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Ricky Nelson

Ricky Nelson

Actor · Died December 31, 1985, aged 45 · Teaneck, New Jersey, USA

Eric Hilliard Nelson (May 8, 1940 – December 31, 1985), better known as Ricky Nelson or Rick Nelson, was an American singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and actor. He placed fifty-three songs on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1957 and 1973, including nineteen top-ten hits, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on January 21, 1987. Nelson began his entertainment career in 1949 playing himself in the radio sitcom series, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, and, in 1952, appeared in his first feature film, Here Come the Nelsons. In 1957, he recorded his first single, debuted as a singer on the television version of the sitcom, and recorded a number one album, Ricky. In 1958, Nelson recorded his first number one single, "Poor Little Fool", and, in 1959, received a Golden Globe Most Promising Male Newcomer nomination after starring in the western film, Rio Bravo. A few films followed, and, when the television series was cancelled in 1966, Nelson made occasional appearances as a guest star on various television programs. Nelson and Sharon Kristin Harmon were married on April 20, 1963, and divorced in December 1982. They had four children: Tracy Kristine, twin sons Gunnar Eric and Matthew Gray, and Sam Hilliard. On February 14, 1981, a son was born to Nelson and Georgeann Crewe. A blood test in 1985 confirmed Nelson was the child's father. Nelson was engaged to Helen Blair at the time of his death in an airplane crash on December 31, 1985.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 8, 1940
Died
December 31, 1985 (aged 45)
From
Teaneck, New Jersey, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
14 on MovieCove · 31 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 10% in 30 days

What are Ricky Nelson's films like?

Across their 8 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
45%
Morality
24%
Society
13%
Self
10%
Ideas
8%
Community2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 7 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 5 · Serious 2 · Dark 0

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 5 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

Gentle: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their gentle movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 5 · Charged 2 · Intense 0

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 5 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 3

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 4 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 6 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 2 of 3 analyzed roles.

Ally
2 of 3
Hero
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
7
Tense
3
Joyful
3
Contemplative
2
Hopeful
2
Other
2

How their films linger

Feel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy8

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Ricky Nelson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 7 of their 14 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (4).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ricky Nelson's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

31 credits, 14 with a MovieCove page; 17 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream(2007)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Ricky Nelson Sings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • La classe américaine(1993)

    as George's Friend (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Death In Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • Happy Birthday, Mr. Christian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Mr. Christian

  • High School U.S.A.(1984)

    as Principal Pete Kinney

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Three on a Date(1978)

    as Bob Oakes

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Ted Wilcox

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Shootist(1976)

    as Books' Fellow Lawman in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Petrocelli (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Country Boy White

  • Sonic Boom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Jess of the Van

  • The Streets of San Francisco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Fol-de-Rol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as The Minstrel (as Rick Nelson)

  • Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Vic

  • The Resurrection of Broncho Billy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Voice Over

  • McCloud(1970)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Swing Out, Sweet Land(1970)

    as Confederate Soldier

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Jim Nabors Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Over-the-Hill Gang(1969)

    as Jeff Rose

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Hondo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • On the Flip Side (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Carlos O'Connor

  • ABC Stage 67 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Carlos O'Connor

  • Love and Kisses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Buzzy Pringle

  • The Wackiest Ship in the Army(1960)

    as Tommy Hanson

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Rio Bravo(1959)

    as Colorado Ryan

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Story of Three Loves(1953)

    as Young Tommy

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Lonnie Follett

  • The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet(1952)

    Show 435 episodes · as Ricky

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Here Come the Nelsons(1952)

    as Ricky Nelson

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Ricky Nelson & Fats Domino - Rockin' With Rick and Fats (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 80th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 30 titles, 29 of them dated from 1952 to 2005; peak year 1960.

Biggest box office

Rio Bravo (1959)

$28K worldwide

Highest rated

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream (2007)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952)

Film career

19522005

Peak 1960 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting30 of 30: 30 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score56th

By decade

1950s5 · acting1960s7 · acting1970s12 · acting1980s2 · acting1990s2 · acting2000s1 · acting

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Ricky Nelson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 64th percentile, the median of all 11; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 56th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Reach · how many have seen their films

33rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Midcredits score across 14 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

5 of their 14 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed2

Most divisive · actor

Three on a Date (1978)

88th percentile spread · 40% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream (2007)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 6 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 54. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Ricky Nelson work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ricky Nelson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Walter Brennan shares the most, 3.

Actors

Producers