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IMDbPro

Michael J. Nelson

  • Writer
  • Actor
  • Music Department
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Trace Beaulieu, Kevin Murphy, and Michael J. Nelson in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1996)
Mike Nelson, Bill Corbett, and Kevin Murphy of RiffTrax fame take to the stage to riff the 1971 film "Octaman" LIVE.
Play trailer0:31
RiffTrax LIVE! Octaman (2019)
64 Videos
9 Photos
Michael J. Nelson is the former host and writer of the Emmy-nominated, Peabody Award-winning Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988). Since that time, he has appeared on numerous radio and TV shows, penned a regular column for TV Guide, and authored best-selling books for both HarperCollins and Abrams.

His first book, Mike Nelson's Movie Megacheese, thrilled critics, including Richard Schickel of Time Magazine.

Mike continues to work in all media and has just completed a commentary track to the hugely successful re-release of the classic Reefer Madness (1936) as well as Night of the Living Dead (1968), Carnival of Souls (1962) and The Little Shop of Horrors (1960). He speaks all over the country and is a frequent guest on radio and television, having recently appeared on the Starz and Encore networks and the widely syndicated Hugh Hewitt Radio Show.

MSNBC online recently named him one of the 10 sexiest movie men (along with Antonio Banderas and Tom Selleck!).
BornOctober 11, 1964
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornOctober 11, 1964
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Unlock contact info on IMDbPro
  • Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys
    • 1 win & 6 nominations total

Photos9

Bill Corbett, Kevin Murphy, and Michael J. Nelson in Rifftrax Shorts (2007)
Bill Corbett, Kevin Murphy, and Michael J. Nelson in Rifftrax Shorts (2007)
Bill Corbett, Kevin Murphy, and Michael J. Nelson in Rifftrax Shorts (2007)
Trace Beaulieu, Jim Mallon, Kevin Murphy, and Michael J. Nelson in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1996)
Michael J. Nelson in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1996)
Michael J. Nelson in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1996)
Michael J. Nelson
Trace Beaulieu, Kevin Murphy, and Michael J. Nelson in Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988)

Known for

Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988)
Mystery Science Theater 3000
8.7
TV Series
  • Writer
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1996)
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
7.2
  • Writer
  • 1996
2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review (1998)
2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
7.7
TV Movie
  • Writer
  • 1998
MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special (1995)
MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special
7.0
TV Special
  • Writer
  • 1995

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Writer

  • Bill Corbett, Kevin Murphy, and Michael J. Nelson in Rifftrax Shorts (2007)
    Rifftrax Shorts
    • Writer
    • TV Series
    • 2017–2023
  • RiffTrax: In the Line of Duty 2: The Super Cops
    • Writer
    • 2023
  • Rifftrax: Dune 2021 (2022)
    Rifftrax: Dune 2021
    • Writer
    • 2022
  • Rifftrax: Robot Monster
    • Writer
    • 2022
  • RiffTrax: Hack-O-Lantern
    • Writer
    • 2022
  • RiffTrax: Cats (2022)
    RiffTrax: Cats
    • Writer
    • 2022
  • RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing (2022)
    RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing
    • written by
    • 2022
  • Rifftrax: Day of the Assassin (2022)
    Rifftrax: Day of the Assassin
    • Writer
    • 2022
  • Rifftrax: Mikey (2022)
    Rifftrax: Mikey
    • Writer
    • 2022
  • Rifftrax: Old (2022)
    Rifftrax: Old
    • Writer
    • 2022
  • RiffTrax: Zombie Nightmare (2022)
    RiffTrax: Zombie Nightmare
    • Writer
    • 2022
  • Rifftrax: Rapid Assault (2022)
    Rifftrax: Rapid Assault
    • Writer
    • 2022
  • RiffTrax: Max Havoc: Ring of Fire (2022)
    RiffTrax: Max Havoc: Ring of Fire
    • Writer
    • 2022
  • Riff Trax: Things (2022)
    Riff Trax: Things
    • Writer
    • 2022
  • RiffTrax: The Retrievers (2022)
    RiffTrax: The Retrievers
    • Writer
    • Video
    • 2022

Actor

  • The Year of Laughing Dangerously
    • Joel Williams
    • Post-production
  • Bill Corbett, Kevin Murphy, and Michael J. Nelson in Rifftrax Shorts (2007)
    Rifftrax Shorts
    • TV Series
    • 2012–2022
  • RiffTrrax: The Game (2022)
    RiffTrrax: The Game
    • Riffer (voice)
    • Video Game
    • 2022
  • RiffTrax: Sunset Strip (2020)
    RiffTrax: Sunset Strip
    • Riffer
    • 2020
  • RiffTrax: Bounty Tracker (2020)
    RiffTrax: Bounty Tracker
    • 2020
  • RiffTrax: Velvet Smooth (2020)
    RiffTrax: Velvet Smooth
    • 2020
  • RiffTrax: Ninja Warlord (2020)
    RiffTrax: Ninja Warlord
    • Riffer
    • 2020
  • RiffTrax: Vengeance of the Dead (2020)
    RiffTrax: Vengeance of the Dead
    • 2020
  • RiffTrax: Light Blast (2020)
    RiffTrax: Light Blast
    • 2020
  • RiffTrax: Martial Law 2 Under Cover (2020)
    RiffTrax: Martial Law 2 Under Cover
    • 2020
  • RiffTrax: Jack-O (2020)
    RiffTrax: Jack-O
    • 2020
  • RiffTrax: Battle for the Lost Planet (2020)
    RiffTrax: Battle for the Lost Planet
    • 2020
  • RiffTrax: The Sorcerers Apprentice (2019)
    RiffTrax: The Sorcerers Apprentice
    • Riffer
    • 2019
  • RiffTrax: Rats Night of Terror (2019)
    RiffTrax: Rats Night of Terror
    • 2019
  • RiffTrax: Zombie: I Eat Your Skin (2019)
    RiffTrax: Zombie: I Eat Your Skin
    • Riffer
    • 2019
  • RiffTrax: The Power (2019)
    RiffTrax: The Power
    • 2019

Music Department

  • Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988)
    Mystery Science Theater 3000
    • composer: additional music
    • arranger: additional music
    • performer: additional music ...
    • TV Series
    • 1990–1999
  • 2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review (1998)
    2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
    • composer: song "End of the Summer"
    • TV Movie
    • 1998

Videos64

Official Trailer
Trailer 0:31
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 0:31
Official Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 0:31
Trailer
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXVI
Trailer 0:57
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXVI
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXV
Trailer 1:23
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXV
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXIII
Trailer 1:28
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXIII
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXII
Trailer 1:28
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXII
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Vol. 15
Trailer 1:16
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Vol. 15
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
Trailer 0:31
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Violent Years
Trailer 2:27
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Violent Years
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Who's Charlie Cooper Riley?
Trailer 2:15
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Who's Charlie Cooper Riley?
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Racket Girls
Trailer 1:37
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Racket Girls

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • @MichaelJNelson twitter
    • RiffTrax
  • Alternative names
    • Michael Nelson
  • Height
    • 6′ 1″ (1.85 m)
  • Born
    • October 11, 1964
    • St. Charles, Illinois, USA
  • Spouse
    • Bridget JonesOctober 21, 1989 - present (2 children)
  • Children
      George Nelson
  • Other works
    Author of book: Mike Nelson's Movie Megacheese
  • Publicity listings
    • 5 Articles
    • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    He was working as a waiter at T.G.I. Friday's and doing occasional stand-up comedy when he was offered a job on Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988) doing typing in the writing room. The writers told him to feel free to make some comments on the movies they were watching, and he so impressed them with his wit and comedic timing that they made him a staff writer (and later the head writer).
  • Quotes
    [His explanation of how the show Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988) lasted so long (10 seasons)] "I think the thing is just not to get famous, which is what we've done. We're always under the radar, we're durable because we're so not successful."

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