
Ricky Nelson
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.
Known For(45 works)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962

Saturday Night Live
1975Saturday Night Live
1975

The Mike Douglas Show
1961The Mike Douglas Show
1961

The Love Boat
1977The Love Boat
1977

What's My Line?
1950What's My Line?
1950

The Streets of San Francisco
1972The Streets of San Francisco
1972

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
1952The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
1952

McCloud
1970McCloud
1970

Miss USA
1963Miss USA
1963

Dinah!
1974Dinah!
1974

The Ed Sullivan Show
1948The Ed Sullivan Show
1948

The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries
1977The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries
1977

Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
1971Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
1971

Petrocelli
1974Petrocelli
1974

ABC Stage 67
1966ABC Stage 67
1966

Solid Gold
1980Solid Gold
1980

Hondo
1967Hondo
1967

Rio Bravo
1959Rio Bravo
1959

The Johnny Cash Show
1969The Johnny Cash Show
1969

Rock Concert
1973Rock Concert
1973

General Electric Theater
1953General Electric Theater
1953

The Shootist
1976The Shootist
1976

The Movie Orgy
1968The Movie Orgy
1968

La Classe américaine
1993La Classe américaine
1993

The Wrecking Crew
2008The Wrecking Crew
2008

The Men Who Made the Movies: Howard Hawks
1973The Men Who Made the Movies: Howard Hawks
1973

The Story of Three Loves
1953The Story of Three Loves
1953

The Over the Hill Gang
1969The Over the Hill Gang
1969

Swing Out, Sweet Land
1970Swing Out, Sweet Land
1970

The Wackiest Ship in the Army
1960The Wackiest Ship in the Army
1960

Sonic Boom
1974Sonic Boom
1974

Love and Kisses
1965Love and Kisses
1965

High School U.S.A.
1984High School U.S.A.
1984

Disneyland '59
1959Disneyland '59
1959

Three on a Date
1978Three on a Date
1978

Death In Hollywood
1990Death In Hollywood
1990

Here Come the Nelsons
1952Here Come the Nelsons
1952

The Resurrection of Broncho Billy
1970The Resurrection of Broncho Billy
1970

Fol-de-Rol
1972Fol-de-Rol
1972

Men Who Rate a 10
1980Men Who Rate a 10
1980

On the Flip Side
1966On the Flip Side
1966

Happy Birthday, Mr. Christian
1984Happy Birthday, Mr. Christian
1984

Ricky Nelson Sings
2005Ricky Nelson Sings
2005

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

Easy to Be Free
1973Easy to Be Free
1973