Craig T. Nelson

Last updated

Craig T. Nelson
Craig T. Nelson at PaleyFest 2013.jpg
Nelson at the Paleyfest 2013 panel for Parenthood
Born
Craig Theodore Nelson [1]

(1944-04-04) April 4, 1944 (age 80) [1]
Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Alma mater University of Arizona
OccupationActor
Years active1969–present
Spouses
  • Robin McCarthy
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1965;div. 1978)​
  • Doria Cook
    ​
    (m. 1987)​
Children3
Relatives Ashley Jones (former-daughter-in-law)

Craig Theodore Nelson [1] (born April 4, 1944) [1] is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Hayden Fox in the ABC sitcom Coach (for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series), Deputy Ward Wilson in the 1980 film Stir Crazy , Steve Freeling in the 1982 film Poltergeist , Burt Nickerson in All The Right Moves (1983), Peter Dellaplane in Action Jackson , Chief Howard Hyde in Turner & Hooch (1989), Alex Cullen in The Devil's Advocate (1997), Chief Jack Mannion in the CBS drama The District (2000–2004), The Warden in the NBC sitcom My Name is Earl , and the voice of Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible in the 2004 film The Incredibles and its 2018 sequel. He also starred as Zeek Braverman in the NBC drama series Parenthood and plays Dale Ballard in the CBS sitcom Young Sheldon .

Contents

Early life

Craig Theodore Nelson was born on April 4, 1944, [1] [2] in Spokane, Washington. [3] He is the son of Vera Margaret (née Spindler; 1906–1971), a dancer, and Armand Gilbert Nelson (1900–1964), a businessman. [1] [2]

Nelson attended Lewis and Clark High School, where he played football, baseball, and basketball. [2] [4]

After high school, Nelson studied at Central Washington University. [5] After flunking out, Nelson went to Yakima Valley College where he was inspired to study acting by his drama teacher, Mr. Brady. [6] From Yakima, he went on to study drama at the University of Arizona on a scholarship. [2] [7]

In 1969, Nelson dropped out of school and moved to Hollywood to pursue an acting career. [2] When he first moved to California, he took up a job as a security guard at a soap factory until finding work as a comedy writer. [2]

Career

Nelson began his show business career as a stand-up comedian. [1] He was an early member of The Groundlings improv and sketch comedy troupe. [8] Nelson, Barry Levinson, and Rudy De Luca formed their own comedy team and were regular performers at The Comedy Store [1] and on the short-lived The Tim Conway Comedy Hour (1970). [9] In 1973, Nelson left the comedy world, explaining "the standup comedy life was pretty unfulfilling for me" [9] and he settled in Montgomery Creek, California where there was no electricity and no running water; "it was contentment, The Waltons ", he said. [7] Nelson had different jobs during that time including janitor, plumber, carpenter, surveyor, and high school teacher in Burney, CA. He returned to acting five years later. [9]

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. He played the high school football coach of Tom Cruise in the drama All the Right Moves and was one of the stars of director Sam Peckinpah's final film, The Osterman Weekend . [10]

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. [11] [12]

Nelson in 2004 Craig T Nelson signs autographs.jpg
Nelson in 2004

He provided the voice of Bob Parr (also known as Mr. Incredible) in the animated film, The Incredibles , and returned to the role for its sequel, Incredibles 2 . [13] Nelson also reprised the role again 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 , where he was replaced by actor Richard McGonagle. [14]

Nelson made a three-episode guest appearance on CSI: NY as a "nemesis" of Gary Sinise's Taylor. [15]

His latest films include 2009's The Proposal as Ryan Reynolds' skeptical father, 2010's The Company Men as a greedy CEO, and 2018's Book Club . From 2010 to 2015, he starred in the television show Parenthood as Ezekiel "Zeek" Braverman, the family patriarch. His production company is Family Tree Productions. [16]

In 2017, Nelson joined the cast of Young Sheldon as Dale Ballard, a local sports store owner, Missy's baseball coach, and Meemaw's boyfriend.

Personal life

Nelson has three children from his previous marriage to Robin McCarthy. [2] His second wife Doria Cook-Nelson is a freelance writer, president of a martial arts association, karate instructor, tai chi teacher and a former film and television actress who had a featured role in the movie musical Mame . [2]

Nelson is a motorsports fan and an avid racer. He first participated in the 1991 Toyota Celebrity Long Beach Grand Prix [2] and finished ninth. In 1992, he 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. [17]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1971 The Return of Count Yorga Sgt. O'Connor
1973 Scream Blacula Scream Sarge
1974 Flesh Gordon The Great God PornoVoice, uncredited
1979 ...And Justice for All Frank Bowers
1980 Stir Crazy Deputy Warden Ward Wilson
The Formula Geologist #2
Where the Buffalo Roam Cop on Stand
Private Benjamin Capt. William Woodbridge
1982 Poltergeist Steve Freeling
1983 Man, Woman and Child Bernie Ackerman
Silkwood Winston
All the Right Moves Coach Vern Nickerson
The Osterman Weekend Bernard Osterman
1984 The Killing Fields Major Reeves
1986 Poltergeist II: The Other Side Steve Freeling
1987 Rachel River Marlyn Huutula
1988 Action Jackson Peter Dellaplane
Me and Him Peter Aramis
1989 Red Riding Hood Sir Godfrey / Percival
Turner & Hooch Chief Howard Hyde
Troop Beverly Hills Fred Nefler
1996 Ghosts of Mississippi Ed Peters
I'm Not Rappaport The Cowboy
1997 The Devil's Advocate Alexander Cullen
Wag the Dog Senator John NealUncredited
2000 The Skulls Litten Mandrake
2001All Over AgainCole Twain
2004 The Incredibles Bob Parr / Mr. Incredible Voice
2005 The Family Stone Kelly Stone
2007 Blades of Glory Coach Darren Goddard
2009 The Proposal Joe Paxton
2010 The Company Men James Salinger
2011 Soul Surfer Dr. David Rovinsky
2015 Get Hard Martin Barrow
2016 Gold Kenny Wells
2018 Book Club Bruce Jutsum
Incredibles 2 Bob Parr / Mr. IncredibleVoice
2023 Book Club: The Next Chapter Bruce Jutsum

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1973 The Mary Tyler Moore Show Charlie the mechanicEpisode: "Mary Richards and the Incredible Plant Lady"
1978 Charlie's Angels StoneEpisode: "Angels on the Run"
Wonder Woman SamEpisode: "The Deadly Sting"
1979 How the West Was Won TuggerEpisode: "The Rustler"
Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker DriverTelevision film
1980 The Promise of Love Major Landau
The White Shadow Father PhilEpisode: "A Christmas Story"
1981Inmates: A Love StoryDanielsTelevision film
WKRP in Cincinnati Charlie BathgateEpisode: "Out to Lunch"
Murder in Texas Jack RamseyTelevision film
1981–1982 Private Benjamin Capt. Braddock / Col. HoganRecurring role; 3 episodes
1982 Paper Dolls Michael CaswellTelevision film
Chicago Story Kenneth A. Dutton13 episodes
1984–1985 Call to Glory Col. Raynor Sarnac23 episodes
1986 Alex: The Life of a Child Frank Deford Television film
The Ted Kennedy Jr. StorySenator Edward Kennedy
1989 Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story Major Bill Harcourt
1989–1997 Coach Coach Hayden FoxSeries regular; 198 episodes
1990 Drug Wars: The Camarena Story Harley SteinmetzTelevision miniseries
Extreme Close-UpPhilipTelevision film
1991 The Josephine Baker Story Walter Winchell
1993The SwitchRuss Fine
The Fire Next Time Drew MorganTelevision miniseries
1994Ride with the WindFrank ShelbyTelevision film
Probable CauseLieutenant Louis Whitmire
The Lies Boys TellLarry
1996 If These Walls Could Talk Jim HarrisTelevision film ("1996" segment)
1998 Creature Dr. Simon ChaseTelevision miniseries
1999To Serve and ProtectTom Carr
2000 The Huntress Ralph ThorsonEpisode: "Pilot"
Dirty Pictures Simon LeisTelevision film
2000–2004 The District Chief Jack MannionSeries regular; 89 episodes
2001 Yes, Dear TV ActorEpisode: "Jimmy's Jimmy", Uncredited
2002 The Agency Chief Jack MannionEpisode: "Doublecrossover"
2007 My Name Is Earl Warden Jerry Hazelwood4 episodes
2008–2009 CSI: NY Robert Dunbrook3 episodes
2009 Monk Judge Ethan Rickover2 episodes
2010–2015 Parenthood Ezekiel "Zeek" BravermanSeries regular; 91 episodes
2013 Hawaii Five-0 Tyler CainEpisode: "He welo 'oihana"
2015 Grace and Frankie Guy5 episodes
2017Raised by WolvesPaul "Grampy" KosinskiTelevision film
2017–present Young Sheldon Dale BallardRecurring role

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2012 Kinect Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure Bob Parr / Mr. Incredible
2013 Disney Infinity
2014 Disney Infinity 2.0
2015 Disney Infinity 3.0 [18]

Theme parks

YearTitleRoleNotes
2018 Incredicoaster Bob Parr / Mr. IncredibleVoice

Theatre

YearTitleRoleNotes
1983–1984FriendsHarold (Okie) Peterson
1998 Ah, Wilderness! Nat Miller

Awards and nominations

YearTitleAccoladeResults
1990 Coach Primetime Emmy Award, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
1991Nominated
1992 Golden Globe Award, Best Lead Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Won
Viewers for Quality Television Award, Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series Nominated
1993American Television Award, Best Actor in a Situation ComedyNominated
Golden Globe Award, Best Lead Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical Nominated
Viewers for Quality Television Award, Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series Nominated
1994 Golden Globe Award, Best Lead Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical Nominated
1995Nominated
1996 Ghosts of Mississippi Award Circuit Community Award, Best Cast EnsembleNominated
2001 The District Actor of the Year in a New SeriesNominated
2002 Satellite Award, Best Lead Actor in a Series - Drama Nominated
2004 Prism Award, Best Performance in a Drama Series Episode Nominated
2005 The Incredibles MTV Movie + TV Award, Best On-Screen Team (shared with Holly Hunter, Spencer Fox & Sarah Vowell )Nominated
The Family Stone Satellite Award, Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical Nominated
The Incredibles Visual Effects Society Award, Outstanding Performance by an Animated Character in an Animated Motion Picture Won
2006 The Family Stone AARP Movies for Grownups Award, Best Grownup Love Story (shared with Diane Keaton )Won
2010Ojai Film Festival Award, Lifetime Achievement awardWon
2012 Parenthood Prism Award, Male Performance in a Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline Won
2015 Critics Choice Television Award, Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominated

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Harris, Will (September 26, 2013). "Craig T. Nelson on comedy, chemistry, and more". The A.V. Club . Retrieved January 29, 2019. I've never, ever been Craig Richard Nelson. Ever! My birth certificate says Craig Theodore.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Knutzen, Eirik (October 1, 2000). "Craig T. Nelson Is D.c.'s Top Cop". The Morning Call . Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  3. ↑ Vista, Francesca Maxine (May 19, 2023). "Craig T. Nelson visiting Avista Stadium for Father's Day". KREM . Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Distinguished Lewis and Clark High School alumni". Spokane Public Schools . Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  5. ↑ Armstrong, Liahna (September 25, 2014). "Former Wildcat Craig T. Nelson coming to local film festival". Daily Record . Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  6. ↑ Holcomb, Kim (August 28, 2018) [First published May 2, 2018]. "Northwest native Craig T. Nelson made his way to Hollywood by way of Yakima". KING-TV . Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  7. 1 2 Boss, Kit (August 30, 1992). "Craig T. Nelson's Life In The Fast Lane". The Seattle Times . Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  8. ↑ "History: In the Beginning". The Groundlings. Archived from the original on August 6, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 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.
  10. ↑ Williams, Tony (2012). Bliss, Michael (ed.). Peckinpah Today: New Essays on the Films of Sam Peckinpah. Carbondale and Edwardsville, Illinois: Southern Illinois University Press. pp. 147–153. ISBN   978-0-8093-3106-2.
  11. ↑ Hibberd, James (March 26, 2015). "NBC Reviving Coach With Craig T. Nelson". Time . Archived from the original on March 28, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  12. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (March 26, 2015). "Craig T. Nelson to Star in 'Coach' Follow-Up Series for NBC". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  13. ↑ Ching, Albert (July 14, 2017). "D23 Expo: Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  14. ↑ Navarro, Alex (November 3, 2004). "The Incredibles Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on May 7, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  15. ↑ Eng, Joyce (December 3, 2008). "Craig T. Nelson to Guest on CSI: NY". TV Guide . Retrieved December 5, 2008.
  16. ↑ Wethington, Jessica (June 7, 2001). "Emmy performers: Craig T. Nelson". Variety . Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  17. ↑ "'Coach' becomes first-class racer". Las Vegas Sun . September 19, 1997. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  18. ↑ Avalanche Software. Disney Infinity 3.0 . Scene: Closing credits, 5:39 in, Featuring the Voice Talents of.
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