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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
10 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 (1938) 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
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys
      • 2 wins & 6 nominations total

    Photos9

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    Known for

    Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988)
    Mystery Science Theater 3000
    8.6
    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
    Jason Sklar and Randy Sklar in Cheap Seats: Without Ron Parker (2004)
    Cheap Seats: Without Ron Parker
    8.7
    TV Series
    • Writer
    • 2004

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Writer



    • RiffTrax: The Lord Protector (2025)
      RiffTrax: The Lord Protector
      • Writer
      • 2025
    • Bill Corbett, Kevin Murphy, and Michael J. Nelson in Rifftrax Shorts (2007)
      Rifftrax Shorts
      6.5
      TV Series
      • written by
      • 2007–2025
    • RiffTrax: Micro Mini Kids (2024)
      RiffTrax: Micro Mini Kids
      • Writer
      • 2024
    • RiffTrax: Fight to Win (2024)
      RiffTrax: Fight to Win
      • Writer
      • 2024
    • RiffTrax Live: Point Break (2024)
      RiffTrax Live: Point Break
      8.6
      • Writer
      • 2024
    • GrimTrax
      8.7
      • Writer
      • 2024
    • RiffTrax Live: RAD (2023)
      RiffTrax Live: RAD
      8.1
      • written by
      • 2023
    • RiffTrax: In the Line of Duty 2: The Super Cops
      7.1
      • Writer
      • 2023
    • Rifftrax: Dune 2021 (2022)
      Rifftrax: Dune 2021
      7.0
      • Writer
      • 2022
    • Rifftrax: Robot Monster
      • Writer
      • 2022
    • RiffTrax: Hack-O-Lantern
      7.3
      • Writer
      • 2022
    • RiffTrax: Cats (2022)
      RiffTrax: Cats
      7.3
      • Writer
      • 2022
    • RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing (2022)
      RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing
      7.5
      • written by
      • 2022
    • Day of the Assassin (2022)
      Day of the Assassin
      6.0
      • Writer
      • 2022
    • Mikey (2022)
      Mikey
      9.1
      • Writer
      • 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
      6.5
      TV Series
      • 2012–2022
    • RiffTrax: The Game (2022)
      RiffTrax: The Game
      7.5
      Video Game
      • Riffer (voice)
      • 2022
    • Sunset Strip (2020)
      Sunset Strip
      7.5
      • Riffer
      • 2020
    • Bounty Tracker (2020)
      Bounty Tracker
      7.6
      • 2020
    • Velvet Smooth (2020)
      Velvet Smooth
      7.3
      • 2020
    • Ninja Warlord (2020)
      Ninja Warlord
      7.6
      • Riffer
      • 2020
    • Vengeance of the Dead (2020)
      Vengeance of the Dead
      6.9
      • 2020
    • Light Blast (2020)
      Light Blast
      7.3
      • 2020
    • RiffTrax: Martial Law 2 - Under Cover (2020)
      RiffTrax: Martial Law 2 - Under Cover
      7.4
      • 2020
    • Jack-O (2020)
      Jack-O
      6.5
      • 2020
    • RiffTrax: Battle for the Lost Planet (2020)
      RiffTrax: Battle for the Lost Planet
      7.2
      • 2020
    • Mortal Kombat
      • 2020
    • Gymkata
      • 2020
    • The Sorcerers Apprentice (2019)
      The Sorcerers Apprentice
      7.6
      • Riffer
      • 2019
    • Rats: Night of Terror (2019)
      Rats: Night of Terror
      7.1
      • 2019

    Music Department



    • Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988)
      Mystery Science Theater 3000
      8.6
      TV Series
      • composer: additional music
      • music: "To Earth!"
      • music: "Those Little Audition Numbers" ...
      • 1990–1999
    • 2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review (1998)
      2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
      7.7
      TV Movie
      • composer: song "End of the Summer"
      • 1998

    Videos64

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 0:31
    Official Trailer
    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

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Official sites
      • @MichaelJNelson X
      • 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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