Craig T. Nelson

Craig T. Nelson
Nelson at the Paleyfest 2013
Born	Craig Theodore Nelson (1944-04-04) April 4, 1944 Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1971–present
Spouse(s)	Doria Cook (1987–present) Robin Nelson (div. 1978)

Craig Theodore Nelson (born Craig Theodore Nelson; April 4, 1944) is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his Emmy-winning role as Hayden Fox on the TV series Coach, Deputy Ward Wilson in the 1980 film Stir Crazy, Steve Freeling in the 1982 film Poltergeist, the Warden in "My Name is Earl", and Mr. Incredible in the 2004 film The Incredibles. He currently stars in the TV series Parenthood.

Early life

Nelson was born in Spokane, Washington, the son of Vera Margaret (née Spindler), a dancer, and businessman Armand Gilbert Nelson. Nelson has a brown belt in karate and attended the University of Arizona and Central Washington University.

Career

Because Craig Richard Nelson was already registered with the Screen Actors Guild, he registered as Craig Theodore Nelson.

He has appeared in numerous motion pictures (most notably the Poltergeist series) and had featured roles in five television shows (Coach, Call to Glory, The District, My Name Is Earl, and Parenthood). Coach ran from 1989 to 1997, with Nelson starring as college football coach Hayden Fox.

He voiced Mr. Incredible in the 2004 animated film The Incredibles.

During the early 1990s, he made a guest appearance in the music video for country singer Garth Brooks's song "We Shall Be Free". Nelson made a three-episode guest appearance on CSI: NY as a "nemesis" to Gary Sinise’s Taylor.

His most recent films include 2009's The Proposal as Ryan Reynolds' skeptical father and 2010's The Company Men as a greedy CEO. He currently stars in the 2010 television show Parenthood as Zeek Braverman, the family patriarch.

Controversy

On April 19th 2010, Mr Nelson appeared on Glen Beck's television program at Fox News. While decrying social programs and policies of the United States, Mr Nelson went on to say "I've been on welfare and food stamps, did anyone ever help me, no." At the time Mr Nelson was not aware that Food Stamps and Welfare are both forms of government assistance paid for by tax payers.

Personal life

Nelson is a motorsports fan and an avid racer. He first participated in the 1991 Toyota Celebrity Long Beach Grand Prix and finished third. He founded Screaming Eagles Racing in 1994 with John Christie and entered and drove a Toyota-engined Spice SE90 in the IMSA 1994 WSC, a Lexus-engined Spice SE90 in 1995 and a Ford-engined Riley & Scott MkIII in the 1996 and 1997 championships.

Craig is also a golf enthusiast and is a member at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, CA.

Nelson's son, Noah, was married to actress Ashley Jones in 2003. They divorced in 2009.^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

Nelson in 2004

• The Return of Count Yorga (1971) - Sgt. O'Connor
• Flesh Gordon (1974) - The Monster (voice, uncredited)
• ...And Justice for All (1979) - Frank Bowers
• Stir Crazy (1980) - Deputy Ward Wilson
• Where the Buffalo Roam (1980) - Cop on stand
• Private Benjamin (1980) - Capt. William Woodbridge
• Poltergeist (1982) - Steve Freeling
• Silkwood (1983) - Winston
• All the Right Moves (1983) - Nickerson
• The Osterman Weekend (1983) - Bernard Osterman
• Call to Glory (1984) - Col. Raynor Sarnac
• The Killing Fields (1984) - Major Reeves, Military Attache
• "Alex: The Life of a Child" (1986)
• Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) - Steve Freeling
• Red Riding Hood (1989) - double role of the evil Sir Godfrey and his good twin brother Percival
• Action Jackson (1988) - Peter Dellaplane
• Born on the Fourth of July (1989) - Marine officer
• Coach (TV) (1989–1997) Coach Hayden Fox
• Turner & Hooch (1989) - Chief Howard Hyde
• Troop Beverly Hills (1989) - Fred Nefler
• The Josephine Baker Story (1991) - Walter Winchell
• Fire Next Time (1993) - Fisherman, Drew Morgan - Environmental/Ecological Drama
• Ride with the Wind, (1994) - Frank Shelby, Motorcyclyst
• Ghosts of Mississippi (1996) - Ed Peters, District Attorney
• I'm Not Rappaport (1996) - The Cowboy
• Devil's Advocate (1997) - Alexander Cullen
• Wag The Dog (1997) - Senator John Neal (uncredited)
• Peter Benchley's 'Creature"(1998) - Scientist
• Family Guy (1999) - Himself
• The Skulls (2000) - Litten Mandrake
• Dirty Pictures (2000) - Simon Leis
• "Against time was changed from ( All Over Again ) 2001 filmed in Chattanooga Tennessee
• The District (TV) (2000–2004) - Chief Jack Mannion
• The Incredibles (2004) - Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible (voice)
• The Family Stone (2005) - Kelly Stone
• Blades of Glory (2007) - Coach
• My Name is Earl (TV) (2007) - Warden
• The Proposal (2009) - Joe Paxton
• CSI: NY (TV) (2008–2009) - Robert Dunbrook
• Monk (TV) (2009) - Judge Ethan Rickover
• Parenthood (TV) (2010–present) - Zeek Braverman
• The Company Men (2010)
• Soul Surfer (2011) - Dr. Rovinsky

References

Mary Tyler Moore Show (1973) Monica Ted Kennedy Jr. Story 1986

External links

• Craig T. Nelson at the Internet Movie Database
• Craig T. Nelson at the Internet Broadway Database
• Craig T. Nelson at Internet Off-Broadway Database