Craig T. Nelson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Craig T. Nelson
|
|
|---|---|
Nelson at the Paleyfest 2013 panel for Parenthood
|
|
| Born |
Craig Theodore Nelson
April 4, 1944 Spokane, Washington, U.S.
|
| Education | Lewis and Clark High School |
| Alma mater | University of Arizona |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Spouse(s) |
|
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Ashley Jones (former-daughter-in-law) |
Craig Theodore Nelson (born April 4, 1944) is an American actor. He is famous for playing Hayden Fox in the TV show Coach. He won an Emmy Award for this role. Many people also know him as the voice of Mr. Incredible in the movies The Incredibles (2004) and Incredibles 2 (2018). He also starred as Zeek Braverman in Parenthood and Dale Ballard in Young Sheldon.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Craig Theodore Nelson was born in Spokane, Washington, on April 4, 1944. His mother, Vera Margaret, was a dancer, and his father, Armand Gilbert Nelson, was a businessman.
School Days
Nelson went to Lewis and Clark High School. There, he was active in sports, playing football, baseball, and basketball.
College and Early Dreams
After high school, Nelson studied at Central Washington University. He later attended Yakima Valley Community College. There, his drama teacher, Mr. Brady, inspired him to study acting. He then earned a scholarship to study drama at the University of Arizona.
In 1969, Nelson left college and moved to Hollywood. He wanted to become an actor. When he first arrived in California, he worked as a security guard at a soap factory.
Acting Career
Starting Out in Comedy
Nelson began his career as a comedian. He was one of the first members of a comedy group called The Groundlings. He also formed his own comedy team with Barry Levinson and Rudy De Luca. They performed regularly at The Comedy Store.
In 1973, Nelson took a break from comedy. He said that stand-up comedy was not fulfilling for him. He moved to a quiet place in California. During this time, he worked different jobs. He was a janitor, plumber, carpenter, and even a high school teacher. Five years later, he returned to acting.
Big Screen Roles
Nelson has appeared in many movies. In 1979, he played a lawyer in ...And Justice for All. He was also in Private Benjamin (1980). He played Deputy Warden Ward Wilson in Stir Crazy (1980).
One of his most famous early movie roles was Steve Freeling in the horror film Poltergeist (1982). He returned for the sequel, Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986). In 1983, he acted in Silkwood with Meryl Streep. That same year, he played a high school football coach in All the Right Moves with Tom Cruise.
Other notable film roles include Major Reeves in The Killing Fields (1984). He was Peter Dellaplane in Action Jackson (1988). He played Chief Howard Hyde in Turner & Hooch (1989). He also appeared as Alex Cullen in The Devil's Advocate (1997).
Television Success
Nelson's first TV series was Call to Glory (1984–1985). He became very well-known for his role as college football coach Hayden Fox. This was in the ABC sitcom Coach, which ran from 1989 to 1997. He won an Emmy Award for this role. He also directed many episodes of Coach.
Later, he starred as police chief Jack Mannion in the CBS drama The District (2000–2004). In 2007, he played the Prison Warden in the NBC sitcom My Name Is Earl.
Recent Work
Craig T. Nelson is widely recognized as the voice of Bob Parr, also known as Mr. Incredible. He voiced this superhero in the animated movie The Incredibles (2004). He returned to voice Mr. Incredible in the sequel, Incredibles 2 (2018). He also voiced the character in several video games.
From 2010 to 2015, he starred in the NBC show Parenthood. He played Ezekiel "Zeek" Braverman, the family's wise patriarch.
His recent films include Blades of Glory (2007), where he played an ice skating coach. He was also in The Proposal (2009) and The Company Men (2010). In 2018, he appeared in Book Club.
In 2019, Nelson joined the cast of Young Sheldon. He plays Dale Ballard, a local sports store owner and baseball coach. He also appeared in the spin-off show Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage in 2024.
Personal Life
Craig Nelson has three children from his first marriage to Robin McCarthy. They later divorced. His second wife, Doria Cook-Nelson, is a writer and martial arts instructor. She was also an actress.
Nelson is a big fan of motorsports and enjoys racing cars. He started his own racing team, Screaming Eagles Racing, in 1992. He has competed in several championships.
He is also a lifelong fan of the Green Bay Packers football team. On January 5, 2025, he sang the National Anthem at Lambeau Field.
Awards and Recognition
Craig T. Nelson has received many awards and nominations for his acting.
- He won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1992 for his role in Coach.
- He also won a Visual Effects Society Award in 2005 for his voice work as Mr. Incredible in The Incredibles.
- In 2010, he received a Lifetime Achievement award at the Ojai Film Festival.
- He won a Prism Award in 2012 for his performance in Parenthood.
See also
In Spanish: Craig T. Nelson para niños
