Donald Richard Nelson

Don Nelson (January 20, 1927 – September 10, 2013) was an American screenwriter, film producer and jazz musician.[1] He is best known for his work on the American sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, for which he wrote from 1952 to 1966. The series starred his elder brother Ozzie Nelson, his sister-in-law Harriet Nelson and his nephews David Nelson and Ricky Nelson.

Nelson worked for several famous entertainment businesses, including Universal Studios and Fox Studios, he also co-wrote four films for Disney Studios.[2] During the late 1950s, Nelson started a musical career which lasted over four decades. He had worked with Johnny Varro and was also a member of two Jazz bands. Nelson died at his home in California due to Parkinson’s disease. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and four stepchildren.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Nelson_%28screenwriter%29

http://www.latimes.com/obituaries/la-me-don-nelson-20130912,0,73698...

http://variety.com/2013/tv/news/ozzie-harriet-writer-don-nelson-die...

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ozzie-harriet-writer-don-nels...

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0625316/

Don Nelson, a screenwriter, film producer and musician who co-wrote scripts for "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" — the classic American television series centered on his brother Ozzie's family — as well as for more than two dozen other films and TV series.

A 21-year age difference separated him from his brother Ozzie Nelson, and by the time Donald Nelson reached high school, Ozzie Nelson had long been a bandleader, with a number of popular recordings and a billing on the radio show "Ripley's Believe It or Not." At 16, Mr. Nelson joined Ozzie's band as a saxophonist. About a year later, Mr. Nelson left high school with a war diploma and enlisted in the Navy. He played saxophone in the Navy band,entertaining troops aboard ships in Hawaii and the Pacific

He also co-wrote the 1952 film "Here Come the Nelsons," the Nelsons' only theatrical feature. The film, which starred Rock Hudson, essentially served as a pilot for the TV version of the popular radio series, on which Mr. Nelson also worked as a writer.

As a staff writer for "Ozzie and Harriet," one of the longest-running family comedies in TV history, Mr. Nelson came up with Ricky Nelson's trademark catchphrase "I don't mess around, boy," and contributed to more than 200 episodes of the series with storylines anchored famously on the harmless.

His jazz performance career included a long stint in the 1980s and '90s as a soprano saxophonist, vocalist and composer for the Los Angeles-based Great Pacific Jazz Band, led by pianist Bob Ringwald.

Nelson, who had Parkinson's disease, died of an aortic aneurysm at his home* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Aug 22 2022, 12:57:31 UTC