Harriet Nelson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Harriet Nelson
Nelson in 1964
Born	Peggy Lou Snyder (1909-07-18)July 18, 1909 Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
Died	October 2, 1994(1994-10-02) (aged 85) Laguna Beach, California, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills
Other names	Harriet Hilliard
Occupation	Actress singer
Years active	1932–1989
Spouse(s)	Roy Sedley ​ ​ (m. 1930; annul. 1933)​ Ozzie Nelson ​ ​ (m. 1935; died 1975)​
Children	David Nelson Ricky Nelson
Relatives	Kristin Nelson (daughter-in-law) Tracy Nelson (granddaughter) Matthew Nelson (grandson) Gunnson

Harriet Nelson (born Peggy Lou Snyder; July 18, 1909 – October 2, 1994) was a famous American actress and singer. She is best known for starring in the popular TV show The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Harriet Nelson was born Peggy Lou Snyder in Des Moines, Iowa. Her parents were Hazel Dell and Roy Hilliard Snyder. She started performing on the vaudeville stage when she was just three years old. Later, as a teenager, she made her first appearance on Broadway.

Harriet Hilliard, c. 1936

Harriet left high school early to join the dance group at the Capitol Theater. She also danced in the Harry Carroll Revue. In 1930, she married a comedian named Roy Sedley. Their marriage ended a few years later in 1933.

By 1932, while still performing in vaudeville, she met Ozzie Nelson. He was a bandleader who played the saxophone. Ozzie hired Harriet to sing with his band, and she began using the name Harriet Hilliard. They got married three years later.

Film Career and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet

Harriet Hilliard also had a successful film career on her own. In 1936, RKO Pictures signed her to a one-year contract. She appeared in three movies, including the famous musical Follow the Fleet with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. During World War II, she was very popular for leading roles in musicals, comedies, and mystery films.

Ozzie Nelson wrote in his book that Harriet was very popular at RKO. Both Ozzie and Harriet wanted her to continue her solo film career. However, they decided it was more important for her to stay with the band and later, their radio show.

Even though the couple sometimes appeared in movies together, they are most famous for their work in radio and television. In 1944, the Nelsons started a family comedy series for radio called The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. It became very popular and successfully moved to television. The show was a big hit on ABC-TV from 1952 to 1966. Their two sons, Ricky and David, were also regular stars on the show.

In 1973, Ozzie and Harriet also appeared in another TV show called Ozzie's Girls. In 2009, Harriet was recognized by Yahoo! as one of the Top 10 TV Moms from Six Decades of Television.

Personal Life and Family

Harriet Hilliard married bandleader Ozzie Nelson in 1935. They had two sons: David, born in 1936, and Eric, who was known as Ricky, born in 1940. Harriet and Ozzie remained married until Ozzie's death in 1975.

Her grandchildren include actress Tracy Nelson and musicians Matthew and Gunnar Nelson. She was also the mother-in-law of Rick's wife Kristin Harmon and David's wife June Blair.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1978, Harriet Nelson moved permanently to the beach home her family had built in Laguna Beach, California, in 1954. She passed away on October 2, 1994. She is buried with her husband Ozzie and her younger son Ricky at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles. Ricky had died in a plane crash in 1985.

For her important work in television, Harriet Nelson has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It is located at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard.

Film and Television Appearances

The Nelson family (clockwise from top) David, Ricky, Ozzie and Harriet, 1952

See also

In Spanish: Harriet Nelson para niños