Gary Nelson
Gary Nelson (October 6, 1934 – May 25, 2022) was an American television and film director. He directed many television series, including Get Smart, Gunsmoke, Have Gun – Will Travel, The Patty Duke Show, Gilligan's Island and Happy Days. In addition, Nelson directed five feature films, including Disney's Freaky Friday (1976), and many television movies, including Murder in Coweta County starring Johnny Cash and Andy Griffith.
Gary Nelson
- Name
- Gary Nelson
- Born
- 6 October 1934
- Birthplace
- Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Died
- 25 May 2022
- Place of death
- Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
- Occupation
- Director
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
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wikidata · Q3098592
In this article
Biography
Biography
In 1978, Nelson was nominated for an Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series on Washington: Behind Closed Doors. Nelson was born in Los Angeles, California. During semi-retirement, Nelson continued to occasionally guest lecture at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He died in Las Vegas of congestive heart failure on May 25, 2022, at the age of 87.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Gary Nelson • Born — 6 October 1934 • Birthplace — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Died — 25 May 2022 • Place of death — Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. • Occupation — Director • Years Active — 1962–2000 • Notable Works — Freaky Friday The Black Hole • Children — 2
Filmography
Filmography
• Molly and Lawless John (1972) • Santee (1973) • The Girl on the Late, Late Show (1974) • The Boy Who Talked to Badgers (1975) • Freaky Friday (1976) • Washington: Behind Closed Doors (1977) • The Black Hole (1979) • The Pride of Jesse Hallam (1981) • Jimmy the Kid (1982) • Murder in Coweta County (1983) • Murder Me, Murder You (1983) • More Than Murder (1984) • The Baron and the Kid (1984) • Murder in Three Acts (1986) • Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold (1986) • Noble House (1988) • Shooter (1988) • Get Smart, Again! (1989) • The Lookalike (1990) • The Return of Ironside (1993) • Melanie Darrow (1997)
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1934
Gary Nelson born at Los Angeles.
2022
Gary Nelson died at Las Vegas.
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Los Angeles.
Birth place
Las Vegas.
Death place
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Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Gary Nelson (director), revision 1314713087 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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