Craig Nelson (full name Craig Theodore Nelson) is an American actor, producer, screenwriter and director. Best known for his leading role in the TV series "The Trainer". Twice Emmy nominee and winner and four Golden Globe nominees.
Nelson began his career with performances in the comedy improvisation troupe The Groundlings Theater. Later he assembled his team. And along with Barry Levinson and Rudy De Luca, he continued to perform on stage.
For some time, Nelson collaborated with an advertising agency, starring in various commercials. It appeared on the television screen in the early 1970s.
Nelson has more than a hundred roles in television and film projects. He also provides voice acting for animated films and video games.
Biography facts
The future actor was born in the United States in the spring of 1944. His paternal grandfather was from Norway, and his maternal grandfather was from Germany. His ancestors lived in England, Scotland, Ireland and Holland.
Craig prefers not to talk about his family. Therefore, it is not known who his parents were, whether he has brothers and sisters.
From an early age, Craig was fond of sports, he dreamed of becoming a racer. He still loves racing cars and fast driving. Another hobby of the young man was the seaplane. He was going to professionally engage in the development of flying machines, but his father did not allow him to do so.
In his youth, Nelson became interested in taekwondo. He became the owner of the brown belt.
Nelson spent his school years in Washington, then continued his education at the University of Arizona. He later enrolled at Central Washington University, where he studied acting and drama.
Creative way
After graduating from university, Craig joined the famous troupe of the comedy and improvisation theater The Groundlings Theater. Then he gathered his team, performing on stage in the genre of stand-up comedy.
Nelson made his television debut in an episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. This was followed by work in several TV series, in the early 1980s, the actor had already received his first roles in a big movie.
He is best known for his main role in the mystical film of the famous director Steven Spielberg "Poltergeist", as well as work in the sequel to "Poltergeist 2". The first film grossed over one hundred and twenty million dollars at the box office, received high marks from viewers and film critics.
The film won the British Academy and Saturn Awards. He was also nominated for an Oscar in three categories (Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Editing, and Best Original Soundtrack).
In the late 1980s, Nelson landed the lead role in the Coach project. The plot of the picture was built around the story of the coach of the university football team, for whom the game is the meaning of his whole life.
Nelson has been on the show since 1989. In total, nine seasons of the project were released on the screens.
In the 2000s, the actor played a major role in the television series "East Park". And also appeared in projects: "The Defective Detective", "The Agency", "C. S. I.: Crime Scene Investigation New York", "My Name is Earl", "Parents", "Hawaii 5.0", "Grace and Frankie".
The audience knows the actor from the films: Silkwood, Killing Fields, The Proposal, Turner and Hooch, Ghosts of the Mississippi, Devil's Advocate. Nelson also voiced the main character in the animated films Incredibles, Incredibles 2.
Personal life
The actor was married twice. Craig made his first marriage with a girl named Robin McCarthy in 1965. The couple lived together for seventeen years, but divorced in 1982. Three children were born in this union.
Craig's second wife was actress Doria Cook-Nelson. The couple formalized their relationship in 1987.
Nelson has already become a grandfather and great-grandfather. The children gave him eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
