Judd Nelson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Judd Nelson
Nelson in 2006
Born	Judd Asher Nelson (1959-11-28) November 28, 1959 (age 65) Portland, Maine, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1983–present
Notable work	The Breakfast Club St. Elmo's Fire
Relatives	Merle Nelson (mother)

Judd Asher Nelson (born November 28, 1959) is an American actor. He became famous in the 1980s for his roles in popular teen movies.

Nelson's big break came from the classic film The Breakfast Club (1985). In the movie, he played John Bender, a rebellious high school student. This role made him a member of the "Brat Pack," a group of young actors who often appeared in movies together during the 1980s.

He also starred in another famous Brat Pack movie, St. Elmo's Fire (1985). Later, he played the main character Jack Richmond in the TV show Suddenly Susan from 1996 to 1999. Nelson is also known for his voice acting, especially as Hot Rod and Rodimus Prime in the Transformers series.

Early Life and Education

Judd Nelson was born in Portland, Maine. His mother, Merle Nelson, was a court mediator and a member of the Maine House of Representatives, which helps make laws for the state. His father, Leonard Nelson, was a lawyer for companies. Judd has two sisters, Eve and Julie.

He attended St. Paul's School in New Hampshire and Waynflete School in Maine. While at St. Paul's, he experienced prejudice for being Jewish, which made him connect more strongly with his heritage. After high school, he went to Haverford College in Pennsylvania for two years. He then moved to New York City to study acting with the famous teacher Stella Adler.

Acting Career

Becoming a Star in the 1980s

Nelson's career took off in the mid-1980s. His roles in The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire made him a teen icon. These movies were about young people figuring out their lives, and they were very popular. Because he and other actors like Molly Ringwald and Emilio Estevez were in these films, a magazine article called them the "Brat Pack."

In 1986, Nelson voiced the character Hot Rod, who becomes Rodimus Prime, in the animated movie The Transformers: The Movie. This role made him a favorite among fans of the series. He also starred in the movie Blue City with his Breakfast Club co-star Ally Sheedy.

For his role as Joe Hunt in the TV miniseries Billionaire Boys Club, which was based on a true story, Nelson was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.

Movies and TV in the 1990s

In the 1990s, Nelson continued to act in many different kinds of movies. He starred in the popular crime film New Jack City (1991) with Wesley Snipes and Ice-T. He also appeared in comedies like Airheads (1994) alongside Brendan Fraser and Adam Sandler.

One of his biggest roles during this time was on television. From 1996 to 1999, he played Jack Richmond, the boss of the main character, on the successful NBC comedy show Suddenly Susan. He also played the character Nathaniel Burke in the superhero movie Steel (1997), starring basketball player Shaquille O'Neal.

Later Work: 2000s to Today

Nelson has stayed busy with roles in movies and on television. He has made guest appearances on popular TV shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Psych, and Two and a Half Men.

He returned to the world of Transformers by voicing Rodimus Prime again in the animated series Transformers: Titans Return (2017–2018). He also voiced characters in the cartoon Ben 10: Omniverse. In 2018, he appeared in a new movie version of Billionaire Boys Club, this time playing the father of the character he played in the 1987 miniseries.

Selected Filmography

Here are some of Judd Nelson's most well-known movies and TV shows.

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Judd Nelson para niños