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 is well-known for his roles in popular movies from the 1980s. Some of his most famous characters include John Bender in The Breakfast Club and Alec Newbury in St. Elmo's Fire. He also voiced Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime in The Transformers: The Movie. Later, he starred as Jack Richmond in the TV show Suddenly Susan.

Early Life & Education

Judd Nelson was born in Portland, Maine, on November 28, 1959. His mother, Merle, was a court mediator and a former member of the Maine House of Representatives. His father, Leonard, was a lawyer. Judd comes from a Jewish family. His father was the first Jewish president of the Portland Symphony Orchestra.

Judd has two sisters named Eve and Julie. He went to school at St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, and Waynflete School in Portland, Maine. He also studied at Haverford College in Pennsylvania. Later, he moved to Manhattan to learn acting from a famous teacher named Stella Adler.

Acting Career Highlights

Judd Nelson started acting in the mid-1980s. He quickly became a star because of two major movies released in 1985.

Becoming a Star in the 1980s

In 1985, Judd starred in John Hughes's The Breakfast Club. He played John Bender, a rebellious student. This movie became a classic for teenagers. That same year, he also appeared in Joel Schumacher's St. Elmo's Fire. These two films made him famous.

Judd Nelson was part of a group of young actors known as the "Brat Pack." This group included other popular stars like Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, and Demi Moore. The term "Brat Pack" came from an article in New York magazine.

In 1986, Judd lent his voice to the character of Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime in The Transformers: The Movie. He also worked with his Breakfast Club co-star Ally Sheedy again in Blue City. He narrated a war documentary called Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam, which was highly praised.

In 1987, he starred in the movie From the Hip. He also gave a strong performance in Billionaire Boys Club, a true-story thriller. His role in this film earned him a nomination for a Golden Globe Award. Towards the end of the 1980s, he appeared in films like Relentless and Far Out Man. He also had a guest role in the TV show Moonlighting in 1986.

Roles in the 1990s

In the 1990s, Judd Nelson continued to take on many different roles. In 1990, he starred in Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes, a drama about the Hiroshima bombing. In 1991, he played a starring role in New Jack City, a successful urban gangster film.

He also appeared in an episode of the popular HBO series Tales from the Crypt in 1992. In 1994, Judd was in the comedy Airheads with Adam Sandler. He also wrote, produced, and starred in the thriller Every Breath.

From 1996 to 1999, Judd had a main role in the NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan, which was very popular. In 1997, he starred in the movie Steel with Shaquille O'Neal. He ended the 1990s with another urban film, Light It Up (film) (1999), and played Alan Freed in Mr. Rock 'N' Roll: The Alan Freed Story.

From 2000s to Today

In the 21st century, Judd Nelson has appeared in many TV shows. These include The Outer Limits (2000), CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2006), and Psych (2010). He also had a recurring role in Two and a Half Men (2010).

His films from this period include Cabin by the Lake (2000) and its sequel. He also made a cameo appearance in the 2001 movie Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, as the director was a big fan of his earlier work. In 2007, he reprised his role as John Bender by voicing him in an episode of Family Guy. He also voiced Rodimus Prime again in Transformers Animated (2009) and Ben 10: Omniverse (2013–2014).

In 2012, Judd played Headmaster Nash in the movie Bad Kids Go to Hell. He also wrote four books that were released on Kindle in 2013. In 2010, he played Santa Claus in the Hallmark movie Cancel Christmas. More recently, he starred in the suspense thriller Dead Water (2019) and the Lifetime film Girl in the Basement (2021).

Film & Television Roles

Judd Nelson has had many roles in both movies and television shows throughout his career.

Film Appearances

Television Appearances

Music Videos

Judd Nelson has also appeared in music videos.

Images for kids

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  Judd Nelson in 2006

See also

In Spanish: Judd Nelson para niños