Billy Nelson (1903–1973), born William Nelson in

Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

, was an American

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

comedian and actor who appeared in over 80 films and television programs. He was featured several times on one of the iconic black and white TV series of the 1950s '' Adventures of Superman''; his appearances are still seen on television today. He also played roles in the historic

Hal Roach Harry Eugene "Hal" Roach Sr.Randy Skretvedt, Skretvedt, Randy (2016), ''Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies'', Bonaventure Press. p.608. (January 14, 1892 – November 2, 1992) was an American film and television producer, director, a ...

short comedy films as one of Hal Roach's All-Stars in the two-reel films often shown in theaters during the World War II era. Nelson was a nightclub master of ceremonies in the United States and abroad. Nelson and his wife, violinist Irene Knight, developed a musical comedy act that was featured in several major markets during the 1930s. The Nelson-Knight music and comedy duo often worked shows featuring vaudeville and Broadway ballerina

Jeanne Devereaux Jeanne Devereaux (1912-2011) was a prima ballerina, starting as a child star at age 11 and continuing for the next four decades. Born Jean Eleanor Helman, she performed as Jeanne Devereaux, taking the last name of her grandmother, Jeanette (Devere ...

Frequently cast as a villain, Nelson was a familiar face during the infancy of network and syndicated television. He played in roles on early television westerns and police procedurals,i.e., ''

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp ''The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp'' is the first Western television series written for adults, premiering four days before ''Gunsmoke'' on September 6, 1955. Two weeks later came the Clint Walker western ''Cheyenne''. The series is loosely base ...

'', ''

Death Valley Days ''Death Valley Days'' is an American old-time radio and television anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program ...

'', ''

Bat Masterson Bartholemew William Barclay "Bat" Masterson (November 26, 1853 – October 25, 1921) was a U.S. Army scout, lawman, professional gambler, and journalist known for his exploits in the 19th and early 20th-century American Old West. He was born to ...

'', ''

Tombstone Territory ''Tombstone Territory'' is an American Western series starring Pat Conway and Richard Eastham. The series' first two seasons aired on ABC from 1957 to 1959. The first season was sponsored by Bristol-Myers (consumer products) and the second seaso ...

'', ''

Highway Patrol A highway patrol, or state patrol is either a police unit created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways, or a detail within an existing local or regional police agency that is prima ...

'', ''

M Squad ''M Squad'' is an American crime drama television series that ran from 1957 to 1960 on NBC. It was produced by Lee Marvin's Latimer Productions and Revue Studios. Its main sponsor was the Pall Mall cigarette brand; Lee Marvin, the program's ...

'' and Jack Webb's original '' Dragnet''. Nelson and his mother, Nettie Newman, were close with the actor

Jack Haley John Joseph Haley Jr. (August 10, 1897 – June 6, 1979) was an American actor, comedian, dancer, radio host, singer and vaudevillian. He was best known for his portrayal of the Tin Man and his farmhand counterpart Hickory in the 1939 Metro-G ...

. Nelson made his first film appearances in 1933 in

comedy short subjects. His (well-honed) blue-collar appearance made him a likely choice for roles as cab drivers, bartenders, and gunmen. For instance in the five-year run of ''The Adventures Superman'' television series, Nelson played five different thugs. Nelson's last role was in the 1961 in ''

Pocketful of Miracles ''Pocketful of Miracles'' is a 1961 American comedy film starring Glenn Ford and Bette Davis, produced and directed by Frank Capra, filmed in Panavision. The screenplay by Hal Kanter and Harry Tugend was based on Robert Riskin's screenplay for ...

''.

Filmography (selection)

* ''

Look Up and Laugh ''Look Up and Laugh'' is a 1935 British comedy film directed by Basil Dean and starring Gracie Fields, Alfred Drayton and Douglas Wakefield. The film is notable for featuring an appearance by Vivien Leigh in an early supporting role. Plot Gracie ...

'' (1935) British * ''

I Live on Danger ''I Live on Danger'' is a 1942 film noir thriller film directed by Sam White and starring Chester Morris and Jean Parker. Plot Jeff Morrell is an ambitious radio reporter. The news of the day is the prison release of gambler Eddie Nelson, who ...

'' (1942) * '' Wrecking Crew'' (1942) * ''

Minesweeper A minesweeper is a small warship designed to remove or detonate naval mines. Using various mechanisms intended to counter the threat posed by naval mines, minesweepers keep waterways clear for safe shipping. History The earliest known usage of ...

'' (1943) * ''

Harvest Melody ''Harvest Melody'' is a 1943 American musical film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Allan Gale. The film stars Lane Sisters, Rosemary Lane, Johnny Downs, Charlotte Wynters, Sheldon Leonard, Luis Alberni, Claire Rochelle, Syd Saylor, Marjor ...

'' (1943) * '' Waterfront'' (1944) * ''

Gambler's Choice ''Gambler's Choice'' is a 1944 film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Chester Morris and Nancy Kelly. Plot In 1897, three children, Ross Hadley, Mike McGlennon and Mary Rogers, are brought before a judge for stealing a man's wallet. McGle ...

'' (1944) * ''

High Powered ''High Powered'' is a 1945 American adventure film directed by William Berke starring Robert Lowery and Phyllis Brooks. It is also known as ''High Man''. Plot Marian Blair and Cassie McQuade are running a small lunch establishment in their tr ...

'' (1945) * ''

Senorita from the West ''Senorita from the West'' is a 1945 American comedy-drama film directed by Frank Strayer from an original screenplay by Howard Dimsdale. The picture stars Allan Jones and Bonita Granville, and was released by Universal Pictures on October 12, ...

'' (1945) * ''

Search for Danger ''Search for Danger'' is a 1949 American crime film directed by Jack Bernhard and starring John Calvert, Albert Dekker and Myrna Dell. The film was the last of three made by the low-budget Film Classics company featuring Calvert as The Falcon w ...

'' (1949) * ''

Drums in the Deep South ''Drums in the Deep South'' is an American Civil War war western film directed by William Cameron Menzies who was production designer of David O. Selznick's ''Gone With the Wind'' (1939) and also designed the cave sequences in Selznick's ''The A ...

'' (1951) * '' Stamp Day for Superman'' (1954, Short) * ''

12 Angry Men ''Twelve Angry Men'' is an American courtroom drama written by Reginald Rose concerning the jury of a homicide trial. It was broadcast initially as a television play in 1954. The following year it was adapted for the stage. It was adapted for a ...

'' (1957) - Court Clerk (uncredited) * ''

'' (1961)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Billy 1903 births 1973 deaths American male film actors Male actors from New York City 20th-century American male actors