Nelson, Ralph, 1916-1987

Nelson was born on Aug. 12, 1916 in New York City; attended public school there; became an actor, director, producer, and playwright; worked as an actor, 1933-41; directed for NBC-TV, 1948-49, and for CBS-TV, 1949-52; president of Rainbow Productions in Los Angeles beginning in 1959; wrote the play Mail call (winner of the 1943 John Golden prize and National Theatre awards); also won National Theatre awards for Angels weep and The wind is ninety; won 1956 Emmy award for direction of Requiem for a heavyweight, and in 1964 the Golden Globes Humanitarian award for directing Lilies of the field; also wrote screenplays for The man in the funny suit, The flight of the doves, and The wrath of God; other films directed or produced by Nelson include Father Goose, Counterpoint, and Charley; he died on Dec. 21, 1987 in Santa Monica, CA.