# Craig T. Nelson

Craig Theodore Nelson (born April 4, 1944) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Hayden Fox in the ABC sitcom Coach (for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series), Deputy Warden Ward Wilson in the 1980 film Stir Crazy, Steve Freeling in the 1982 film Poltergeist, Burt Nickerson in All the Right Moves (1983), Peter Dellaplane in Action Jackson, Chief Howard Hyde in Turner & Hooch (1989), Alex Cullen in The Devil's Advocate (1997), Chief Jack Mannion in the CBS drama The District (2000–04), The Warden in the NBC sitcom My Name Is Earl (2007), and the voice of Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible in the 2004 film The Incredibles and its 2018 sequel. He also starred as Zeek Braverman in the NBC drama series Parenthood (2010–15) and recurred as Dale Ballard in the CBS sitcom Young Sheldon (2017–24).

## Early life

Craig Theodore Nelson was born on April 4, 1944, in Spokane, Washington. He is the son of Vera Margaret (née Spindler; 1906–1971), a dancer, and Armand Gilbert Nelson (1901–1965), a businessman.
Nelson attended Lewis and Clark High School, where he played football, baseball, and basketball.
After 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. When he first moved to California, he took up a job as a security guard at a soap factory until finding work as a comedy writer.

## Career
### Early career

Nelson began his show business career as a comedian. He was an early member of The Groundlings improv and sketch comedy troupe. Nelson, Barry Levinson, and Rudy De Luca formed their own comedy team and were regular performers at The Comedy Store and on the short-lived The Tim Conway Comedy Hour (1970). In 1973, Nelson left the comedy world, explaining "the standup comedy life was pretty unfulfilling for me" and he settled in Montgomery Creek, California where there was no electricity and no running water; "it was contentment, The Waltons", he said. Nelson had different jobs during that time including janitor, plumber, carpenter, surveyor, and high school teacher in Burney, CA. He returned to acting five years later.

### Film

Nelson was featured as a prosecuting attorney who opposes Al Pacino in the 1979 film ...And Justice for All, co-written by Levinson. He then played Capt. William Woodbridge in Private Benjamin (1980), Deputy Warden Ward Wilson in Stir Crazy (1980), and Steve Freeling in the 1982 film Poltergeist (1982), returning to the role for the sequel, Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986). In 1983, Nelson appeared in Silkwood, directed by Mike Nichols and starring Meryl Streep. That same year, he played the high school football coach of Tom Cruise in the drama All the Right Moves and was one of the stars of director Sam Peckinpah's final film, The Osterman Weekend. 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 then played 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 made a three-episode guest appearance on CSI: NY from 2008 to 2009 as a "nemesis" of Gary Sinise's Taylor.
His latest films include 2007's Blades of Glory as an ice skating coach, 2009's The Proposal as Ryan Reynolds' skeptical father, 2010's The Company Men as a greedy CEO, and 2018's Book Club. 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.
In 2019, Nelson joined the cast of Young Sheldon as Dale Ballard, a local sports store owner, Missy's baseball coach, and Meemaw's boyfriend.

## 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 is a motorsports fan and an avid racer. He first participated in the 1991 Toyota Celebrity Long Beach Grand Prix and finished ninth. In 1992, he founded Screaming Eagles Racing with John Christie and entered and drove a Toyota-engined Spice SE90 in the IMSA 1994 WSC, a Lexus-engined Spice SE90 in 1995 and a Ford-engined Riley & Scott MkIII in the 1996 and 1997 championships.
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."
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.

## 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 | |
| 1980 | The Formula | Geologist #2 | |
| 1980 | Where the Buffalo Roam | Cop on Stand | |
| 1980 | Private Benjamin | Capt. William Woodbridge | |
| 1982 | Poltergeist | Steve Freeling | |
| 1983 | Man, Woman and Child | Bernie Ackerman | |
| 1983 | Silkwood | Winston | |
| 1983 | All the Right Moves | Coach Vern Nickerson | |
| 1983 | The Osterman Weekend | Bernard Osterman | |
| 1984 | The Killing Fields | Major Reeves | |
| 1986 | Poltergeist II: The Other Side | Steve Freeling | |
| 1987 | Rachel River | Marlyn Huutula | |
| 1988 | Action Jackson | Peter Dellaplane | |
| 1988 | Me and Him | Peter Aramis | |
| 1989 | Red Riding Hood | Sir Godfrey / Percival | |
| 1989 | Turner & Hooch | Chief Howard Hyde | |
| 1989 | Troop Beverly Hills | Fred Nefler | |
| 1996 | Ghosts of Mississippi | Ed Peters | |
| 1996 | I'm Not Rappaport | The Cowboy | |
| 1997 | The Devil's Advocate | Alexander Cullen | |
| 1997 | 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 | 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 | |
| 2018 | Incredibles 2 | Bob Parr / Mr. Incredible | Voice |
| 2023 | Book Club: The Next Chapter | Bruce Jutsum | |
| 2025 | Green and Gold | Buck | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1973 | The Mary Tyler Moore Show | Charlie the mechanic | Episode: "Mary Richards and the Incredible Plant Lady" |
| 1978 | Charlie's Angels | Stone | Episode: "Angels on the Run" |
| 1978 | Wonder Woman | Sam | Episode: "The Deadly Sting" |
| 1979 | How the West Was Won | Tugger | Episode: "The Rustler" |
| 1979 | Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker | Driver | Television film |
| 1980 | The Promise of Love | Major Landau | Television film |
| 1980 | The White Shadow | Father Phil | Episode: "A Christmas Story" |
| 1981 | Inmates: A Love Story | Daniels | Television film |
| 1981 | WKRP in Cincinnati | Charlie Bathgate | Episode: "Out to Lunch" |
| 1981 | Murder in Texas | Jack Ramsey | Television film |
| 1981–1982 | Private Benjamin | Capt. Braddock / Col. Hogan | Recurring role; 3 episodes |
| 1982 | Paper Dolls | Michael Caswell | Television film |
| 1982 | Chicago Story | Kenneth A. Dutton | 13 episodes |
| 1984–1985 | Call to Glory | Col. Raynor Sarnac | 23 episodes |
| 1986 | Alex: The Life of a Child | Frank Deford | Television film |
| 1986 | The Ted Kennedy Jr. Story | Senator Edward Kennedy | Television film |
| 1989 | Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story | Major Bill Harcourt | Television film |
| 1989–1997 | Coach | Coach Hayden Fox | Series regular; 198 episodes |
| 1990 | Drug Wars: The Camarena Story | Harley Steinmetz | Television miniseries |
| 1990 | Extreme Close-Up | Philip | Television film |
| 1991 | The Josephine Baker Story | Walter Winchell | Television film |
| 1993 | The Switch | Russ Fine | Television film |
| 1993 | The Fire Next Time | Drew Morgan | Television miniseries |
| 1994 | Ride with the Wind | Frank Shelby | Television film |
| 1994 | Probable Cause | Lieutenant Louis Whitmire | Television film |
| 1994 | The Lies Boys Tell | Larry | Television film |
| 1996 | If These Walls Could Talk | Jim Harris | Television film ("1996" segment) |
| 1998 | Creature | Dr. Simon Chase | Television miniseries |
| 1999 | To Serve and Protect | Tom Carr | Television miniseries |
| 2000 | The Huntress | Ralph Thorson | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2000 | Dirty Pictures | Simon Leis | Television film |
| 2000–2004 | The District | Chief Jack Mannion | Series regular; 89 episodes |
| 2001 | Yes, Dear | TV Actor | Episode: "Jimmy's Jimmy", Uncredited |
| 2002 | The Agency | Chief Jack Mannion | Episode: "Doublecrossover" |
| 2007 | My Name Is Earl | Warden Jerry Hazelwood | 4 episodes |
| 2008–2009 | CSI: NY | Robert Dunbrook | 3 episodes |
| 2009 | Monk | Judge Ethan Rickover | 2 episodes |
| 2010–2015 | Parenthood | Ezekiel "Zeek" Braverman | Series regular; 91 episodes |
| 2013 | Hawaii Five-0 | Tyler Cain | Episode: "He welo 'oihana" |
| 2015 | Grace and Frankie | Guy | 5 episodes |
| 2017 | Raised by Wolves | Paul "Grampy" Kosinski | Television film |
| 2019–2024 | Young Sheldon | Dale Ballard | Recurring role |
| 2024 | Pupstruction | PawPaw | Voice; episode: "Petsgiving at PawPaw's/Chilly Dogs" |
| 2024 | Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage | Dale Ballard | Episode: "Thanksgiving" |

### Video games

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

### Theme parks

| Year | Title | 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

| Year | Title | Accolade | Results |
| 1990 | Coach | Primetime Emmy Award, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | Nominated |
| 1991 | Coach | Primetime Emmy Award, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | Nominated |
| 1992 | Coach | Golden Globe Award, Best Lead Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical | Nominated |
| 1992 | Coach | Primetime Emmy Award, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | Won |
| 1992 | Coach | Viewers for Quality Television Award, Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series | Nominated |
| 1993 | Coach | American Television Award, Best Actor in a Situation Comedy | Nominated |
| 1993 | Coach | Golden Globe Award, Best Lead Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical | Nominated |
| 1993 | Coach | Viewers for Quality Television Award, Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series | Nominated |
| 1994 | Coach | Golden Globe Award, Best Lead Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical | Nominated |
| 1995 | Coach | Golden Globe Award, Best Lead Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical | Nominated |
| 1996 | Ghosts of Mississippi | Award Circuit Community Award, Best Cast Ensemble | Nominated |
| 2001 | The District | Actor of the Year in a New Series | Nominated |
| 2002 | The District | Satellite Award, Best Lead Actor in a Series - Drama | Nominated |
| 2004 | The District | Prism Award, Best Performance in a Drama Series Episode | Nominated |
| 2005 | The Incredibles | MTV Movie + TV Award, Best On-Screen Team (shared with Holly Hunter, Spencer Fox & Sarah Vowell) | Nominated |
| 2005 | The Family Stone | Satellite Award, Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical | Nominated |
| 2005 | The Incredibles | Visual Effects Society Award, Outstanding Performance by an Animated Character in an Animated Motion Picture | Won |
| 2006 | The Family Stone | AARP Movies for Grownups Award, Best Grownup Love Story (shared with Diane Keaton) | Won |
| 2010 | | Ojai Film Festival Award, Lifetime Achievement award | Won |
| 2012 | Parenthood | Prism Award, Male Performance in a Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline | Won |
| 2015 | Parenthood | Critics Choice Television Award, Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated |