Craig T. Nelson

Early life Craig Theodore Nelson was born on April 4, 1944, His parents were Vera Margaret (née Spindler), a dancer, and Armand Gilbert Nelson, a businessman. Following high school, Nelson studied at Central Washington University. After flunking out, Nelson went to Yakima Valley College where he was inspired to study acting by his drama teacher, Mr. Brady. From Yakima, he went on to study drama at the University of Arizona on a scholarship.

In 1969, Nelson dropped out of school and moved to Hollywood to pursue an acting career. After first moving to California, he took up a job as a security guard at a soap factory until finding work as a comedy writer. Nelson, Barry Levinson, and Rudy De Luca formed their own comedy team and were regular performers at The Comedy Store and he settled in Montgomery Creek, California where there was no electricity and no running water; "it was contentment, The Waltons", he said. He appeared in many other motion picture roles including Major Reeves in The Killing Fields (1984), Peter Dellaplane in Action Jackson (1988), Chief Howard Hyde in Turner & Hooch (1989), Ed Peters in Ghosts of Mississippi (1996), and Alex Cullen in The Devil's Advocate (1997).

Television Nelson's first TV series was the short-lived ABC series Call to Glory from 1984 to 1985. He became well-known when he starred as college football coach Hayden Fox in the ABC sitcom Coach from 1989 to 1997, and for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. He also directed many episodes of the show. He then starred as chief of Washington, D.C.'s police department Jack Mannion in the CBS drama The District from 2000 to 2004. He went on to play the role of the Prison Warden in the NBC sitcom My Name Is Earl in 2007.

Later career

Nelson provided the voice of Bob Parr (also known as Mr. Incredible) in the animated film The Incredibles (2004), and returned to the role for its long awaited sequel, Incredibles 2 (2018). Nelson also reprised the role again in the video games Kinect Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure and in the Disney Infinity video game series, except for the video game and The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer, where he was replaced by actor Richard McGonagle.

Nelson's subsequent films include 2005's The Family Stone as Diane Keaton's husband, 2007's Blades of Glory as an ice skating coach, 2009's The Proposal as Ryan Reynolds's skeptical father, 2010's The Company Men as a greedy CEO, and 2018's Book Club.

Nelson made a three-episode guest appearance on CSI: NY from 2008 to 2009 as a "nemesis" of Gary Sinise's Taylor. From 2010 to 2015, he starred in the NBC comedy-drama Parenthood as Ezekiel "Zeek" Braverman, the family patriarch. His production company is Family Tree Productions.

From 2019 to 2024, Nelson was part of the cast of Young Sheldon playing Dale Ballard, a local sports store owner, Missy's baseball coach, and Meemaw's boyfriend. In 2024, he continued the role on its spin-off Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage.

Personal life Nelson has three children from his first marriage to Robin McCarthy, though they later divorced. His second wife Doria Cook-Nelson is a freelance writer, president of a martial arts association, karate instructor, tai chi teacher, and a former film and television actress who had a featured role in the movie musical Mame.

Nelson has voiced support for conservative beliefs and politicians. During the 2008 United States presidential election, he endorsed John McCain. In 2009, Nelson appeared on The Glenn Beck Program to announce that he was considering no longer paying income tax. In the same year, he appeared on Hannity to criticize government expansion.

Early in his career, Nelson struggled with alcohol and substance addiction. Nelson is a Christian and runs more than one addiction recovery program through his church.

Nelson is also a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan. On January 5, 2025 he sang the National Anthem at Lambeau Field. He would later tell reporters "Me and the Packers go way back."

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1971 The Return of Count Yorga Sgt. O'Connor 1973 Scream Blacula Scream Sarge 1974 Flesh Gordon The Great God Porno Voice; uncredited 1979 ...And Justice for All Frank Bowers 1980 Stir Crazy Deputy Warden Ward Wilson The Formula Geologist #2 Where the Buffalo Roam Cop on Stand Private Benjamin Capt. William Woodbridge 1982 Poltergeist Steve Freeling 1983 Man, Woman and Child Bernie Ackerman Silkwood Winston All the Right Moves Coach Vern Nickerson The Osterman Weekend Bernard Osterman 1984 The Killing Fields Major Reeves 1986 Poltergeist II: The Other Side Steve Freeling 1987 Rachel River Marlyn Huutula Red Riding Hood Sir Godfrey / Percival 1988 Action Jackson Peter Dellaplane Me and Him Peter Aramis 1989 Turner & Hooch Chief Howard Hyde Troop Beverly Hills Fred Nefler 1996 Ghosts of Mississippi Ed Peters I'm Not Rappaport The Cowboy 1997 The Devil's Advocate Alexander Cullen Wag the Dog Senator John Neal Uncredited 2000 The Skulls Litten Mandrake 2001 All Over Again Cole Twain 2004 The Incredibles Bob Parr / Mr. Incredible Voice 2005 Mr. Incredible and Pals (commentary edition) Voice The Family Stone Kelly Stone 2007 Blades of Glory Coach Darren Goddard 2009 The Proposal Joe Paxton 2010 The Company Men James Salinger 2011 Soul Surfer Dr. David Rovinsky 2015 Get Hard Martin Barrow 2016 Gold Kenny Wells 2018 Book Club Bruce Jutsum Incredibles 2 Bob Parr / Mr. Incredible Voice Auntie Edna Bob Parr Voice; Short film 2023 Book Club: The Next Chapter Bruce Jutsum 2025 Green and Gold Buck

Television

Video games Year Title Role Notes 2012 Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure Bob Parr / Mr. Incredible 2013 Disney Infinity 2014 Disney Infinity 2.0 2015 Disney Infinity 3.0

Theme parks Year Ride Role Notes 2018 Incredicoaster Bob Parr / Mr. Incredible Voice

Theatre Year Title Role Notes 1983–1984 Friends Harold (Okie) Peterson 1998 Ah, Wilderness! Nat Miller

Awards and nominations