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Craig T. Nelson

Starred on the hit sitcom "Coach" and currently plays Zeek Braverman on the NBC drama "Parenthood"

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Craig T. Nelson Biography

Craig T. Nelson was born Craig Richard Nelson on April 4, 1944, in Spokane, Washington. Both of Nelson's parents were involved in show business. His father, Armand Nelson, played the drums in Bing Crosby's high school band before giving up music to work in an aluminum plant, while his mother, Vera Nelson, was a professional dancer. A towering 6'3" with a muscular frame, Nelson excelled at golf, football, basketball, and baseball in high school. Despite his athletic prowess, it was Nelson's acting talent that earned him a scholarship to study drama at the University of Arizona.

In 1969, after meeting a "drunken and insane so-called producer" who wanted Nelson to co-star in a film with Wally Cox, Nelson dropped out of college and moved to Hollywood. Around this time, Nelson changed his middle name to Theodore -- he had discovered that there was already a Craig Richard Nelson ("The Paper Chase," "Honey I Shrunk the Kids") registered in the Screen Actors Guild. Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Nelson worked briefly as a security guard in a soap factory until he found work as a comedy writer. In 1970, he was hired to write material for legendary radio comedians Al Lohman and Roger Barkley and for the comedy TV series "The Tim Conway Show." Nelson then made his acting debut in the 1971 vampire horror sequel "The Return of Count Yorga." He landed several other minor acting gigs during this period, including a guest spot on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" in 1973.

By that time Nelson and his wife Robin already had two children (Tiffany and Christopher) and were struggling to pay the bills, so Nelson decided to quit acting and move his family to rural Mount Shasta in northern California. During his time off from acting, Nelson cycled through a variety of professions. He worked as a carpenter, logger, plumber and teacher, but without formal training in any of these professions he again struggled to make ends meet. By 1977, Nelson's family was on welfare and receiving food stamps.

In 1978, Nelson and his wife divorced and he moved back to Hollywood to try his luck with acting once again. He quickly landed a role in Al Pacino's 1979 film "...And Justice For All," which was nominated for two Academy Awards. Nelson got his big break three years later when he starred in the 1982 horror classic, "Poltergeist." Produced by Steven Spielberg, "Poltergeist" was both critically acclaimed and widely popular, establishing Nelson as a Hollywood notable.

Fueled by the success of "Poltergeist," Nelson enjoyed steady work in television and film throughout the 1980s.

He played Tom Cruise's football coach in the 1983 film "All the Right Moves," then earned critical praise for his portrayal of Air Force Colonel Raynor Sarnac in the 1984 TV series "Call to Glory." Impressed by his depiction of a football coach in "All the Right Moves," in 1989 ABC tapped Nelson to play Hayden Fox on the TV series "Coach." Nelson's particular brand of deadpan humor proved a perfect fit for the tough but good-humored Coach Hayden. "Coach" ran for eight seasons and earned Nelson the 1992 Emmy Award (outstanding lead actor in a comedy series).

Since "Coach" went off the air in 1997, Nelson has landed several other major leading roles. From 2000-2004, he starred as police Chief Jack Mannion in the CBS police drama "The District." Nelson then moved into voice acting, playing the voice of Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) in Disney's highly acclaimed 2004 animated film "The Incredibles." Other notable performances include the films "Blades of Glory" (2007) and "The Proposal" (2009), and the TV series "My Name is Earl" (2007) and "Parenthood" (2010).

Beyond acting, Nelson is a huge auto-racing enthusiast. He has participated in numerous celebrity racing tournaments and founded his own racing team, Screaming Eagle Racing, in 1994. Nelson lives with his second wife, karate instructor Doria Cook Nelson. Living with Doria, Nelson has added a new activity to his very busy acting schedule: chores. "When you are married to a karate black belt, you don't wait to be asked to make dinner and take out the garbage," Nelson said. "You just do it."

FAQs
  • How do I book Craig T. Nelson to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Craig T. Nelson for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Craig T. Nelson, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Craig T. Nelson or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Craig T. Nelson

    Speaking fees for Craig T. Nelson, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Craig T. Nelson are available upon request for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Craig T. Nelson, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Craig T. Nelson speak about?

    Craig T. Nelson is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Actors, Television Personalities.
  • Where does Craig T. Nelson travel from?

    Craig T. Nelson generally travels from an undisclosed location, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Craig T. Nelson’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Craig T. Nelson for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Craig T. Nelson for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Craig T. Nelson or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

Starred on the hit sitcom "Coach" and currently plays Zeek Braverman on the NBC drama "Parenthood"

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Craig T. Nelson Biography

Craig T. Nelson was born Craig Richard Nelson on April 4, 1944, in Spokane, Washington. Both of Nelson's parents were involved in show business. His father, Armand Nelson, played the drums in Bing Crosby's high school band before giving up music to work in an aluminum plant, while his mother, Vera Nelson, was a professional dancer. A towering 6'3" with a muscular frame, Nelson excelled at golf, football, basketball, and baseball in high school. Despite his athletic prowess, it was Nelson's acting talent that earned him a scholarship to study drama at the University of Arizona.

In 1969, after meeting a "drunken and insane so-called producer" who wanted Nelson to co-star in a film with Wally Cox, Nelson dropped out of college and moved to Hollywood. Around this time, Nelson changed his middle name to Theodore -- he had discovered that there was already a Craig Richard Nelson ("The Paper Chase," "Honey I Shrunk the Kids") registered in the Screen Actors Guild. Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Nelson worked briefly as a security guard in a soap factory until he found work as a comedy writer. In 1970, he was hired to write material for legendary radio comedians Al Lohman and Roger Barkley and for the comedy TV series "The Tim Conway Show." Nelson then made his acting debut in the 1971 vampire horror sequel "The Return of Count Yorga." He landed several other minor acting gigs during this period, including a guest spot on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" in 1973.

By that time Nelson and his wife Robin already had two children (Tiffany and Christopher) and were struggling to pay the bills, so Nelson decided to quit acting and move his family to rural Mount Shasta in northern California. During his time off from acting, Nelson cycled through a variety of professions. He worked as a carpenter, logger, plumber and teacher, but without formal training in any of these professions he again struggled to make ends meet. By 1977, Nelson's family was on welfare and receiving food stamps.

In 1978, Nelson and his wife divorced and he moved back to Hollywood to try his luck with acting once again. He quickly landed a role in Al Pacino's 1979 film "...And Justice For All," which was nominated for two Academy Awards. Nelson got his big break three years later when he starred in the 1982 horror classic, "Poltergeist." Produced by Steven Spielberg, "Poltergeist" was both critically acclaimed and widely popular, establishing Nelson as a Hollywood notable.

Fueled by the success of "Poltergeist," Nelson enjoyed steady work in television and film throughout the 1980s.

He played Tom Cruise's football coach in the 1983 film "All the Right Moves," then earned critical praise for his portrayal of Air Force Colonel Raynor Sarnac in the 1984 TV series "Call to Glory." Impressed by his depiction of a football coach in "All the Right Moves," in 1989 ABC tapped Nelson to play Hayden Fox on the TV series "Coach." Nelson's particular brand of deadpan humor proved a perfect fit for the tough but good-humored Coach Hayden. "Coach" ran for eight seasons and earned Nelson the 1992 Emmy Award (outstanding lead actor in a comedy series).

Since "Coach" went off the air in 1997, Nelson has landed several other major leading roles. From 2000-2004, he starred as police Chief Jack Mannion in the CBS police drama "The District." Nelson then moved into voice acting, playing the voice of Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) in Disney's highly acclaimed 2004 animated film "The Incredibles." Other notable performances include the films "Blades of Glory" (2007) and "The Proposal" (2009), and the TV series "My Name is Earl" (2007) and "Parenthood" (2010).

Beyond acting, Nelson is a huge auto-racing enthusiast. He has participated in numerous celebrity racing tournaments and founded his own racing team, Screaming Eagle Racing, in 1994. Nelson lives with his second wife, karate instructor Doria Cook Nelson. Living with Doria, Nelson has added a new activity to his very busy acting schedule: chores. "When you are married to a karate black belt, you don't wait to be asked to make dinner and take out the garbage," Nelson said. "You just do it."

FAQs on booking Craig T. Nelson

  • How do I book Craig T. Nelson to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Craig T. Nelson for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Craig T. Nelson, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Craig T. Nelson or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Craig T. Nelson

    Speaking fees for Craig T. Nelson, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Craig T. Nelson are available upon request for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Craig T. Nelson, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Craig T. Nelson speak about?

    Craig T. Nelson is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Actors, Television Personalities.
  • Where does Craig T. Nelson travel from?

    Craig T. Nelson generally travels from an undisclosed location, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Craig T. Nelson’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Craig T. Nelson for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Craig T. Nelson for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Craig T. Nelson or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Craig T. Nelson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Craig T. Nelson for your event is available upon request. Craig T. Nelson generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Holly Hunter, Sean Astin, Ed Begley Jr., David Feherty and Jessie Pavelka. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Craig T. Nelson for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.

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Speakers Similar to Craig T. Nelson

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

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