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Ralph Nelson
Born	August 12, 1916(1916-08-12) New York City, New York
Died	December 21, 1987 (aged 71) Santa Monica, California
Spouse(s)	Celeste Holm (1938–1939)

Ralph Nelson (August 12, 1916 – December 21, 1987) was an American movie and television director, producer, writer, and actor of Norwegian descent. He served in the Army Air Corps alongside future Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling in World War II and continued their friendship until the latter's death. Nelson directed the acclaimed episode A World Of His Own and served as production manager for the bulk of the show's run. He also directed both the television and film versions of Serling's Requiem for a Heavyweight.

He directed the 1968 movie Charly, for which Cliff Robertson won an Academy Award, as well as several racially provocative films in the 1960s and early 1970s, including the Academy Award-winning Lilies of the Field^[1] , ...tick...tick...tick..., The Wilby Conspiracy, and Soldier Blue.

Additionally, he directed Cary Grant's comedy Father Goose, Once a Thief, Rita Hayworth's last film The Wrath of God and the offbeat Soldier in the Rain with Jackie Gleason and Steve McQueen. Nelson's other credits include several episodes of TV's Starsky & Hutch, the 70's camp horror classic Embryo and the syndicated TV movie A Hero Ain't Nothin' But A Sandwich.

A television drama about mounting the live show of Requiem for a Heavyweight called The Man in the Funny Suit was made in 1960, with Nelson directing and Serling, Keenan Wynn and Ed Wynn appearing as themselves.

He died in Santa Monica, California, aged 71. He was the father of Xanadu inventor (precursor and main inspiration of WWW's HTML and HTTP protocols) Ted Nelson (by actress Celeste Holm), as well as Ralph, Peter, and Meredith Nelson.

References

External links

• Ralph Nelson at the Internet Movie Database