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Born: April 16, 1917 – Died: April 7, 2007
Barry Nelson, known for his affable and approachable demeanor, was born Haakon Robert Nielsen in San Francisco, California, to Norwegian immigrant parents Betsy Christophersen and Trygve "Ted" Nielsen. Growing up in Oakland, Nelson's early life was shaped by his parents' resilience and hard work, setting a strong foundation for his future endeavors.
Early Life and Career
Nelson's foray into acting began in earnest at the University of California at Berkeley, where he graduated in 1941. His talent was evident early on, leading to his discovery by an MGM talent scout during a college production of "Macbeth." This opportunity led to his first professional role, marking the beginning of a fruitful career in acting.
His significant contributions to the entertainment industry are highlighted by his performance in "A Guy Named Joe" (1943), which marked his first major success. However, it was his role in "The Shining" (1980) as Ullman that catapulted him into stardom, showcasing his versatile acting skills.
Nelson's career spanned several decades, and he was recognized for his work with various nominations and awards. Notably, he was the first actor to portray the iconic character of James Bond in a visual medium, playing "Card Sense Jimmy Bond" in a TV adaptation of "Casino Royale" on the series "Climax!" (1954).
Off-screen, Nelson led a personal life marked by significant relationships, including his marriage to Nancy Lee Hoy in 1992. His interests extended beyond acting, with a penchant for antique shopping and travel.
Barry Nelson's impact on Hollywood is marked by his ability to bring charm and depth to his roles, making him a beloved figure in the industry. His trailblazing role as James Bond and his memorable performances across film and television cemented his status as an icon in the entertainment world.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Monsters (TV Series) | Dr. Vernon Rathmore |
| 1988 | J.J. Starbuck (TV Series) | Joe Piermont |
| 1988 | Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) | Eugene McClenden |
| 1983 | Fantasy Island (TV Series) | Phillip Waverly |
| 1982 | Magnum, P.I. (TV Series) | William B. Knox |
| 1981 | Dallas (TV Series) | Arthur Elrod |
| 1981 | Fitz and Bones (TV Series) | Val |
| 1981 | Taxi (TV Series) | Dr. Jeffries |
| 1981 | Here's Boomer (TV Series) | Les Andrews |
| 1981 | Nero Wolfe (TV Series) | Andrew Dunaway |
| 1980 | Island Claws | Dr. McNeal |
| 1980 | *The Shining* | Ullman |
| 1979 | The Ropers (TV Series) | Uncle Bill |
| 1979 | The Love Boat (TV Series) | Mac O'Brian |
| 1979 | Salvage 1 (TV Series) | Dr. Singleton |
| 1978 | David Cassidy - Man Undercover (TV Series) | Dr. Dewhurst |
| 1978 | Greatest Heroes of the Bible (TV Series) | Pharaoh |
| 1978 | Battlestar Galactica (TV Series) | Bogan |
| 1978 | Kaz (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1977 | Washington: Behind Closed Doors (TV Mini Series) | Bob Bailey |
| 1977 | Mason (TV Movie) | Howard Bennett |
| 1974 | Fools, Females and Fun (TV Movie) | Dr. David Markham |
| 1973 | Thriller (TV Series) | Hugo Fane |
| 1973 | Cannon (TV Series) | Gus Quigley |
| 1973 | Circle of Fear (TV Series) | Jim |
| 1972 | Climb an Angry Mountain (TV Movie) | Lt. Frank Bryant |
| 1972 | Pete 'n' Tillie | Burt |
| 1972 | Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law (TV Series) | John Andrews |
| 1971 | Longstreet (TV Series) | Les Bailey |
| 1971 | My Wives Jane (TV Movie) | Nat Franklin |
| 1970 | Airport | Anson Harris |
| 1969 | The F.B.I. (TV Series) | Val Palmer |
| 1969 | Love, American Style (TV Series) | Dr. M.B. Selby (segment "Love and the Militant") |
| 1969 | Seven in Darkness (TV Movie) | Alex Swain |
| 1969 | The Name of the Game (TV Series) | Frank Sandler |
| 1968 | CBS Playhouse (TV Series) | Cary Lesco |
| 1967 | Vacation Playhouse (TV Series) | Dick Cameron |
| 1967 | The Borgia Stick (TV Movie) | Hal Carter |
| 1964 | The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (TV Series) | Colin | Dr. James Parkerson |
| 1964 | Kraft Suspense Theatre (TV Series) | Colin Neal |
| 1964 | Dr. Kildare (TV Series) | Dr. Wiley Lansing |
| 1964 | The Twilight Zone (TV Series) | Bob Frazier |
| 1964 | The Greatest Show on Earth (TV Series) | Clay Keifer |
| 1964 | Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (TV Series) | Don Emerson |
| 1963 | Ben Casey (TV Series) | Dr. Joe Garry |
| 1963 | Mary, Mary | Bob McKellaway |
| 1963 | The DuPont Show of the Week (TV Series) | Clay Douglas |
| 1960 | The United States Steel Hour (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1960 | Zane Grey Theatre (TV Series) | Mark Bigelow |
| 1960 | The DuPont Show with June Allyson (TV Series) | Grant |
| 1959 | Hudson's Bay (TV Series) | Jonathan Banner |
| 1959 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) | Raymond Houston |
| 1958 | Lux Playhouse (TV Series) | Dr. Vic Martin |
| 1954–1958 | Climax! (TV Series) | Dick Milton | James Bond |
| 1956 | The First Traveling Saleslady | Charles Masters |
| 1956 | Producers' Showcase (TV Series) | Paul |
| 1956 | Screen Directors Playhouse (TV Series) | Bill Morgan |
| 1953–1955 | My Favorite Husband (TV Series) | George Cooper |
| 1955 | Schlitz Playhouse (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1953 | Willys Theatre Presenting Ben Hecht's Tales of the City (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1952 | The Hunter (TV Series) | Bart Adams |
| 1951 | The Man with My Face | Charles 'Chick' Graham | Albert 'Bert' Rand |
| 1950–1951 | Suspense (TV Series) | Paul Weston | Eddie Stone | Turk Wilson ... |
| 1950 | Pulitzer Prize Playhouse (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1950 | The Philco Television Playhouse (TV Series) | Mitchell Hickok |
| 1950 | Starlight Theatre (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1950 | Robert Montgomery Presents (TV Series) | Bob MacDonald |
| 1950 | Colgate Theatre (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1948–1950 | The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre (TV Series) | Joe Golden |
| 1949 | The Ford Theatre Hour (TV Series) | Peter Sloan |
| 1948 | Command Decision | Cumquat B-Baker Crewman (voice, uncredited) |
| 1948 | Tenth Avenue Angel | Al Parker |
| 1947 | Undercover Maisie | Lt. Paul Scott |
| 1947 | The Beginning or the End | Colonel Paul Tibbetts Jr. |
| 1947 | The Luckiest Guy in the World (Short) | Charles Vurn |
| 1945 | Airborne Lifeboat (Short) | Unknown |
| 1945 | Time to Kill (Short) | Harry O'Brien |
| 1944 | Winged Victory | Robert Edward 'Bobby' Crills (as Cpl. Barry Nelson) |
| 1943 | Sucker Bait (Short) | Blonde Spy's Boyfriend |
| 1943 | A Guy Named Joe | Dick Rumney |
| 1943 | Bataan | F.X. Matowski |
| 1943 | The Human Comedy | Fat Dana |
| 1942 | Eyes in the Night | Mr. Busch |
| 1942 | The Affairs of Martha | Danny O'Brien |
| 1942 | Rio Rita | Harry Gantley |
| 1942 | Don't Talk (Short) | FBI Agent Freed |
| 1942 | Dr. Kildare's Victory | Samuel Z. Cutter |
| 1942 | A Yank on the Burma Road | Joe Tracey |
| 1941 | Johnny Eager | Lew Rankin |
| 1941 | Shadow of the Thin Man | Paul Clark |
| 1938 | Comet Over Broadway | Garage Mechanic (uncredited) |