Ralph Nelson - IMDb

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Director | Producer | Actor

In 1959, Emmy Award-winning television director Ralph Nelson directed a 90-minute adaptation of Shakespeare's "Hamlet," with John Neville as the Dane, for the DuPont Show of the Month. Nelson himself adapted the 1601 Quatro (the "pirated" version considered corrupt) in order to make a coherent production of a play that uncut, runs four hours. The ... See full bio »

Born:

August 12, 1916 in Long Island City, New York, USA

Died:

December 21, 1987 (age 71) in Santa Monica, California, USA

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Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 6 nominations. See more awards »

Known For

Lilies of the Field

Lilies of the Field Director

(1963)

Once a Thief Director

(1965)

Charly Director

(1968)

Playhouse 90 Director

(1956-1959)

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Filmography

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Director (49 credits)

1979 Christmas Lilies of the Field (TV Movie)

1979 You Can't Go Home Again (TV Movie)

1978 Lady of the House (TV Movie)

1978 Because He's My Friend (TV Movie)

1978 A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich

1976 Embryo

1975 The Wilby Conspiracy

1972 The Wrath of God

1971 Flight of the Doves

1970 Soldier Blue

1970 ...tick... tick... tick...

1968 Charly

1968 Counterpoint

1966 Duel at Diablo

1965 Once a Thief

1965 The Man Who Bought Paradise (TV Movie)

1964 Father Goose

1964 Fate Is the Hunter

1963 Soldier in the Rain

1963 The Farmer's Daughter (TV Series) (1 episode)

- The Speechmaker: Part 1 (1963)

1963 Lilies of the Field

1962 Requiem for a Heavyweight

1962 The DuPont Show of the Week (TV Series) (1 episode)

- The Richest Man in Bogota (1962)

1955-1962 General Electric Theater (TV Series) (4 episodes)

- Mister Doc (1962)

- Judy Garland Musical Special (1956)

- Let It Rain (1955)

- It Gives Me Great Pleasure (1955)

1961 The Dick Powell Theatre (TV Series) (3 episodes)

- Three Soldiers (1961)

- Doyle Against the House (1961)

- John J. Diggs (1961)

1961 The Defenders (TV Series) (1 episode)

- The Man with the Concrete Thumb (1961)

1960-1961 Play of the Week (TV Series) (2 episodes)

- Black Monday (1961)

- Legend of Lovers (1960)

1961 What About Linda? (TV Special)

1960-1961 The Witness (TV Series) (2 episodes)

- Jimmy Hines (1961)

- Bugsy Siegel (1960)

1960 The Twilight Zone (TV Series) (1 episode)

- A World of His Own (1960)

1960 Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (TV Series) (1 episode)

- The Man in the Funny Suit (1960)

1959 Startime (TV Series) (1 episode)

- The Jazz Singer (1959)

1956-1959 Playhouse 90 (TV Series) (11 episodes)

- The Second Happiest Day (1959)

- Out of Dust (1959)

- The Day Before Atlanta (1959)

- The Nutcracker (1958)

- The Return of Ansel Gibbs (1958)

Show all 11 episodes

1957-1959 The DuPont Show of the Month (TV Series) (3 episodes)

- Hamlet (1959)

- Cole Porter's 'Aladdin' (1958)

- Junior Miss (1957)

1956-1958 Climax! (TV Series) (12 episodes)

- Cabin B-13 (1958)

- Murder Has a Deadline (1957)

- Two Tests for Tuesday (1957)

- The Largest City in Captivity (1957)

- Murder Is a Witch (1957)

Show all 12 episodes

1951-1958 Studio One in Hollywood (TV Series) (5 episodes)

- A Funny-Looking Kid (1958)

- The Shadow of a Genius (1958)

- A Chill on the Wind (1951)

- Public Servant (1951)

- Track of the Cat (1951)

1958 Shower of Stars (TV Series) (1 episode)

- Episode #4.5 (1958)

1957 Blood Money (TV Movie)

1957 Cinderella (TV Special)

1956 Ford Star Jubilee (TV Series) (1 episode)

- This Happy Breed (1956)

1956 Front Row Center (TV Series) (12 episodes)

- Pretend You Belong to Me (1956)

- The Human Touch (1956)

- Instant of Truth (1956)

- Hawk's Head (1956)

- Search for a Stranger (1956)

Show all 12 episodes

1955 Crossroads (TV Series) (1 episode)

- Vivi Shining Bright (1955)

1953-1954 The Motorola Television Hour (TV Series) (3 episodes)

- Atomic Attack (1954)

- Brandenburg Gate (1953)

- Outlaw's Reckoning (1953)

1953 The Plymouth Playhouse (TV Series) (3 episodes)

- Outlaw's Reckoning (1953)

- Hogan's Daughter (1953)

- Justice (1953)

1953 Medallion Theatre (TV Series) (2 episodes)

- They Call Them the Meek (1953)

- The Decision at Arrowsmith (1953)

1953 Omnibus (TV Series) (1 episode)

- The Gold Dress (1953) ... (segment "The Gold Dress")

1949-1950 Mama (TV Series) (5 episodes)

- Queen of the Bee (1950)

- Mama and Madam Zodiac (1950)

- Along Came a Spider (1950)

- Mama Has a Bad Day (1950)

- Episode #1.1 (1949)

1950 Celebrity Time (TV Series) (1 episode)

- Episode #3.1 (1950)

1950 The Stage Door (TV Series) (8 episodes)

- Episode #1.8 (1950)

- Episode #1.7 (1950)

- Episode #1.6 (1950)

- Episode #1.5 (1950)

- Episode #1.4 (1950)

Show all 8 episodes

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Producer (16 credits)

1979 Christmas Lilies of the Field (TV Movie) (executive producer)

1971 Flight of the Doves (producer)

1970 ...tick... tick... tick... (producer)

1968 Charly (producer)

1966 Duel at Diablo (producer)

1965 Once a Thief (associate producer)

1965 The Man Who Bought Paradise (TV Movie) (producer)

1963 Lilies of the Field (producer)

1961 The Dick Powell Theatre (TV Series) (producer - 3 episodes)

- Three Soldiers (1961) ... (producer)

- Doyle Against the House (1961) ... (producer)

- John J. Diggs (1961) ... (producer)

1961 What About Linda? (TV Special) (producer)

1960 Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (TV Series) (producer - 1 episode)

- The Man in the Funny Suit (1960) ... (producer)

1959 The DuPont Show of the Month (TV Series) (producer - 1 episode)

- Hamlet (1959) ... (producer)

1958 Shower of Stars (TV Series) (producer - 1 episode)

- Episode #4.5 (1958) ... (producer)

1957 Climax! (TV Series) (producer - 5 episodes)

- Keep Me in Mind (1957) ... (producer)

- Tunnel of Fear (1957) ... (producer)

- The Largest City in Captivity (1957) ... (producer)

- Trail of Terror (1957) ... (producer)

- The Trial of Captain Wirtz (1957) ... (producer)

1954 Armstrong Circle Theatre (TV Series) (producer - 1 episode)

- Fred Allen's Sketchbook (1954) ... (producer)

1952 Omnibus (TV Series) (producer - 1 episode)

- The Trial of Mr. Pickwick (1952) ... (producer - segment "The Trial of Mr. Pickwick")

Show

Actor (13 credits)

1978 Starsky and Hutch (TV Series)
Dr. Greene

- Partners (1978) ... Dr. Greene

1972 The Wrath of God
Executed Prisoner (uncredited)

1970 Soldier Blue
Agent Long (as Alf Elson)

1970 ...tick... tick... tick...
New York driver caught in speed trap (uncredited)

1968 Charly
Convention Speaker (uncredited)

1968 Counterpoint
Belgian officer (uncredited)

1966 Duel at Diablo
Col. Foster (as Alf Elson)

1963 Lilies of the Field
Mr. Ashton (uncredited)

1959 Stump Run

1959 One Step Beyond (TV Series)
George Chambers

- Forked Lightning (1959) ... George Chambers

1953 Lux Video Theatre (TV Series)
Dick McKettrick

- Wind on the Way (1953) ... Dick McKettrick

1951-1952 Studio One in Hollywood (TV Series)
Lt. Clark - First Mate

- Burden of Guilt (1952)

- Mutiny on the Nicolette (1951) ... Lt. Clark - First Mate

1948 Kraft Theatre (TV Series)
Sir Charles Marlowe

- Berkeley Square (1948)

- She Stoops to Conquer (1948) ... Sir Charles Marlowe

- Spring Green (1948)

- Outward Bound (1948)

Show

Writer (7 credits)

1979 Christmas Lilies of the Field (TV Movie) (teleplay)

1972 The Wrath of God

1971 Flight of the Doves (screenplay)

1960 Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (TV Series) (writer - 1 episode)

- The Man in the Funny Suit (1960) ... (writer)

1959 Startime (TV Series) (from an adaptation by - 1 episode)

- The Jazz Singer (1959) ... (from an adaptation by)

1959 The DuPont Show of the Month (TV Series) (adaptation - 1 episode)

- Hamlet (1959) ... (adaptation)

Kraft Theatre (TV Series) (play - 1 episode, 1950) (written by - 1 episode, 1948)

- The Wind Is Ninety (1950) ... (play)

- The Wind is Ninety (1948) ... (written by)

Show

Production manager (1 credit)

1956 General Electric Theater (TV Series) (production supervisor - 1 episode)

- Judy Garland Musical Special (1956) ... (production supervisor)

Show

Soundtrack (1 credit)

1971 Flight of the Doves (as Alf Elson, "You Don't Have To Be Irish To Be Irish")

Show

Self (3 credits)

1968 George Jessel's Here Come the Stars (TV Series)
Himself

- Rod Serling (1968) ... Himself

1965 The Background Beat (Documentary short)
Himself (uncredited)

1960 Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (TV Series)
Himself

- The Man in the Funny Suit (1960) ... Himself

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Personal Details

Other Works:

Stage Play: Romeo and Juliet. Written by William Shakespeare. See more »

Alternate Names:

Alf Elson

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Did You Know?

Trivia:

Directed three actors to Oscar nominations: Sidney Poitier (Best Actor, Lilies of the Field (1963)), Lilia Skala (Best Supporting Actress, Lilies of the Field (1963)), and Cliff Robertson (Best Actor, Charly (1968)). Poitier and Robertson won Oscars for their performances. See more »

Star Sign:

Leo

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