Writing · St. Charles, Illinois · Born October 11, 1964
Michael J. Nelson is the former host and writer of the Emmy-nominated, Peabody Award-winning Mystery Science Theater 3000. Since that time, he has appeared on numerous radio and TV shows, penned a regular column for TV Guide, and authored best-selling books for both HarperCollins and Abrams. His first book, Mike Nelson's Movie Megacheese, thrilled critics, including Richard Schickel of Time Magazine, who said of Mike, "He's more fun than a barrel of Val Kilmers... Smarter than a roomful of Patrick Swayzes... and almost as hilarious as Keanu Reeves." Mike's laugh-out-loud follow-up, Mind Over Matters, prompted Kirkus Reviews to enthuse, "From someplace called Minnesota comes a Nelson funnier than Ozzie, Ricky, Lord or Half," and even dared to compare him to another legendary writer, saying of his Serious Speech to Business People, "[It] could easily precede [Robert] Benchley's immortal Treasurer's Report." And Kirkus Reviews loved his novel, Death Rat!, saying, "Fast-paced, outrageous and funny, first-novelist Nelson's mockery of media mendacity is as biting as La Dolce Vita or Network--only funnier!" Nelson speaks all over the country, is a frequent guest on radio and television, and along with fellow former MST3K writers/performers Bill Corbett and Kevin Murphy operate a podcast called RiffTrax, which, in a similar vein to MST3K, targets more mainstream films.
MST3K: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death
2026
as Mike Nelson
MovieHunks of Junk
2026
as Self
MovieGrimTrax Returns
2026
as Self
MovieRiffTrax Live: Timecop
2025
as Self
MovieRiffTrax: Super Zeroes
2025
as Self
MovieRiffTrax Live: Point Break
2024
as Self
MovieGrimTrax
2024
as Self
MovieRiffTrax Live: RAD
2023
as Self
MovieRiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing
2022
as Self
MovieRiffTrax Live: Amityville - The Evil Escapes
2022
MovieRiffTrax Live: Hobgoblins
2021
as Self
MovieRiffTrax Live: Giant Spider Invasion
2019
as Self
MovieRiffTrax Live: Star Raiders
2019
as Self
MovieRiffTrax Live: Octaman
2019
as Self
MovieThe Rifftrax Yule Log
2018
as Self
MovieRiffTrax Live: Space Mutiny
2018
as Self
MovieRiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors
2017
as Self
MovieRiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party
2017
as Self
MovieRifftrax Live: Samurai Cop
2017
as Self
MovieRifftrax Live: Carnival of Souls
2016
MovieRiffTrax Live: Mothra
2016
as Self
MovieRiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
2016
as Self
MovieRiffTrax Live: Time Chasers
2016
as Self
MovieRifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2016
2016
as Self
MovieRiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny
2015
MovieRiffTrax Live: Miami Connection
2015
MovieRiffTrax Live: Sharknado 2
2015
as Self
MovieRifftrax Live: The Room
2015
as Self
MovieRifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2015
2015
as Himself
MovieRiffTrax Live: Santa Claus
2014
as Self
MovieRiffTrax Live: Godzilla
2014
as Self
MovieRiffTrax Live: Sharknado
2014
as Himself
Total Riff Off
2014
MovieRifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
2013
as Self
MovieRiffTrax Live: Night of the Living Dead
2013
as Self
MovieMystery Science Theater 3000: The Motion Picture Odyssey
2013
as Himself
MovieRifftrax Live: Starship Troopers
2013
as Self
MovieRiffTrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2013
2013
as Himself
Santa's Village of Madness
2012
as Self
MovieRiffTrax Live: Birdemic - Shock and Terror
2012
as Himself
MovieRiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate
2012
as Self
MovieRifftrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer
2011
MovieRiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill
2010
as himself
MovieRifftrax Live: Reefer Madness
2010
MovieRiffTrax Live: Christmas Shorts-stravaganza!
2009
as Himself
MovieRiffTrax Live: Plan 9 from Outer Space
2009
as Self
Max the Hero
2007
as Stew (voice)
MovieThe Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon
2007
as Self
MovieThe Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo
2007
as Self
MovieThe Film Crew: Killers from Space
2007
as Self
The Three Stooges in Color
2005
The Adventures of Edward the Less
2001
as The Noble One (voice)
MovieMystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3
2000
as Mike Nelson
MovieThe Last Dance: RAW
1999
as Himself / Mike Nelson
MovieMystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 2
1999
as Mike Nelson
MovieMystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 1
1998
as Mike Nelson
1st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
1997
as Mike Nelson
MovieMystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
1996
as Mike Nelson
Poopie!
1995
Poopie Parade of Values
1995
as Mike Nelson
MovieMST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special
1995
as Mike Nelson
MovieThis Is MST3K
1992
as Self
TVMystery Science Theater 3000
1989
as Valeria
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
1964
as Michael J. Nelson
MovieThe Year of Laughing Dangerously
as Joel Williams
RiffTrax: Pressure Point
as Himself
MovieThe Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark
as Self
TVMystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments
as Mike Nelson
