image of Harriet Nelson
Birthday: Jul 18, 1909
Place of Birth: Des Moines, Iowa, USA

Harriet Nelson

Harriet Nelson will always have a secure place alongside Barbara Billingsley and Jane Wyatt in the "TV's Golden Age Mom Hall of Fame." For fourteen years, she, husband Ozzie Nelson, and their two boys, David Nelson and Ricky Nelson, were the quintessential role models of the '50s ideal nuclear family. Harriet, the daughter of actors, was practically born in a trunk. She made her debut amid the footlights at age 6 weeks with her parents. The Iowa beauty attended St. Agnes Academy in her early years. Quite a dazzler in her youth, she was playing vaudeville when she attracted the attention of saxophone-playing Ozzie Nelson and was hired by him as vocalist for his orchestra in 1932. They married three years later. Harriet had a bold, sassy edge to her that proved a perfect counterpoint to Ozzie's genial, stumbling personality in their off-the-cuff routines. During the '40s, they were regulars on Red Skelton's radio show and even took over the comic's time slot when Red was drafted into the army. As Harriet Hilliard, she moved to leading lady status in a number of cool, snazzy war-era musicals, the most notable as "second lead" to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Follow the Fleet (1936). Other minor efforts included Cocoanut Grove (1938), Sweetheart of the Campus (1941) with Ozzie, Juke Box Jenny (1942), and Honeymoon Lodge (1943), also with Ozzie. Breezy, tuneful films, but nothing to write home about. Once Harriet partnered with Ozzie in their own radio series "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" in 1944, the family-oriented woman's career became unequivocally bound to his. They extended their devoted radio audience to TV (1952-1966). The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet (1952), which now included both their sons, made household names of the entire clan. David followed in his father's footsteps as director/producer, while Ricky turned pop teen idol with such hits as "Hello, Mary Lou" and "Travelin' Man," songs that were introduced on the show. Following the show's long run, Ozzie and Harriet lay back a bit and settled in Laguna Beach, California, touring occasionally on stage. A second series entitled Ozzie's Girls (1973) lasted only one season. Following Ozzie's death in 1975, Harriet turned somewhat reclusive, save for a few mini-movies or guest spots. She never fully recovered from son Ricky's death in a plane crash in 1985. She was the doting grandmother of actress Tracy Nelson and of twin rockers Matthew Nelson and Gunnar Nelson, who were simply called "Nelson." A heavy smoker most of her life, she never smoked in public, feeling it did not befit her "perfect mom" image. She died of emphysema and congestive heart failure in 1994.

Filmography
Movie Cast Year
The Movie Orgy Self (archive footage) 1968
Follow the Fleet Connie Martin 1936
The Falcon Strikes Back Gwynne Gregory (as Harriet Hilliard) 1943
Confessions of Boston Blackie Diane Parrish 1941
Harem Scarem 1932
A Christmas for Boomer Grandmother Sinclair 1979
The Life of the Party Mitzi Martos 1937
Here Come the Nelsons Harriet Nelson 1952
New Faces of 1937 Patricia 1937
Cocoanut Grove Linda Rogers 1938
Death Car on the Freeway Mrs. Sheel 1979
The First Time Charlotte 1982
Sweetheart of the Campus Harriet Hale 1941
Hi, Good Lookin'! Kelly Clark 1944
The Kid with the 200 I.Q. Prof. Conklin 1983
Hi, Buddy Gloria Bradley 1943
Honeymoon Lodge Lorraine Logan aka Jenny Hockadayl 1943
Swingtime Johnny Linda 1944
Take It Big Jerry Clinton 1944
Canal Zone Susan Merrill 1942
Juke Box Jenny Genevieve Horton 1942
Gals, Incorporated Gwen Phillips (as Harriet Hilliard) 1943
Smash-Up on Interstate 5 June Pearson 1976
Ozzie Nelson and His Orchestra 1943
High School U.S.A. Mrs. Crosley 1984
Disneyland '59 Self 1959
Series Cast Year
Father Dowling Mysteries 1989
Ozzie's Girls 1973
The Love Boat Henrietta McDonald 1977
Happy Days 1974
The Merv Griffin Show Self 1962
This Is Your Life Self 1952
Aloha Paradise 1981
The Barbara McNair Show Self 1969
Night Gallery Helena Millikan (segment "You Can Come Up Now, Mrs. Millikan") 1970
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Harriet 1952
Dinah! Self 1974
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Self 1962
Love, American Style Mrs. Garber 1969
What's My Line? Self - Mystery Guest 1950
Once an Eagle Harriet Nelson 1976
Love, American Style Martha Pickard 1969
Love, American Style 1969
Fantasy Island Winnie McLaine 1978
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