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David Oswald Nelson was born 24 October 1936 in New York City, New York, United States, to Oswald George Nelson (1906-1975), and his wife, Peggy Louise (Snyder) Nelson (1909-1994), who were married 8 October 1935 in David's father's home in Hackensack, Bergen, New Jersey,
In 1940 the family lived in Englewood, Bergen, New Jersey.[1]
"The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet" premiered as a situation comedy television series in 1952, starring Ozzie, Harriet, David, and Ricky Nelson. David Nelson, in addition to acting in the series, directed some of the episodes. "TV's longest-running live-action comedy was the brainchild of lawyer-turned-bandleader Ozzie Nelson [father of David] and began on the radio in 1944. There wasn't, in fact, much 'adventure' anyone could discern in the lives of the suburban Nelson clan (nor was it ever exactly clear what the TV Ozzie did for a living), but this wholesome sitcom ran for 14 years (and a remarkable 435 episodes), and made a bona fide rock-and-roll star out of younger son Rick."[2]
David married Margaret June Blair (b. 1937) 20 May 1961 in Los Angeles, California.[3] Children of Margaret June Blair and Davied Oswald Nelson are
David and June divorced in June 1974.[4]
David married Yvonne O'Connor (Huston) 3 September 1975. David adopted Yvonne's three children from her marriage to Huston: two sons named John and Eric and a daughter named Teri. The marriage lasted until David's death in 2011. David's stepdaughter, Teri Nelson, was married to game show host Chuck Woolery from 1985 until 2004.
After "Ozzie and Harriet" ended, David continued acting and directing. He had starred in the 1959 film, "The Big Circus", with Red Buttons, Victor Mature, Kathryn Grant, and Gilbert Roland. Playing the father in the 1990 John Waters film, "Cry-Baby" was David Nelson's last role.[5]
Like his his parents, Ozzie and Harriet, and his brother, Rick, David was honored with a star 9 May 1996 on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. David's star is located at 1501 Vine Street.[6]
David Nelson died 11 Jan 2011, at the age of 74, in Century City, Los Angeles, California, due to complications from colon cancer. In accordance with his wishes, following cremation he was interred in Westwood Memorial Park's outdoor Garden of Serenity Columbarium, rather than joining the rest of the Nelson family in their plot at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.[7]
Thank you to Kitty Smith for contributions to this profile.
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Featured National Park champion connections: David is 18 degrees from Theodore Roosevelt, 21 degrees from Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger, 18 degrees from George Catlin, 17 degrees from Marjory Douglas, 26 degrees from Sueko Embrey, 19 degrees from George Grinnell, 30 degrees from Anton Kröller, 18 degrees from Stephen Mather, 25 degrees from Kara McKean, 20 degrees from John Muir, 20 degrees from Victoria Hanover and 27 degrees from Charles Young on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
N > Nelson > David Oswald Nelson
Categories: Westwood Memorial Park, Los Angeles, California | Notables | American Television Actors | United States of America, Notables