Craig T. Nelson

Craig T. Nelson
Nelson at the June 2009 premiere for The Proposal
Born	Craig Richard Nelson April 4, 1944 (1944-04-04) Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1971–present
Spouse	Doria Cook (1987–present) Robin Nelson (div. 1978)

Craig Theodore Nelson (born Craig Richard Nelson; April 4, 1944) is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his Emmy-winning roles as Hayden Fox on the TV series Coach, and as Steve Freeling in the 1982 film Poltergeist. He also starred in The Incredibles in 2004 as Mr. Incredible.

Early life

Nelson was born in Spokane, Washington, the son of Vera Margaret (née Spindler), a dancer, and Armand Gilbert Nelson, a businessman who was once a drummer in Bing Crosby's high school band. 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.

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 WSC in 1994, a Lexus-engined Spice SE90 in 1995 and a Ford-engined Riley & Scott MkIII in 1996 and 1997.

In May 2009, Nelson appeared on Glenn Beck, where he spoke about his dislike of the current state of government, and highlighted the importance of funding for education and teachers. He also announced he would no longer pay taxes, and went on to state: "I've been on food stamps and welfare, did anybody help me out? No. No," despite these being government assistance programs.

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]}

In popular culture

He is mentioned in the South Park episode "Over Logging" as being the next person to use the internet at the Red Cross camp.

In United States of Tara, Marshall references him while discussing extremely manly men.

On the American version of Whose Line Is It Anyway, Colin Mochrie would usually do an impression of Nelson during a game like Questionable Impressions (where an impression is required), because Mochrie's skill at impressions is poor and Nelson doesn't have a strong accent or other trait to impersonate.

In episode 903 of the television series Mystery Science Theater 3000, as an on-screen character sits down in front of a large monitor screen, Tom Servo uses the riff "Alright, Craig T. Nelson, make me laugh."

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
• 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
• 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
• 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