Barry Nelson(1917-2007)
- Actor
- Soundtrack
A genial, well-respected, all-around "nice guy", the breezily handsome
Barry Nelson was born Haakon Robert Nielsen on April 16, 1917, in San
Francisco, California, to Betsy (Christophersen) and Trygve "Ted" Nielsen, both Norwegian immigrants. He was raised in
nearby Oakland and graduated from the University of California at
Berkeley in 1941. A talent scout from MGM caught Barry in a college
production of "Macbeth" and quickly sized up his potential. Cast in
earnest secondary roles includingShadow of the Thin Man (1941)andDr. Kildare's Victory (1942),he was assigned
the lead in the war filmA Yank on the Burma Road (1942).Serving in WWII, he appeared in the
Moss Hartplay "Winged Victory", in what would become his Broadway debut,
in 1943 and a year later he appeared as "Corporal Barry Nelson" in the
1944 film version of the play. Barry lost major ground in films during
the post-war years, but certainly made up for it on the live stage by
appearing in a string of New York successes ranging from "The Rat Race"
to "The Moon Is Blue."
On TV, in addition to becoming a trivia statistic in the Hollywood annals as being the first to give video life toIan Fleming's "007" agent James ( "Jimmy" ) Bond in a one-hour production of "Casino Royale" inClimax! (1954),Barry lit up the small screen in such dramatic programs as Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955)and, in particular, a memorable episode ofThe Twilight Zone (1959).He also starred in the seriesThe Hunter (1952),a Cold War adventure, andMy Favorite Husband (1953),in which he played the level-headed mate and "straight man" to daffy blondeJoan Caulfield.In the 1960s he continued to demonstrate his acting muscle on stage and TV, although he did manage to preserve on film his starring role inMary, Mary (1963),a huge Broadway hit withDebbie Reynoldsco-starring in place of stage partnerBarbara Bel Geddes.The lightweight play "Cactus Flower" withLauren Bacallwas another bright vehicle, but starWalter Matthau's clout cost Barry the part when it went to film. Through it all Barry remained a thoroughly solid professional, particularly in the realm of TV-movies. Such standouts include his neighbor/undercover agent to criminals-on-the-runDon MurrayandInger StevensinThe Borgia Stick (1967)and his blind plane crash survivor inSeven in Darkness (1969).
The 1970s proved a very good decade indeed for Barry theater-wise with "Seascape," "The Norman Conquests" andLiza Minnelli's "The Act" among his pleasures, the last-mentioned earning him a Tony nomination. Despite co-starring roles in the blockbuster hitAirport (1970)and comedyPete 'n' Tillie (1972), the silver screen would not become his strong suit in later years. By the early 1990s he had fully retired.
A popular, clean-cut, down-to-earth "Average Joe" with a charmingly sly side, you just couldn't help but like Barry Nelson. Although he certainly could play the deceptive villain when called upon, he was usually the kind of guy you'd root for having as a neighbor, pal or business partner. Divorced from actressTeresa Cellifor quite some time and completely retired now, he and second wife Nansilee (they married in 1992) traveled extensively and enjoyed antique shopping in particular. In 2007, during one of their many excursions, Barry passed away quietly at age 89 at a hotel in Bucks County, Pennesylvania.
On TV, in addition to becoming a trivia statistic in the Hollywood annals as being the first to give video life toIan Fleming's "007" agent James ( "Jimmy" ) Bond in a one-hour production of "Casino Royale" inClimax! (1954),Barry lit up the small screen in such dramatic programs as Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955)and, in particular, a memorable episode ofThe Twilight Zone (1959).He also starred in the seriesThe Hunter (1952),a Cold War adventure, andMy Favorite Husband (1953),in which he played the level-headed mate and "straight man" to daffy blondeJoan Caulfield.In the 1960s he continued to demonstrate his acting muscle on stage and TV, although he did manage to preserve on film his starring role inMary, Mary (1963),a huge Broadway hit withDebbie Reynoldsco-starring in place of stage partnerBarbara Bel Geddes.The lightweight play "Cactus Flower" withLauren Bacallwas another bright vehicle, but starWalter Matthau's clout cost Barry the part when it went to film. Through it all Barry remained a thoroughly solid professional, particularly in the realm of TV-movies. Such standouts include his neighbor/undercover agent to criminals-on-the-runDon MurrayandInger StevensinThe Borgia Stick (1967)and his blind plane crash survivor inSeven in Darkness (1969).
The 1970s proved a very good decade indeed for Barry theater-wise with "Seascape," "The Norman Conquests" andLiza Minnelli's "The Act" among his pleasures, the last-mentioned earning him a Tony nomination. Despite co-starring roles in the blockbuster hitAirport (1970)and comedyPete 'n' Tillie (1972), the silver screen would not become his strong suit in later years. By the early 1990s he had fully retired.
A popular, clean-cut, down-to-earth "Average Joe" with a charmingly sly side, you just couldn't help but like Barry Nelson. Although he certainly could play the deceptive villain when called upon, he was usually the kind of guy you'd root for having as a neighbor, pal or business partner. Divorced from actressTeresa Cellifor quite some time and completely retired now, he and second wife Nansilee (they married in 1992) traveled extensively and enjoyed antique shopping in particular. In 2007, during one of their many excursions, Barry passed away quietly at age 89 at a hotel in Bucks County, Pennesylvania.
