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