HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Craig Theodore Nelson (born April 4, 1944) 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 This is a list of winners and nominees of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. The award is presented to the best performance by a lead actor in a television comedy series. Beginning with the 18th Primetime Emmy ...
), Deputy Warden Ward Wilson in the 1980 film '' Stir Crazy'', Steve Freeling in the 1982 film ''
Poltergeist In German folklore and ghostlore, a poltergeist ( or ; ; or ) is a type of ghost or spirit that is responsible for physical disturbances, such as loud noises and objects being moved or destroyed. Most claims or fictional descriptions of polter ...
'', 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 ''The District'' is an American crime drama and police procedural television series that aired on CBS from October 7, 2000, to May 1, 2004. The show followed the work and personal life of the chief of Washington, D.C.'s police department. P ...
'' (2000–04), The Warden in the
NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...
sitcom ''
My Name Is Earl ''My Name Is Earl'' is an American television sitcom created by Greg Garcia (producer), Greg Garcia for NBC. It aired for four seasons from September 20, 2005, to May 14, 2009, with a total of List of My Name Is Earl episodes, 96 episodes. It wa ...
'' (2007), and the voice of Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible in the 2004 film ''
The Incredibles ''The Incredibles'' is a 2004 American animated superhero film written and directed by Brad Bird. Produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures, the film stars the voices of Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Spencer ...
'' and its 2018 sequel. He also starred as Zeek Braverman in the NBC drama series '' Parenthood'' (2010–15) and recurred as Dale Ballard in the CBS sitcoms ''
Young Sheldon ''Young Sheldon'' is an American sitcom television series created by Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro which aired on CBS from September 25, 2017, to May 16, 2024. The series is a Spin-off (media), spin-off prequel to ''The Big Bang Theory'' that ...
'' (2017–24) and its spin-off ''Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage'' (2024–).


Early life

Craig Theodore Nelson was born on April 4, 1944, in
Spokane, Washington Spokane ( ) is the most populous city in eastern Washington and the county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It lies along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, south o ...
. He is the son of Vera Margaret (née Spindler; 1906–1971), a dancer, and Armand Gilbert Nelson (1901–1965), a businessman. Nelson attended Lewis and Clark High School, where he played football, baseball, and basketball. After high school, Nelson studied at Central Washington University. After flunking out, Nelson went to Yakima Valley College where he was inspired to study acting by his drama teacher, Mr. Brady. From Yakima, he went on to study drama at the
University of Arizona The University of Arizona (Arizona, U of A, UArizona, or UA) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, it ...
on a scholarship. In 1969, Nelson dropped out of school and moved to Hollywood to pursue an acting career. 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.


Career


Early career

Nelson began his show business career as a comedian. He was an early member of The Groundlings improv and sketch comedy troupe. Nelson,
Barry Levinson Barry Lee Levinson (born April 6, 1942) is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Levinson won the Academy Award for Best Director for '' Rain Man'' (1988). His other best-known works are ''Diner'' (1982), '' The Natural'' (1984 ...
, and Rudy De Luca formed their own comedy team and were regular performers at
The Comedy Store The Comedy Store is an American comedy club opened in April 1972. It is located in West Hollywood, California, at 8433 Sunset Boulevard on the Sunset Strip. An associated club is located in La Jolla, San Diego, California. History The Comedy ...
and on the short-lived ''
The Tim Conway Comedy Hour ''The Tim Conway Comedy Hour'' is a variety/sketch comedy television show broadcast in the United States by CBS as part of its 1970 fall lineup on Sundays at 10:00 pm. Background ''The Tim Conway Comedy Hour'' was one of several attempts to d ...
'' (1970). In 1973, Nelson left the comedy world, explaining "the standup comedy life was pretty unfulfilling for me" and he settled in
Montgomery Creek, California Montgomery Creek is a census-designated place in Shasta County, California, United States. Its population is 176 as of the 2020 census, up from 163 from the 2010 census. The town and associated creek were named after Zachariah Montgomery. Geog ...
where there was no electricity and no running water; "it was contentment, ''
The Waltons ''The Waltons'' is an American historical drama television series about a family in rural mountainous Western Virginia of the Appalachian Mountains / Allegheny Mountains / Blue Ridge Mountains chain, during the economic hardships and mass unemp ...
''", he said. 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.


Film

Nelson was featured as a prosecuting attorney who opposes
Al Pacino Alfredo James Pacino ( ; ; born April 25, 1940) is an American actor. Known for his intense performances on stage and screen, Pacino is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time. His career spans more than five decades, duri ...
in the 1979 film '' ...And Justice for All'', co-written by Levinson. He then played Capt. William Woodbridge in '' Private Benjamin'' (1980), Deputy Warden Ward Wilson in '' Stir Crazy'' (1980), and Steve Freeling in the 1982 film ''
Poltergeist In German folklore and ghostlore, a poltergeist ( or ; ; or ) is a type of ghost or spirit that is responsible for physical disturbances, such as loud noises and objects being moved or destroyed. Most claims or fictional descriptions of polter ...
'' (1982), returning to the role for the sequel, '' Poltergeist II: The Other Side'' (1986). In 1983, Nelson appeared in '' Silkwood'', directed by
Mike Nichols Mike Nichols (born Igor Mikhail Peschkowsky; November 6, 1931 – November 19, 2014) was an American film and theatre director and comedian. He worked across a range of genres and had an aptitude for getting the best out of actors regardless of ...
and starring
Meryl Streep Mary Louise "Meryl" Streep (born June 22, 1949) is an American actress. Known for her versatility and adept accent work, she has been described as "the best actress of her generation". She has received numerous accolades throughout her career ...
. That same year, he played the high school football coach of
Tom Cruise Thomas Cruise Mapother IV (born July 3, 1962) is an American actor and film producer. Regarded as a Cinema of the United States, Hollywood icon, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Tom Cruise, various accolades, includ ...
in the drama '' All the Right Moves'' and was one of the stars of director
Sam Peckinpah David Samuel Peckinpah (; February 21, 1925 – December 28, 1984) was an American film director and screenwriter. His 1969 Western epic '' The Wild Bunch'' received two Academy Award nominations and was ranked No. 80 on the American Film Instit ...
's final film, '' The Osterman Weekend''. He appeared in many other motion picture roles including Major Reeves in '' The Killing Fields'' (1984), Peter Dellaplane in '' Action Jackson'' (1988), Chief Howard Hyde in '' Turner & Hooch'' (1989), Ed Peters in '' Ghosts of Mississippi'' (1996), and Alex Cullen in '' The Devil's Advocate'' (1997).


Television

Nelson's first TV series was the short-lived ABC series '' Call to Glory'' from 1984 to 1985. He became well-known when he starred as college football coach Hayden Fox in the ABC sitcom '' Coach'' from 1989 to 1997, and for which he won a
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series This is a list of winners and nominees of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. The award is presented to the best performance by a lead actor in a television comedy series. Beginning with the 18th Primetime Emmy ...
. He also directed many episodes of the show. He then starred as chief of
Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
's
police department The police are a constituted body of people empowered by a state with the aim of enforcing the law and protecting the public order as well as the public itself. This commonly includes ensuring the safety, health, and possessions of citize ...
Jack Mannion in the CBS drama ''
The District ''The District'' is an American crime drama and police procedural television series that aired on CBS from October 7, 2000, to May 1, 2004. The show followed the work and personal life of the chief of Washington, D.C.'s police department. P ...
'' from 2000 to 2004. He then played the role of the Prison Warden in the
NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...
sitcom ''
My Name Is Earl ''My Name Is Earl'' is an American television sitcom created by Greg Garcia (producer), Greg Garcia for NBC. It aired for four seasons from September 20, 2005, to May 14, 2009, with a total of List of My Name Is Earl episodes, 96 episodes. It wa ...
'' in 2007.


Later career

Nelson provided the voice of Bob Parr (also known as Mr. Incredible) in the animated film ''
The Incredibles ''The Incredibles'' is a 2004 American animated superhero film written and directed by Brad Bird. Produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures, the film stars the voices of Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Spencer ...
'' (2004), and returned to the role for its long awaited sequel, ''
Incredibles 2 ''Incredibles 2'' is a 2018 American animated superhero film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. Written and directed by Brad Bird, it is the sequel to '' The Incredibles'' (2004) and the second full-length instal ...
'' (2018). 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 A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...
and '' The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer'', where he was replaced by actor Richard McGonagle. Nelson made a three-episode guest appearance on '' CSI: NY'' from 2008 to 2009 as a "nemesis" of
Gary Sinise Gary Alan Sinise (; born March 17, 1955) is an American actor, director, producer, musician and humanitarian. Among other awards, he has won a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards. He has ...
's Taylor. His latest films include 2007's '' Blades of Glory'' as an ice skating coach, 2009's '' The Proposal'' as
Ryan Reynolds Ryan Rodney Reynolds (born October 23, 1976) is a Canadian and American actor, producer and businessman. Known for starring in comedic and superhero films, he was the List of highest-paid film actors, world's second-highest-paid actor in 202 ...
' skeptical father, 2010's '' The Company Men'' as a greedy
CEO A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a chief executive or managing director, is the top-ranking corporate officer charged with the management of an organization, usually a company or a nonprofit organization. CEOs find roles in variou ...
, and 2018's '' Book Club''. From 2010 to 2015, he starred in the NBC comedy-drama '' Parenthood'' as Ezekiel "Zeek" Braverman, the family patriarch. His production company is Family Tree Productions. In 2019, Nelson joined the cast of ''
Young Sheldon ''Young Sheldon'' is an American sitcom television series created by Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro which aired on CBS from September 25, 2017, to May 16, 2024. The series is a Spin-off (media), spin-off prequel to ''The Big Bang Theory'' that ...
'' as Dale Ballard, a local sports store owner, Missy's baseball coach, and Meemaw's boyfriend.


Personal life

Nelson has three children from his first marriage to Robin McCarthy, though they later divorced. 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 MAME (formerly an acronym of Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) is a free and open-source emulator designed to emulate the hardware of arcade games, video game consoles, old computers and other systems in software on modern personal computers and ...
''. Nelson is a motorsports fan and an avid racer. He first participated in the 1991 Toyota Celebrity Long Beach Grand Prix and finished ninth. In 1992, he founded Screaming Eagles Racing with John Christie and entered and drove a Toyota-engined
Spice In the culinary arts, a spice is any seed, fruit, root, Bark (botany), bark, or other plant substance in a form primarily used for flavoring or coloring food. Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are the leaves, flowers, or stems of pl ...
SE90 in the
IMSA The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) is a North American sports car racing sanctioning body based in Daytona Beach, Florida, under the jurisdiction of the Automobile Competition Committee for the United States, ACCUS arm of the Féd ...
1994 WSC, a Lexus-engined Spice SE90 in
1995 1995 was designated as: * United Nations Year for Tolerance * World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War This was the first year that the Internet was entirely privatized, with the United States government ...
and a Ford-engined Riley & Scott MkIII in the
1996 1996 was designated as: * International Year for the Eradication of Poverty Events January * January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...
and
1997 Events January * January 1 – The Emergency Alert System is introduced in the United States. * January 11 – Turkey threatens Cyprus on account of a deal to buy Russian S-300 missiles, prompting the Cypriot Missile Crisis. * January 1 ...
championships. Nelson is also a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan. On January 5, 2025 he sang the National Anthem at Lambeau Field. He would later tell reporters "Me and the Packers go way back." In 2009, Nelson appeared on '' The Glenn Beck Program'' to announce that he was considering no longer paying income tax. In the same year, he appeared on ''
Hannity ''Hannity'' is an American Conservatism in the United States, conservative television political Talk show, talk program on Fox News hosted by Sean Hannity. Episodes air live at 9:00 p.m. from Monday through Thursday, while episodes that ai ...
'' to criticize government expansion. Early in his career, Nelson struggled with alcohol and substance addiction.


Filmography


Film


Television


Video games


Theme parks


Theatre


Awards and nominations


References


External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Craig T. 1944 births Living people 20th-century American comedians 21st-century American comedians 20th-century American male actors 21st-century American male actors American male film actors American male television actors American male voice actors Central Washington University alumni Male actors from Washington (state) American male comedians Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award winners University of Arizona alumni 24 Hours of Daytona drivers Comedians from Washington (state)