23 Facts About Ozzie Nelson

Oswald George Nelson was an American actor, filmmaker, musician, and bandleader.

Ozzie Nelson originated and starred in The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, a radio and television series with his wife Harriet and two sons David and Ricky Nelson.

Ozzie Nelson was born March 20,1906, in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States.

Ozzie Nelson was raised in Ridgefield Park, where he was active in Scouting, earning the rank of Eagle Scout at age 13.

Ozzie Nelson played football at Ridgefield Park High School and during his college years at Rutgers University.

Ozzie Nelson was a member of the Cap and Skull fraternity.

Ozzie Nelson graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor's degree and earned a law degree from Rutgers School of Law, Newark, New Jersey, in 1930.

Ozzie Nelson was made a doctor of humane letters by Rutgers University in 1957.

Ozzie Nelson was rejected to be the vocalist for the Rutgers Jazz Bandits, led by Scrappy Lambert and later Hawley Ades.

Ozzie Nelson was not discouraged and was gracious about this rejection when he met Ades years later.

Ozzie Nelson formed and led the Ozzie Nelson Band, and had some initial limited success.

Ozzie Nelson made his own "big break" in 1930, when The New York Daily Mirror ran a poll of its readers to determine their favorite band.

From 1930 through the 1940s, Ozzie Nelson's band recorded prolifically, first on Brunswick, then Vocalion, then back to Brunswick, Bluebird, Victor, and finally back to Bluebird.

Ozzie Nelson's records were consistently popular, and in 1934, Ozzie Nelson enjoyed success with his hit song, "Over Somebody Else's Shoulder", which he introduced.

Ozzie Nelson appeared with his band in feature films and short subjects of the 1940s, and often played speaking parts, displaying a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor, as in the 1942 musical Strictly in the Groove.

Ozzie Nelson shrewdly promoted the band by agreeing to appear in "soundies", three-minute musical movies shown in "film jukeboxes" of the 1940s.

Ozzie Nelson was producer and director of most of the episodes, and he co-wrote many of them.

Ozzie Nelson was hands-on, involved with every aspect of both radio and TV programs.

Ozzie Nelson has an additional star with his wife at 6260 Hollywood Boulevard for their contribution to radio.

Ozzie Nelson's grandchildren include actress Tracy Nelson and musicians Matthew and Gunnar Nelson.

Cultural historians have noted that the on-screen laid-back character was very different from the real-life Ozzie Nelson, who has been characterized as an authoritarian figure who monitored every aspect of his children's lives.

Ozzie Nelson suffered from recurring malignant tumors in his later years, and eventually succumbed to liver cancer.

Ozzie Nelson died at his home in the San Fernando Valley on June 3,1975, with his wife and sons at his bedside.