 1980 telepic “Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb,” in the 1989 feature “Brenda Starr,” starring Brooke Shields, and onstage in “Give ‘em Hell Harry!”
He also appeared in 1986 feature comedy “Police Academy 3: Back in Training.”
Edwin Stafford Nelson was born in New Orleans. He studied at Tulane U. for two years before heading off to New York to start his acting career. Later he returned to complete his degree at Tulane.
Nelson is survived by Patricia, his wife of 63 years; four daughters; two sons; 14 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
wow 63 years of marriage. What an example people such as he and his wife could be to today’s young people.
As my wife would point out, ‘That’s Number 3. They always die in threes.’
actually for this week that is number 4. Arlene Martel a TV actress passed away. She was Spock’s Bride on a episode of Star Trek among other things.
The best compliment for an actor; het got work. RIP.
Who did I miss besides Williams and Nelson?
I was just checking his credits and he had almost 200. No more character actors like him anymore. Back in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s there were tons of really good actors working and now they are all gone. Very good underrated folks who knew their craft and were good at it.
Pathetic what we have now.
Lauren Bacall, died of a stroke at 89.
Lauren Bacall
James Garner, Michael Johns of American Idol, Robin Williams, Arlene Martel, Lauren Bacall, and Ed Nelson. I’m almost afraid to log on anymore, wondering what celebrity has passed away now.
Vaguely remember him. He makes the third this week.
Yes. He was one of those actors who always made the movie or TV show a bit better.
Lauren Bacall.
I finished off my “Tombstone Territory” complete-series set a few months back. While not necessarily considered a classic series, I was impressed by how consistently well-paced and unpretentious the show was.
As for Ed Nelson, frankly, I’m far more saddened by his death than that of Robin Williams or Lauren Bacall. I liked Nelson quite a lot. Sometimes he could play a total weasel or weakling, as well as a stalwart good-guy, but there was something always likeably endearing and down-to-earth about him and his performances.
One thing I like about the show is the manliness of Pat Conway as Clay Hollister. I'm so sick of shows featuring the latest semi-shaved metrosexual hero. In those 50's westerns, men were men and women were women. Currently making my way through Maverick and Bat Masterson as well.
Just saw him the other night ( via DVD ) in an episode of Hawaiian Eye .
I am with you on that. I was looking at the New York Times obits this morning and saw that piece on Ed Nelson and I was more saddened by his passing than some of the others.
Well one thing is for sure Brian Williams will not be mentioning Ed’s passing on NBC news tonight.
They have spent way too much time on Robin Williams and I am sure a good 15 minutes will be on Lauren Bacall.
While I liked Bacall she never was that big a star and could never really carry a picture on her own.
Now Doris Day is still alive and she could do it all.
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