Ozzie Nelson Biography

Ozzie Nelson

Orchestra leader who became the emblem for the 1950s typical American family with his actress wife and sons. Although he originally wanted to be a cartoonist, Ozzie went to law school, doing band-leader gigs to pay for his courses. By 1931, he was a full-fledged band leader, able to play all of the band instruments except the trumpet and also write songs. He hired Harriet in 1932 to sing for his band, and married her three years later. In 1944, they started The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet on radio which later switched to television in a run that would stretch to twenty-two years: eight on radio and fourteen on television. Originally the boys were played by actors but were replaced by their sons, David and Ricky. Died: 6/3/1975

Harriet Hilliard

Died: 10/2/1994

David Nelson

Ricky Nelson

Died: 12/31/1985

His daughter is actress Tracy Nelson.