David Nelson
by Fred T. Beeman

David Oswald Nelson, who starred on his parents' popular television show (and produced or directed several episodes of it) died in Century City CA on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at 74, after fighting complications from colon cancer.

He was the sole surviving member of the Nelsons TV family, which included his father, actor/bandleader Ozzie, his mom, singer Harriet Hilliard and his teen-idol brother Eric “Ricky” Nelson, who was killed in an aircraft crash on December 31, 1985. The show began on radio in 1952 as "Here Come the Nelsons," then had a 320-episode run on TV from 1952 to 1966 as, "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" with some of the story lines taken from their own lives.

Unlike other shows of that time period, the characters used their true names and the show was filmed on location in their Hollywood Foothills residence. That house still stands to this day, and is frequently visited by tourists.

David was born in New York City on October 24, 1936 and attended Hollywood High School as well as the University of Southern California.

He is survived by his wife, Yvonne; four sons, a daughter, and seven grandchildren.

We extend our deepest condolences and most heartfelt sympathies to them, his many friends and his loyal fans.