Craig Richard Nelson | |
---|---|
Born |
Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. | September 17, 1947
Education |
University of Utah (BA) New York University (MFA) |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1973–1998 |
Craig Richard Nelson (born September 17, 1947) is an American actor in theater, film and television. [1]
Nelson was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and grew up as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [2] He studied acting at the University of Utah and New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. After graduation, he was cast in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Two Gentlemen of Verona.
A casting director saw him in that show and cast him in the film The Paper Chase [1] as a mean-spirited law student. This led to a long career in film and television, including three Robert Altman films, A Wedding, [1] 3 Women, [1] and Quintet [1] as well as a role in the coming-of-age comedy My Bodyguard. [1] He also had a recurring role as drama teacher Mr. Spacek on the 1980s television show Square Pegs.