Ozzie Nelson

Ozzie Nelson

actor, director, producer

Ozzie Nelson was born on Mar 20, 1906 in USA. Ozzie Nelson's big-screen debut came with Sweetheart of the Campus directed by Edward Dmytryk in 1941, strarring Ozzie Norton. Ozzie Nelson is known for The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet directed by Ozzie Nelson, Ozzie Nelson stars as Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Nelson as Harriet Nelson. The most recent award Ozzie Nelson achieved is Walk of Fame. The upcoming new movie Ozzie Nelson plays is The Impossible Years which will be released on Dec 05, 1968.

This preeminent sitcom dad of the 50s had already started things off studying law when he decided to put together a dance band in the 20s on the sly. The band was so successful that he never looked back -- his love for entertaining completely took over. The New Jersey-born performer made a living for a time playing hotels and casinos on the East coast, capitalizing on an easy-going singing style. In 1932 Harriet Nelson came aboard as lead vocalist of his band and their easy rapport together provided some marvelous spontaneous comedy relief that clicked with audiences. They married in 1935 and soon extended their popularity to radio (with Red Skelton, among others) and a few WWII musical films such as Sweetheart of the Campus (1941), Strictly in the Groove (1942), Honeymoon Lodge (1943) and Take It Big (1944). Determined to maintain a strong family unit as their family grew, they integrated their two careers into one and seldom worked apart after this.They were a huge hit together with the family radio program "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" in 1944 with two young actors playing their sons. When the show transferred to TV in 1952, their real-life sons, David Nelson and Ricky Nelson, were incorporated. This landmark show lasted 14 years, a record unbroken for what is considered America's first "reality" TV sitcom. Although Ozzie's dad character came off stammering, hesitant and slightly absent-minded, which meshed perfectly with Harriet's smart, wisecracking appeal, he was anything but offstage. A dynamo and workaholic as well as shrewd businessman, he supervised his show completely as producer, director, and editor. He virtually put son Ricky on the map as a pop singing idol via his sitcom, incorporating the boy's musical talents into various plots.Ozzie's interests invariably spread to other aspects of show business as well. He and Harriet occasionally toured together on the theater stage in such light-hearted vehicles as "The Marriage-Go-Round." Later on he took on the role of producer and director for some of TV's more popular shows. Older son David followed in his father's footsteps as a producer and director. In the early 70s Ozzie and Harriet attempted another TV series entitled Ozzie's Girls (1973), which was syndicated to local stations, but the show had an outdated feel to it and lasted a mere season. One of his very few failures. Ozzie died in Laguna Beach, California of liver cancer in 1975 at age 69.

  • Birthday

    Mar 20, 1906
  • Place of Birth

    Jersey City, New Jersey, USA

Known For

Awards

1 wins & 0 nominations

Walk of Fame
1960
Television
Winner - Star on the Walk of Fame

Movies & TV Shows

All
Movies
TV Shows