Billy Nelson (actor)

Billy Nelson (1903–1973) was an American vaudeville comedian and actor who appeared in over 80 films and television programs. He was featured several times on one of the iconic black and white TV series of the 1950s, Adventures of Superman and his appearances are still seen on television today.

He also played roles in the historic Hal Roach short comedy films as one of Hal Roach's All-Stars in the two-reel films often shown in theaters during the World War II era.

Nelson was also a nightclub master of ceremonies at nightclubs in the United States and abroad.[1] Nelson and his wife, the violinist Irene Knight, developed a musical comedy act that was featured in several major markets during the 1930s and 30s.[2][3][4]

Frequently cast as villains, Nelson was a familiar face during the infancy of network and syndicated television. He played in roles on such early television westerns and police procedurals as The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Death Valley Days, Highway Patrol, M Squad and Jack Webb's original Dragnet.

Nelson is remembered by fans of the Adventures of Superman series as a part of the epic series. He and his mother were also close with the actor Jack Haley.[5]

Nelson was born in New York City, and made his first film appearances in 1933 in Hal Roach comedy short subjects. His blue-collar appearance made him a likely choice for roles as cab drivers, bartenders, and gunmen. For instance in the five-year run of the Adventures Superman television series, Nelson played five different thugs. His last role was in the 1961 Pocketful of Miracles.

Filmography (selection)

References

  1. ↑ archive.org/stream/variety112-1933-10/variety112-1933-10_djvu.txt
  2. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/282623642/
  3. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/280952851/ The Nelson-Wright music and comedy duo often worked shows featuring vaudeville and Broadway ballerina Jeanne Devereaux
  4. ↑ books.google.com/books?id=-8m4DgAAQBAJ&pg=PA49&lpg=PA49&dq=%22billy+nelson%22+%22irene+knight%22&source=bl&ots=UaNRkrhY7_&sig=FOEHHCvknlhfsEn2g8BCixwm1cY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiL_8b8y8TYAhWRxiYKHTewAvUQ6AEIQDAH#v=onepage&q=%22billy%20nelson%22%20%22irene%20knight%22&f=false
  5. ↑ http://www.jimnolt.com//BillyNelson.htm
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