David Nelson Obituary

David Oswald Nelson best known by the dual name David Nelson, was an American actor. He was born on October 24, 1936 and died on January 11, 2011 at age 74.

Born in New York City, Nelson was the elder son of entertainment couple Harriet Hilliard Nelson (born Peggy Lou Snyder; July 18, 1909 – October 2, 1994) and Ozzie Nelson (March 20, 1906 – June 3, 1975).

Nelson was also the elder brother of singer Ricky Nelson, who was born on May 8, 1940 and died on December 31, 1985 at age 45.

He attended Hollywood High School and later, the University of Southern California and was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity.

Nelson is most famous for apearing along with his brother and their parents on the long-running sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet in the 1950s and 1960s.

He also directed several episode of the aforementioned sitcom.

Nelson continued acting, directing and priducing after the series came to an end.

Nelson endeared himself to fans following the role he played in the 1959 thriller The Big Circus. He played the role of a disturbed, apparently homicidal troubled youth.

He made his last movie appearance in the campier Cry-Baby (1990).

He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1501 Vine Street, on May 9, 1996.

He had two sons: Daniel Blair Nelson and James Eric Nelson from his first marriage with June Blair.

He also adopted two sons and a daughter during his second marriage, to Yvonne Huston.

He passed away on January 11, 2011, in Century City, California, from complications of colon cancer.