Judd Asher Nelson(born November 28, 1959) is an American actor. His acting roles include Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime inThe Transformers: The Movie,John Bender inThe Breakfast Club,Alec Newbury inSt. Elmo's Fire,Alex inCybermutt,Joe Hunt inBillionaire Boys Club,Nick Peretti inNew Jack City,Billy Beretti inEmpire,and Jack Richmond in the television seriesSuddenly Susan.[1][2]
Judd Nelson | |
|---|---|
 Nelson in 2006 | |
| Born | Judd Asher Nelson November 28, 1959 Portland, Maine,U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Notable work | |
| Relatives | Merle Nelson(mother) |
Early life
editNelson was born inPortland, Maine,the son ofMerle Nelson(néeRoyte), a court mediator and former member of theMaine House of Representatives,and Leonard Nelson, a corporate lawyer. He grew up in aConservative Jewishhome although his family did not keepkosher.[3][4]His father was the first Jewish president of thePortland Symphony Orchestra.[5][6][7]He has two sisters, Eve and Julie.[1][2]
He went to school atSt. Paul's SchoolinConcord, New HampshireandWaynflete SchoolinPortland, Maine.While at St Paul's School, anEpiscopalianschool, he started embracing his Jewish identity after experiencingantisemitism.[8]He studied atHaverford CollegeinPennsylvania,leaving during his sophomore year. He subsequently moved to Manhattan to study acting withStella Adler.[1][2]
Career
edit1980s
editNelson began acting in the mid-1980s, starring inMaking the Grade(1984), and inFandango(1985) oppositeKevin Costner.It was his roles inJohn Hughes'sThe Breakfast Club(1985) andJoel Schumacher'sSt. Elmo's Fire(1985) that made Nelson a star. He was affiliated with theBrat Packof young 1980s actors, along withEmilio Estevez,Anthony Michael Hall,Rob Lowe,Andrew McCarthy,Demi Moore,Molly Ringwald,andAlly Sheedy.TheSt. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)music video – also directed by Schumacher – reached No. 1 in the US (1985). It was written byDavid Fosterand John Parr and performed byJohn Parr.Nelson appears in the video.[2]He also appeared on a video for theSimple Minds' song "Don't You (Forget About Me)",fromThe Breakfast Club,in which members of the "Pack" feature prominently.[9]A subsequent article inNew Yorkmagazine,which focused primarily on the success of these films, resulted in the term "Brat Pack" being coined.[10]
In 1986 Nelson provided the voice ofHot Rod/Rodimus PrimeinThe Transformers: The Movieand teamed up withBreakfast Clubalumna Ally Sheedy for a third time inBlue City.He also provided narration forBill Couturie'sDear America: Letters Home from Vietnam,a critically acclaimed war documentary that featured a cast includingTom Berenger,Robert De Niro,Willem Dafoe,andMatt Dillon.Film criticRoger Ebertpraised the documentary, and it maintains a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[11][12]
He starred oppositeBurt Reynoldsin theABC Afterschool SpecialShattered If Your Kid's On Drugs,which also featuredMegan FollowsandDermot Mulroney.In 1987 he starred in theBob Clarkcourtroom comedyFrom the Hip,which co-starredJohn HurtandElizabeth Perkins;he also provided a stand-out performance inBillionaire Boys Club,a courtroom thriller based on actual events; his performance earned him aGolden Globe Awardnomination for Best Actor in a Mini-Series.[2]In late 1988 he played Konstantin in Chekhov'sThe Seagulldirected byCharles Marowitzat the Los Angeles Theatre Center, earning praise, as did the entire production.[13]
Nelson closed the 1980s with theWilliam Lustigthriller,Relentless(1989), in which he plays a Los Angelesserial killerhunted by two police officers (Robert LoggiaandLeo Rossi); he provided a cameo in theAdam Rifkinroad filmNever on Tuesday(1989) along withNicolas Cage,Cary Elwes,Emilio Estevez andCharlie Sheen;and appeared inTommy Chong'sFar Out Man(1989) withRae Dawn ChongandC. Thomas Howell.[14][15]
Key TV roles in the 1980s includedMoonlighting(1986) – episode "Camille" – in which he played a police officer oppositeCybill ShepherdandBruce Willis.
1990s
editNelson began the 1990s with a starring role oppositeMax von Sydowin the World War II dramaHiroshima: Out of the Ashes(1990). The film focused on the horror of theHiroshima bombing.It co-starsMako IwamatsuandPat Morita.In the Fall of 1990 he appeared on stage in Chicago and New York in Jules Feiffer'sCarnal KnowledgewithJon Cryer.[16]He then worked for a second time with Adam Rifkin, this time starring inThe Dark Backward(1991) withBill Paxton.This quirky comedy featured fellow actor Rob Lowe, as well asLara Flynn Boyle,James Caan,andWayne Newton.Nelson plays the worst comedian instand-up comedyhistory.
In 1991, he had a starring role in theMario Van Peebles-directedNew Jack City,an urban gangster film withWesley Snipes,Ice-T,Vanessa A. Williams,andChris Rock.The film was a commercial success.[17]He then had a special guest appearance in the HBO TV seriesTales from the Crypt– on the episodeWhat's Cookin(1992) – withChristopher ReeveandMeat Loaf,followed by a starring role withRichard Jordanin the thrillerPrimary Motive(1992), and a similar role inEntangled(1993) oppositePierce Brosnan,which was set in Paris.
In 1994 Nelson appeared withBrendan Fraser,Steve Buscemi,Chris Farley,andAdam Sandlerin the comedyAirheads,withGina Gershonin the psychological thrillerFlinch,and with then partnerShannen Dohertyin the thrillerBlindfold: Acts of Obsession.Nelson wrote, produced, and starred in the thrillerEvery Breathin which he co-starred withJoanna Pacula.He headlined the Australian thriller,Blackwater Trail(1995), withPeter Phelps.He had a starring role on theNBCtelevision sitcomSuddenly Susan(1996), which saw success for a four-season run. He had a starring role in theShaquille O'NealmovieSteel(1997). The film also starredAnnabeth GishandRichard Roundtree(Steelwas a commercial flop).[2][18]
Nelson wrapped up the 1990s with another urban gangster thriller,Light It Up(1999), which featured an ensemble cast includingR&Bsinger/actorUsher Raymond(in his first leading role),Rosario Dawson,Forest Whitaker,andVanessa L. Williams.He playedAlan Freedin the latter's life story,Mr. Rock 'N' Roll: The Alan Freed Story(1999) oppositeMädchen AmickandPaula Abdul.[2]
2000s to present day
editIn the 21st century, Nelson has appeared in such TV series asThe Outer Limits(2000),CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2006),CSI: NY(2007),Las Vegas(2007),Eleventh Hour(2008) as a psychologist researching soldiers returning from Iraq who suffer fromposttraumatic stress disorder,Psych(2010), and a recurring role inTwo and a Half Men(2010) with Charlie Sheen.
Films include thepsychological thrillerCabin by the Lake(2000), its sequelReturn to Cabin by the Lake(2001), and a cameo appearance in the 2001 filmJay and Silent Bob Strike Back;the film's writer-director,Kevin Smith,had been a long-time fan of Nelson and the "Brat Pack" films.[19]In 2002 he co-starred withLauren HollyinSanta Jr.and reprised his role as John Bender in an episode ofFamily Guy(2007). Later, Nelson reprised his role of Rodimus Prime inTransformers Animated(2009) and appeared inThe Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day(2009), the latter withJulie Benz,Billy Connolly,Sean Patrick Flanery,andPeter Fonda.
He portrayed Father Charley Lock onBrookwood Sleazebags(2010), a pilot he did for HBO.[2][20]In 2012, Nelson played the role of Headmaster Nash in the live-action feature filmBad Kids Go to Hell,based on the graphic novel of the same name. The same year, Nelson co-wrote and starred in the short filmThe Spin Room: Super Tuesday.Nelson reprised his role as Rodimus inTransformers: Animatedand voiced Ben 10,000, Eon, and Atomic-X inBen 10: Omniverse.
In 2013, Nelson authored four books released on Kindle:The Power of Speech,Nine of Diamonds,The Gig,andWater Music.[21]
Nelson played a pivotal role in the final season ofNikita.[22]
Nelson played a lead role in the 2010 Hallmark movie,Cancel Christmas.He portrayed Chris Frost, who is alsoSanta Claus.[23]
In 2019, he starred in the suspense thriller,Dead Water.
In 2021, Nelson starred as Don Cody in theLifetimefilmGirl in the Basementwhich was inspired by theFritzl case.[24]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Rock 'n' Roll Hotel | Rocker Johnny | |
| 1984 | Making the Grade | Eddie Keaton | |
| 1985 | The Breakfast Club | John Bender | Won – MTV Movie Silver Bucket of Excellence Award |
| St. Elmo's Fire | Alec Newbury | ||
| Fandango | Phil Hicks, Groover | ||
| 1986 | The Transformers: The Movie | Hot Rod / Rodimus Prime | Voice[25] |
| Blue City | Billy Turner | ||
| 1987 | From the Hip | Robin 'Stormy' Weathers | |
| 1989 | Relentless | Arthur 'Buck' Taylor | |
| Never on Tuesday | Motorcycle Cop | Uncredited | |
| 1990 | Far Out Man | Himself | Cameo |
| 1991 | New Jack City | Nick Peretti | |
| The Dark Backward | Marty Malt | ||
| 1992 | Primary Motive | Andrew Blumenthal | |
| 1993 | Conflict of Interest | Gideon | |
| Entangled | David | ||
| 1994 | Every Breath | Jimmy | Also Writer and Producer |
| Hail Caesar | Prisoner One | ||
| Airheads | Jimmie Wing | ||
| Flinch | Harry Mirapolsky | ||
| Caroline at Midnight | Phil Gallo | ||
| 1995 | Blackwater Trail | Matt | |
| 1996 | For a Few Lousy Dollars | Hitman | |
| 1997 | Steel | Nathaniel Burke | |
| 1999 | Light It Up | Ken Knowles | |
| 2000 | Endsville | Rufus the Buck-Toothed Sluggard | |
| Falcon Down | Harold Peters | ||
| 2001 | Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back | Sheriff | |
| Dark Asylum | Quitz | ||
| The Cure for Boredom | Max | ||
| 2002 | Deceived | Jack Jones | |
| 2003 | White Rush | Brian Nathanson | |
| 2005 | Lethal Eviction | Shep | |
| The Lost Angel | Father Brian | ||
| 2006 | National Lampoon's TV: The Movie | Fear Factor Host/Judd | |
| 2007 | Netherbeast Incorporated | Steven P.D. Landry | |
| Nevermore | Jonathon Usher | ||
| 2008 | The Caretaker | Ella's dad[26] | |
| The Day the Earth Stopped | Charlie | ||
| 2009 | Dirty Politics | Billy | |
| A Single Woman | Jewish reporter | ||
| Little Hercules in 3-D | Kevin | ||
| The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day | Concezio Yakavetta | ||
| 2010 | The Terror Experiment (Fight or Flight) | Agent Wilson | |
| Endure | Emory Lane | ||
| Mayor Cupcake | Donald Maroni | ||
| 2012 | Bad Kids Go to Hell | Headmaster Nash | |
| 2013 | Last Chance Holiday | Glenn Cartwell | |
| Down and Dangerous | Charles | Nominated – Maverick Movie Award | |
| Nurse 3D | Dr. Morris | ||
| 2014 | Bigfoot Wars | Dr. Smith | |
| Private Number | Sheriff Stance | ||
| Road to the Open | Anger Management Therapist | ||
| 2016 | Stagecoach: The Texas Jack Story | Sid Dalton | |
| 2018 | Billionaire Boys Club | Ryan Hunt | |
| 1/1 | Robert | ||
| 2019 | Dead Water | San McLean | |
| Santa Fake | Seb | ||
| Electric Jesus | Pastor Wember | ||
| Dauntless: The Battle of Midway | Admiral R.A. Spruance | ||
| 2022 | The Most Dangerous Game | Marcus Rainsford |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Moonlighting | Policeman | Episode: "Camille" |
| 1987 | Billionaire Boys Club | Joe Hunt | 2 episodes Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film |
| 1990 | Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes | Pete Dunham | Television film |
| 1992 | Tales from the Crypt | Gaston | Episode: "What's Cookin'" |
| 1994 | Blindfold: Acts of Obsession | Dr. Jannings | Television film |
| 1995 | Circumstances Unknown | Paul Kinsey | |
| 1996–1999 | Suddenly Susan | Jack Richmond | 71 episodes |
| 1999 | Mr. Rock 'n' Roll: The Alan Freed Story | Alan Freed | Television film |
| 2000 | The Outer Limits | Harry Longworth | Episode: "Something About Harry" |
| Cabin by the Lake | Stanley | Television film | |
| The Spiral Staircase | Phillip Warren | ||
| The New Adventures of Spin and Marty: Suspect Behavior | Jack Hulka | ||
| 2001 | Strange Frequency | Martin Potter | |
| Return to Cabin by the Lake | Stanley | ||
| Lost Voyage | Aaron Roberts | ||
| 2002 | Cybermutt | Alex | |
| Santa Jr. | Darryl Bedford | ||
| 2005 | Three Wise Guys | George | |
| 2006 | Black Hole | Eric | |
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Mick Sheridan | Episode: "Time of Your Death" | |
| 2007 | Las Vegas | Ollie | Episode: "Fleeting Cheating Meeting" |
| The Kidnapping | Glen | Television film | |
| CSI: NY | Cigarette Company Executive | Episode: "The Ride In" | |
| Family Guy | John Bender | Voice, episode: "Blue Harvest" | |
| 2008 | Infected | Malcolm Burgess | Television film |
| 2009 | Phineas and Ferb | The Guru | Voice, episode: "Isabella and the Temple of Sap"[25] |
| Transformers: Animated | Rodimus Prime | Voice, episode: "TransWarped Part 1"[25] | |
| 2010 | Psych | Dr. Steven Reidman | Episode: "Death Is in the Air" |
| Two and a Half Men | Chris McElroy | 2 episodes | |
| 2011 | Cancel Christmas | Santa / Chris Frost | Television film |
| 2013–2014 | Ben 10: Omniverse | Eon, Ben 10,000, Atomic-X | Voice, 5 episodes[25] |
| 2013 | Nikita | Ronald Peller | 2 episodes |
| 2015, 2019 | Empire | Billy Beretti | 5 episodes |
| 2017 | Transformers: Titans Return | Rodimus Prime / Hot Rod | Voice, main role[25] |
| From Straight A's to XXX | Don | Television film | |
| 2018 | Transformers: Power of the Primes | Rodimus Prime / Hot Rod / Rodimus Cron | Voice, recurring role[25] |
| 2021 | Girl in the Basement | Don Cody | Television film |
Music videos
edit| Year | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" | John Parr |
| 2012 | "Gotten" | SlashfeaturingAdam Levine |
Theatre
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Sleeping Dogs | Henry Hitchcock | Mark Taper Forum |
| Planet Fires | Sling and Bartender | ||
| Orphans | Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre,Jupiter, Florida | ||
| Wrestlers | |||
| 1988 | The Seagull | Konstantin | The Los Angeles Theatre Center |
| Temple | Paulie | American Jewish Theatre, New York City | |
| 1990 | Carnal Knowledge | Jonathan Fuerst | Martin R. Kaufman Theatre,New York City |
| 2001 | The Cocktail Hour | The Cape Playhouse, Massachusetts | |
| 2003 | He She Them | The Shubert Theatre |
References
edit- ^abc"Judd Nelson Biography".Biography.September 6, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 23,2021.
- ^abcdefgh"Judd Nelson".IMDb.RetrievedFebruary 23,2021.
- ^"Judd Nelson: The truth about my Brat Pack past… and social media's future".
- ^Herzfeld, Laura (October 3, 2012)."Judd Nelson on religion in movies, 'Breakfast Club,' and his new film 'Just 45 Minutes from Broadway'".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedJuly 9,2015.
- ^Peck, Abraham J.; Jean M. Peck (2007).Maine's Jewish Heritage.Arcadia Publishing. p. 108.ISBN978-0-7385-4965-1.
- ^Film Reference.com.
- ^Bartlett, Will (January 9, 1996)."Lillian D. Royte Strong Believer in Public Service".Portland Press Herald.RetrievedMarch 27,2008.
- ^"Judd Nelson: The truth about my Brat Pack past… and social media's future".
- ^"Simple Minds - Don't You (Forget About Me) Breakfast Club".YouTube.
- ^Blum, David (June 10, 1985)."Hollywood's Brat Pack".New York.
- ^Ebert, Roger (September 16, 1988)."Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam".Chicago Sun-Times– via RogerEbert.com.
- ^"Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam".Rotten Tomatoes.November 15, 2005.RetrievedFebruary 23,2021.
- ^Sullivan, Dan (October 10, 1988)."STAGE REVIEW: 'Seagull' Is a Flight of Caring, Knowing".Los Angeles Times.
- ^"Never on Tuesday".IMDb.RetrievedFebruary 23,2021.
- ^"Far Out Man".IMDb.RetrievedFebruary 23,2021.
- ^Willis, John, ed. (February 1, 2000).Carnal Knowledge.Hal Leonard Corp. p. 61.ISBN978-1-55783-126-2.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^"New Jack City (1991)".Box Office Mojo.May 21, 1991.RetrievedJune 15,2013.
- ^"Steel".Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^Spears, Steve (November 28, 2006). "That's Mr. Nelson to you".Tampa Bay Times.
- ^"Judd Nelson & Peter Fonda Join The Cast Of 'Boondock Saints 2'".Geeks of Doom.December 5, 2008.RetrievedJune 15,2013.
- ^"Judd Nelson".Goodreads.RetrievedFebruary 23,2021.
- ^Masters, Megan (August 20, 2013)."NikitaExclusive: Brat Packer Judd Nelson to Go Undercover for Major Final Season Arc ".TVLine.Archived fromthe originalon August 24, 2018.RetrievedAugust 31,2013.
- ^Crump, William D. (April 27, 2017).How the Movies Saved Christmas: 228 Rescues from Clausnappers, Sleigh Crashes, Lost Presents and Holiday Disasters.McFarland.ISBN978-1-4766-6488-0.
- ^Andreeva, Nellie (October 6, 2020)."Lifetime Greenlights 'Girl In The Basement' Movie Starring Stefanie Scott, Judd Nelson & Joely Fisher; Elisabeth Rohm Directs".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedJanuary 23,2021.
- ^abcdef"Judd Nelson (visual voices guide)".Behind The Voice Actors.RetrievedNovember 28,2023.A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
- ^"The Caretaker Takin' Care of the Killin' Teens Business".DreadCentral.Archived fromthe originalon October 29, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 8,2010.