Craig T. Nelson
 |
Craig T. Nelson | |
|---|---|
 Nelson at the Paleyfest 2013 panel for Parenthood | |
| Born | Craig Theodore Nelson April 4, 1944 |
| Alma mater | Central Washington University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Robin McCarthy
(m. 1965; div. 1978)Doria Cook-Nelson (m. 1987) |
| Children | 3 |
Craig Theodore Nelson[1] (born April 4, 1944) is an American actor. He is best known for his Emmy-winning role as Hayden Fox on the TV series Coach, Deputy Ward Wilson in the 1980 film Stir Crazy, Steven Freeling in the 1982 film Poltergeist, the Warden in My Name is Earl, and Mr. Incredible in the 2004 film The Incredibles. He also starred as Zeek Braverman in the television series Parenthood.
Early life
Nelson was born in Spokane, Washington, the son of Vera Margaret (née Spindler; 1906–1971), a dancer, and Armand Gilbert Nelson (1900–1964), a businessman. Nelson has a brown belt in karate.[2] In high school, Nelson was the quarterback of the football team and also played baseball. He attended Central Washington University studying criminology as he wanted to work for the CIA. He dropped out and went to Yakima Valley Community College to study English literature, but he dropped out again. He spent a semester abroad studying communications at Northfielde Universität Herisau in Switzerland.[citation needed] He eventually received a drama scholarship to the University of Arizona. Nelson did summer stock theatre in Cripple Creek, Colorado. He then moved to the west, where he worked as a security guard at a soap factory in the day and took acting classes at night.[3]
Career
Nelson began his show business career as a comedian. He was an early member of The Groundlings comedy troupe.[4] Nelson, Barry Levinson, and Rudy De Luca formed their own comedy team and were regular performers at The Comedy Store.[1] In 1973, Nelson left the comedy world, explaining "the standup comedy life was pretty unfulfilling for me"[3] and he settled in Mount Shasta where there was no electricity and no running water; "it was contentment, The Waltons, he said.[5] Nelson had different jobs during that time including janitor, plumber, carpenter, surveyor, and teacher. He returned to acting five years later.[3]
He was featured as a prosecuting attorney who opposes Al Pacino in the 1979 film ...And Justice for All, co-written by Levinson. In 1983, Nelson appeared in Silkwood, directed by Mike Nichols and starring Meryl Streep, as the high school football coach of Tom Cruise in the drama All the Right Moves and as one of the stars of director Sam Peckinpah's final film, The Osterman Weekend.
He has appeared in many other 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, and in the video games Kinect Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure and in the Disney Infinity video game series, except for the video game and The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer were he was replaced by actor Richard McGonagle.[6] He will reprise the role again in the upcoming 2018 sequel.[7]
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.[8]
His most recent films include 2009's The Proposal as Ryan Reynolds' skeptical father and 2010's The Company Men as a greedy CEO. From 2010 to 2015, he starred in the television show Parenthood as Zeek Braverman, the family patriarch.
Personal life
Nelson stated in an interview with Glenn Beck that he had been on welfare and collected food stamps. "I've been on food stamps and welfare, did anybody help me out? No. No."[9]
Nelson has three children from his previous marriage to Robin McCarthy: Tiffany, Chris and Noah. Chris is a science fiction writer.[10] Noah is a writer and producer for television. He has written for The District, CSI: NY, Hawaii Five-0, Secrets and Lies, and the upcoming Crackle drama, The Oath. [11]
His second wife Doria Cook-Nelson is a freelance writer, president of a martial arts association, karate instructor, tai chi teacher and former film and television actress who had a featured role in the movie musical Mame.[10]
Nelson is a motorsports fan and an avid racer. He first participated in the 1991 Toyota Celebrity Long Beach Grand Prix[10] and finished ninth. In 1994, Craig founded Screaming Eagles Racing 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.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | The Return of Count Yorga | Sgt. O'Connor | |
| 1974 | Flesh Gordon | The Monster | Voice role (Uncredited) |
| 1979 | ...And Justice for All | Frank Bowers | |
| 1980 | Stir Crazy | Deputy Ward Wilson | |
| 1980 | The Formula | Geologist #2 | |
| 1980 | Where the Buffalo Roam | Cop on Stand | |
| 1980 | Private Benjamin | Capt. William Woodbridge | |
| 1982 | Poltergeist | Steven Freeling | |
| 1983 | Man, Woman and Child | Bernie Ackerman | |
| 1983 | Silkwood | Winston | |
| 1983 | All the Right Moves | Nickerson | |
| 1983 | The Osterman Weekend | Bernard Osterman | |
| 1984 | The Killing Fields | Major Reeves | |
| 1986 | Poltergeist II: The Other Side | Steven Freeling | |
| 1987 | Rachel River | Marlyn Huutula | |
| 1988 | Action Jackson | Peter Dellaplane | |
| 1988 | Me and Him | Peter Aramis | |
| 1989 | Born on the Fourth of July | Marine Officer | |
| 1989 | Red Riding Hood | Sir Godfrey / Percival | |
| 1989 | Turner & Hooch | Chief Howard Hyde | |
| 1989 | Troop Beverly Hills | Fred Nefler | |
| 1996 | Ghosts of Mississippi | Ed Peters | |
| 1996 | I'm Not Rappaport | The Cowboy | |
| 1997 | The Devil's Advocate | Alexander Cullen | |
| 1997 | Wag the Dog | Senator John Neal | Uncredited |
| 2000 | The Skulls | Litten Mandrake | |
| 2001 | All Over Again | Cole Twain | |
| 2004 | The Incredibles | Bob Parr / Mr. Incredible | Voice role Nominated—MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Team |
| 2005 | The Family Stone | Kelly Stone | Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture |
| 2007 | Blades of Glory | Coach | |
| 2009 | The Proposal | Joe Paxton | |
| 2010 | The Company Men | James Salinger | |
| 2011 | Soul Surfer | Dr. Robinsky | |
| 2015 | Get Hard | Martin Barrow | |
| 2016 | Gold | Kenny Wells | |
| 2018 | The Incredibles 2 | Bob Parr / Mr. Incredible | Voice role; filming |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | The Mary Tyler Moore Show | Charlie | Episode: "Mary Richards and the Incredible Plant Lady" |
| 1978 | Charlie's Angels | Stone | Episode: "Angels on the Run" |
| 1978 | Wonder Woman | Sam | Episode: "The Deadly Sting" |
| 1979 | How the West Was Won | Tugger | Episode: "The Rustler" |
| 1979 | Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker | Driver | Television movie |
| 1980 | The Promise of Love | Major Landau | Television movie |
| 1980 | The White Shadow | Father Phil | Episode: "A Christmas Story" |
| 1981 | Inmates: A Love Story | Daniels | Television movie |
| 1981 | WKRP in Cincinnati | Charlie Bathgate | Episode: "Out to Lunch" |
| 1981 | Murder in Texas | Jack Ramsey | Television movie |
| 1981–1982 | Private Benjamin | Capt. Braddock / Col. Hogan | 3 episodes |
| 1982 | Paper Dolls | Michael Caswell | Television movie |
| 1982 | Chicago Story | Kenneth A. Dutton | 13 episodes |
| 1984–1985 | Call to Glory | Col. Raynor Sarnac | 23 episodes |
| 1986 | Alex: The Life of a Child | Frank Deford | Television movie |
| 1986 | The Ted Kennedy Jr. Story | Senator Edward Kennedy | Television movie |
| 1989 | Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story | Major Bill Harcourt | Television movie |
| 1989–1997 | Coach | Coach Hayden Fox | 198 episodes Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy (1992–95) Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (1990–91) Nominated—Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series |
| 1990 | Drug Wars: The Camarena Story | Harley Steinmetz | Television miniseries |
| 1990 | Extreme Close-Up | Philip | Television movie |
| 1991 | The Josephine Baker Story | Walter Winchell | Television movie |
| 1993 | The Switch | Russ Fine | Television movie |
| 1993 | The Fire Next Time | Drew Morgan | Television miniseries |
| 1994 | Ride with the Wind | Frank Shelby | Television movie |
| 1994 | Probable Cause | Lieutenant Louis Whitmire | Television movie |
| 1994 | The Lies Boys Tell | Larry | Television movie |
| 1996 | If These Walls Could Talk | Jim Harris | Television movie ("1996" segment) |
| 1998 | Creature | Dr. Simon Chase | Television miniseries |
| 1999 | To Serve and Protect | Tom Carr | Television miniseries |
| 2000 | The Huntress | Ralph Thorson | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2000 | Dirty Pictures | Simon Leis | Television movie |
| 2000–2004 | The District | Chief Jack Mannion | 89 episodes Nominated—Prism Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama |
| 2002 | The Agency | Chief Jack Mannion | Episode: "Doublecrossover" |
| 2007 | My Name Is Earl | Warden Jerry Hazelwood | 4 episodes |
| 2008–2009 | CSI: NY | Robert Dunbrook | 3 episodes |
| 2009 | Monk | Judge Ethan Rickover | 2 episodes |
| 2010–2015 | Parenthood | Zeek Braverman | 91 episodes Prism Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series Nominated—Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series |
| 2013 | Hawaii Five-0 | Tyler Cain | Episode: "He welo 'oihana" |
| 2015 | Grace and Frankie | Guy | 5 episodes |
| 2017 | Raised by Wolves | Paul 'Grampy' Kosinski | Television movie (post-production) |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983–1984 | Friends | Harold (Okie) Peterson | |
| 1998 | Ah, Wilderness! | Nat Miller |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Kinect Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure | Bob Parr / Mr. Incredible | Voice role |
| 2013 | Disney Infinity | Bob Parr / Mr. Incredible | Voice role |
| 2014 | Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes | Bob Parr / Mr. Incredible | Voice role |
| 2015 | Disney Infinity 3.0 | Bob Parr / Mr. Incredible | Voice role[12] |
References
- ^ a b Harris, Will (September 26, 2013). "Craig T. Nelson on comedy, chemistry, and more". The A.V. Club. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
I've never, ever been Craig Richard Nelson. Ever! My birth certificate says Craig Theodore.
- ^ Craig T. Nelson - Biography
- ^ a b c Logan, Joe (January 8, 1990). "Craig T. Nelson's Slow Path To Stardom The Star Of Abc's "Coach\" Twice Flunked Out Of College. For A While, He Was A Father On Welfare. Now His Film Credits Include \"silkwood\" And \"poltergeist," And Tonight He's In An Nbc Mini-series". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
- ^ "History: In the Beginning". The Groundlings. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
- ^ Boss, Kit (August 30, 1992). "Craig T. Nelson's Life In The Fast Lane". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
- ^ Navarro, Alex (November 3, 2004). "The Incredibles Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on May 7, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "D23 Expo: Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films". July 14, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
- ^ Eng, Joyce (December 3, 2008). "Craig T. Nelson to Guest on CSI: NY". tvguide.com. Retrieved December 5, 2008.
- ^ "Glenn Beck And Craig T. Nelson Talk About Not Paying Taxes Ever Again, For Some Reason". Huffington Post. May 29, 2009.
- ^ a b c Knutzen, Eirik (October 1, 2000). "Craig T. Nelson Is D.c.'s Top Cop". The Morning Call. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
- ^ Getlen, Larry (September 23, 2010). "Life Lessons". AARP. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
- ^ Avalanche Software. Disney Infinity 3.0. Scene: Closing credits, 5:39 in, Featuring the Voice Talents of.
External links
- 1944 births
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- American male karateka
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American male voice actors
- Central Washington University alumni
- Living people
- Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award winners
- Male actors from Spokane, Washington
- Racing drivers from Washington (state)
- Sportspeople from Spokane, Washington
- University of Arizona alumni