Don Nelson, a screenwriter, film producer and musician who co-wrote scripts for "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" — the classic American television series centered on his brother Ozzie's family — as well as for more than two dozen other films and TV series.
A 21-year age difference separated him from his brother Ozzie Nelson, and by the time Donald Nelson reached high school, Ozzie Nelson had long been a bandleader, with a number of popular recordings and a billing on the radio show "Ripley's Believe It or Not." At 16, Mr. Nelson joined Ozzie's band as a saxophonist. About a year later, Mr. Nelson left high school with a war diploma and enlisted in the Navy. He played saxophone in the Navy band,entertaining troops aboard ships in Hawaii and the Pacific
He also co-wrote the 1952 film "Here Come the Nelsons," the Nelsons' only theatrical feature. The film, which starred Rock Hudson, essentially served as a pilot for the TV version of the popular radio series, on which Mr. Nelson also worked as a writer.
As a staff writer for "Ozzie and Harriet," one of the longest-running family comedies in TV history, Mr. Nelson came up with Ricky Nelson's trademark catchphrase "I don't mess around, boy," and contributed to more than 200 episodes of the series with storylines anchored famously on the harmless.
His jazz performance career included a long stint in the 1980s and '90s as a soprano saxophonist, vocalist and composer for the Los Angeles-based Great Pacific Jazz Band, led by pianist Bob Ringwald.
Nelson, who had Parkinson's disease, died of an aortic aneurysm at his home
A 21-year age difference separated him from his brother Ozzie Nelson, and by the time Donald Nelson reached high school, Ozzie Nelson had long been a bandleader, with a number of popular recordings and a billing on the radio show "Ripley's Believe It or Not." At 16, Mr. Nelson joined Ozzie's band as a saxophonist. About a year later, Mr. Nelson left high school with a war diploma and enlisted in the Navy. He played saxophone in the Navy band,entertaining troops aboard ships in Hawaii and the Pacific
He also co-wrote the 1952 film "Here Come the Nelsons," the Nelsons' only theatrical feature. The film, which starred Rock Hudson, essentially served as a pilot for the TV version of the popular radio series, on which Mr. Nelson also worked as a writer.
As a staff writer for "Ozzie and Harriet," one of the longest-running family comedies in TV history, Mr. Nelson came up with Ricky Nelson's trademark catchphrase "I don't mess around, boy," and contributed to more than 200 episodes of the series with storylines anchored famously on the harmless.
His jazz performance career included a long stint in the 1980s and '90s as a soprano saxophonist, vocalist and composer for the Los Angeles-based Great Pacific Jazz Band, led by pianist Bob Ringwald.
Nelson, who had Parkinson's disease, died of an aortic aneurysm at his home
Don Nelson, a screenwriter, film producer and musician who co-wrote scripts for "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" — the classic American television series centered on his brother Ozzie's family — as well as for more than two dozen other films and TV series.
A 21-year age difference separated him from his brother Ozzie Nelson, and by the time Donald Nelson reached high school, Ozzie Nelson had long been a bandleader, with a number of popular recordings and a billing on the radio show "Ripley's Believe It or Not." At 16, Mr. Nelson joined Ozzie's band as a saxophonist. About a year later, Mr. Nelson left high school with a war diploma and enlisted in the Navy. He played saxophone in the Navy band,entertaining troops aboard ships in Hawaii and the Pacific
He also co-wrote the 1952 film "Here Come the Nelsons," the Nelsons' only theatrical feature. The film, which starred Rock Hudson, essentially served as a pilot for the TV version of the popular radio series, on which Mr. Nelson also worked as a writer.
As a staff writer for "Ozzie and Harriet," one of the longest-running family comedies in TV history, Mr. Nelson came up with Ricky Nelson's trademark catchphrase "I don't mess around, boy," and contributed to more than 200 episodes of the series with storylines anchored famously on the harmless.
His jazz performance career included a long stint in the 1980s and '90s as a soprano saxophonist, vocalist and composer for the Los Angeles-based Great Pacific Jazz Band, led by pianist Bob Ringwald.
Nelson, who had Parkinson's disease, died of an aortic aneurysm at his home
A 21-year age difference separated him from his brother Ozzie Nelson, and by the time Donald Nelson reached high school, Ozzie Nelson had long been a bandleader, with a number of popular recordings and a billing on the radio show "Ripley's Believe It or Not." At 16, Mr. Nelson joined Ozzie's band as a saxophonist. About a year later, Mr. Nelson left high school with a war diploma and enlisted in the Navy. He played saxophone in the Navy band,entertaining troops aboard ships in Hawaii and the Pacific
He also co-wrote the 1952 film "Here Come the Nelsons," the Nelsons' only theatrical feature. The film, which starred Rock Hudson, essentially served as a pilot for the TV version of the popular radio series, on which Mr. Nelson also worked as a writer.
As a staff writer for "Ozzie and Harriet," one of the longest-running family comedies in TV history, Mr. Nelson came up with Ricky Nelson's trademark catchphrase "I don't mess around, boy," and contributed to more than 200 episodes of the series with storylines anchored famously on the harmless.
His jazz performance career included a long stint in the 1980s and '90s as a soprano saxophonist, vocalist and composer for the Los Angeles-based Great Pacific Jazz Band, led by pianist Bob Ringwald.
Nelson, who had Parkinson's disease, died of an aortic aneurysm at his home
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