Acting · New Orleans, Louisiana, USA · Born December 21, 1928
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.
MovieRunaway Jury
2003
as George Dressler
MovieWho Am I?
1998
as General Sharman
MovieCries of Silence
1996
as Dr. August Claiborne
MovieThe Boneyard
1991
as Jersey Callum
MovieDeadly Weapon
1989
as General Stone
TVJake and the Fatman
1987
as D.A. Marcus Packard
TVJ.J. Starbuck
1987
MovieSworn to Silence
1987
as Victor Handler
MoviePolice Academy 3: Back in Training
1986
as Governor Neilson
TVMacGyver
1985
as Arthur Bandel
MoviePeyton Place: The Next Generation
1985
as Dr. Michael Rossi
TVMurder, She Wrote
1984
as Raymond 'Ray' Bascomb
TVFinder of Lost Loves
1984
as Bill Garnett
TVMatt Houston
1982
TVHotel
1982
TVCapitol
1982
TVCagney & Lacey
1982
as Sgt. Steingrove
MovieHelp Wanted: Male
1982
as George Dobbs
MovieBorn to Be Sold
1981
as Carl Strickland
MovieEnola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb
1980
as President Harry S. Truman
MovieThe Return of Frank Cannon
1980
as Mike Danvers
MovieThe Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything
1980
as Joseph Locordolos
Hagen
1980
TVTrapper John, M.D.
1979
MovieAnatomy of a Seduction
1979
as Mark Kane
Doctors' Private Lives
1979
MovieThe Crash of Flight 401
1978
as Philip Mulwray
TVVega$
1978
MovieLeave Yesterday Behind
1978
as Mr. Clarkson
TVDallas
1978
as Jeb Amos
MovieDoctors' Private Lives
1978
as Dr. Mike Wise
MovieSuperdome
1978
as George Beldridge
MovieMurder in Peyton Place
1977
as Dr. Michael Rossi
TVLou Grant
1977
TVLogan's Run
1977
as Dr. Rowan
TVCHiPs
1977
MovieA Little Game
1977
as Paul Hamilton
MovieFor the Love of Benji
1977
as Chandler Dietrich
TVGibbsville
1976
TVQuincy, M.E.
1976
TVCharlie's Angels
1976
as George Starrett
MovieMidway
1976
as Admiral Harry Pearson
MovieAcapulco Gold
1976
as Ray Hollister
TVThe Bionic Woman
1976
MovieRiding with Death
1976
as Robert Denby
MovieThat's the Way of the World
1975
as Carlton James
MovieThe Missing Are Deadly
1975
MovieAirport 1975
1974
as Major John Alexander
TVPolice Woman
1974
TVThe Rockford Files
1974
as Edgar 'Bud' Clement
MoviePolice Headquarters
1974
as Lt. Calvin Zenger
MovieHouston, We've Got a Problem
1974
as Gene Kranz, Flight Director
MovieLinda
1973
as Paul Reston
MovieRunaway!
1973
as Nick Staffo
TVBarnaby Jones
1973
as Larry Kinner
MovieTime to Run
1973
as Warren Cole
TVKung Fu
1972
as Sheriff Walter Raha
TVThe Streets of San Francisco
1972
TVSearch
1972
MovieThe Screaming Woman
1972
as Carl Nesbitt
TVThe Sixth Sense
1972
MovieBrink of Disaster!
1972
as Dr. Harden
TVCannon
1971
TVAlias Smith and Jones
1971
TVNight Gallery
1970
as Tom Burke (segment “Little Girl Lost”)
TVThe Silent Force
1970
MovieAlong Came a Spider
1970
as Dr. Martin Becker
TVMedical Center
1969
as Hank
TVThe Mod Squad
1968
TVAdam-12
1968
as Abe Strayhorn
TVIronside
1967
TVMission: Impossible
1966
as Van Cleve
TVThe F.B.I.
1965
as Walter Swenson
TVPeyton Place
1964
as Michael Rossi
MovieThe Man from Galveston
1963
as Cole Marteen
MovieSoldier in the Rain
1963
as James Priest
TVRedigo
1963
TVChanning
1963
as Deke Allison
TVThe Fugitive
1963
as Paul Clements
TVThe Outer Limits
1963
as Col. Luke Stone
TVArrest and Trial
1963
TVThe Dakotas
1963
TVThe Gallant Men
1962
TVStoney Burke
1962
TVThe Alfred Hitchcock Hour
1962
as Alex Trevor
TVThe Virginian
1962
as Ralph Slocum
TVSaints and Sinners
1962
as Ray
TVSam Benedict
1962
as Neil Bracket
MovieJudgment at Nuremberg
1961
as Captain at Nightclub Announcing Call-up of Officers (uncredited)
TVThe New Breed
1961
as Jefty Bright
TVDr. Kildare
1961
as Dr. Keith Judge
TV87th Precinct
1961
MovieDevil's Partner
1961
as Nick Richards / Pete Jensen
TVCain's Hundred
1961
as Peter Stull
MovieThe Fatal Impulse
1960
as Brundage
TVSurfside 6
1960
TVCheckmate
1960
as Gil Stoneham
TVThe Aquanauts
1960
as Chris Garland
TVThriller
1960
as Brundage
TVThe Tall Man
1960
TVCoronado 9
1960
MovieCode of Silence
1960
MovieValley of the Redwoods
1960
as Dino Michaelis
MovieA Bucket of Blood
1959
as Art Lacroix
MovieT-Bird Gang
1959
as Alex Hendricks
TVThe Detectives
1959
TVThe Rebel
1959
as Chad
TVJohnny Ringo
1959
as Kirk
TVThe Twilight Zone
1959
as Philip Redfield
TVLaramie
1959
as Sable
TVRiverboat
1959
as Jim Tyler
TVTightrope
1959
MovieThe Young Captives
1959
as Norm Britt
MovieI, Mobster
1959
as Sid - Henchman (uncredited)
TVBlack Saddle
1959
as Lee Coogan
TVRawhide
1959
as Lt. Cory Clemens
TV77 Sunset Strip
1958
TVBat Masterson
1958
as Jedrow
TVThe Rifleman
1958
MovieThe Brain Eaters
1958
as Dr. Paul Kettering
MovieHot Car Girl
1958
as Cop #2
MovieCry Baby Killer
1958
as Rick Connor
MovieNight of the Blood Beast
1958
as Dave Randall
MovieShe Gods of Shark Reef
1958
as Guard (uncredited)
MovieTeenage Cave Man
1958
as Blonde Tribe Member
TVTombstone Territory
1957
as Cowboy
TVHarbor Command
1957
TVMaverick
1957
TVPerry Mason
1957
as Ward Nichols
TVM Squad
1957
as Lenny Maston
MovieTeenage Doll
1957
as Police Officer 'Dutch' / Blind Man
TVHave Gun, Will Travel
1957
MovieCarnival Rock
1957
as Cannon
MovieInvasion of the Saucer Men
1957
as Tom
MovieBayou
1957
as Etienne (as Edwin Nelson)
MovieRock All Night
1957
as Pete
MovieAttack of the Crab Monsters
1957
as Ensign Quinlan
TVDick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
as Nelson
MovieSwamp Women
1956
as Police Sergeant
TVHighway Patrol
1955
TVGunsmoke
1955
as Lee Prentice
TVThe Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
1955
MovieNew Orleans Uncensored
1955
as Charlie
MovieThe Steel Trap
1952
as Man in Ticket Line at Airport (uncredited)
