Ricky Nelson

Acting

Biography

Eric Hilliard Nelson (May 8, 1940 – December 31, 1985), better known as Ricky Nelson or Rick Nelson, was an American singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and actor. He placed fifty-three songs on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1957 and 1973, including nineteen top-ten hits, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on January 21, 1987. Nelson began his entertainment career in 1949 playing himself in the radio sitcom series, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, and, in 1952, appeared in his first feature film, Here Come the Nelsons. In 1957, he recorded his first single, debuted as a singer on the television version of the sitcom, and recorded a number one album, Ricky. In 1958, Nelson recorded his first number one single, "Poor Little Fool", and, in 1959, received a Golden Globe Most Promising Male Newcomer nomination after starring in the western film, Rio Bravo. A few films followed, and, when the television series was cancelled in 1966, Nelson made occasional appearances as a guest star on various television programs. Nelson and Sharon Kristin Harmon were married on April 20, 1963, and divorced in December 1982. They had four children: Tracy Kristine, twin sons Gunnar Eric and Matthew Gray, and Sam Hilliard. On February 14, 1981, a son was born to Nelson and Georgeann Crewe. A blood test in 1985 confirmed Nelson was the child's father. Nelson was engaged to Helen Blair at the time of his death in an airplane crash on December 31, 1985.

Filmography Movies

Acting

MOVIE

Rio Bravo

7.8(1.3K)

A small-town sheriff in the American West enlists the help of a disabled man, a drunk, and a young gunfighter in his efforts to hold in jail the brother of the local bad guy.

The Movie Orgy

6.6(0.0K)

Clips from assorted television programs, B-movies, commercials, music performances, newsreels, bloopers, satirical short films and promotional and government films of the 1950s and 1960s are intercut together to tell a single story of various creatures and societal ills attacking American cities.

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The Movie Orgy

Self (archive footage)

MOVIE

The Wackiest Ship in the Army

6.0(0.0K)

Lieutenant Rip Crandall is hoodwinked into taking command of the "Wackiest Ship in the Navy" – a real garbage scow with a crew of misfits who don't know a jib from a jigger. What none of them knows, including Crandall, is that this ship has a very important top-secret mission to complete in waters patrolled by the Japanese fleet. Their mission will save hundreds of allied lives – if only they can get there in one piece.

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The Wackiest Ship in the Army

Tommy Hanson

MOVIE

The Over the Hill Gang

5.8(0.0K)

A retired Texas Ranger and three aged pals help to clean up a town run by a crooked mayor, a drunken judge and a trigger-happy sheriff.

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The Over the Hill Gang

Jeff Rose

MOVIE

Ricky Nelson Sings

Not rated yet

Chronicling Ricky's evolution from teen sensation to rock star, this documentary includes twenty of his timeless musical performances spanning eight years on the "Ozzie and Harriet" show, plus all-new interviews with his children Tracy, Matthew, Gunnar and Sam, his original guitarist James Burton, and musician Kris Kristofferson.

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Ricky Nelson Sings

MOVIE

Ricky Nelson & Fats Domino - Rockin' With Rick and Fats

10.0(0.0K)

Rick Nelson & Fats Domino perform in a legendary concert on August 22, 1985, recorded live at the Universal Ampitheatre in Los Angeles. The first act was Rick together with his old pals the Jordinares performing some of Rick's top hits. In the second half, Fats went to work on his great classics. The finale saw both men perform an amazing duet of I'm Walkin' which had been a big hit for both of them. Recorded just 4 months before Rick Nelson's tragic death.

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Ricky Nelson & Fats Domino - Rockin' With Rick and Fats

MOVIE

The Wrecking Crew

7.3(0.1K)

A celebration of the musical work of a group of session musicians known as "The Wrecking Crew." a band that provided back-up instrumentals to such legendary recording artists as Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, and Bing Crosby.

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The Wrecking Crew

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

MOVIE

The Resurrection of Broncho Billy

6.4(0.0K)

The story of a young man, a self-styled cowboy; His dreams of the Old West and its film heroes frequently crushed by the rhythms of modern, urban life.

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The Resurrection of Broncho Billy

Voice Over