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 Stir Crazy (1980), Steve Freeling in Poltergeist (1982), Burt Nickerson in All the Right Moves (1983), Peter Dellaplane in Action Jackson (1988), Chief Howard Hyde in Turner & Hooch (1989), Alex Cullen in The Devil's Advocate (1997), Chief Jack Mannion in the CBS drama The District (2000–2004), Coach Goddard in Blades of Glory (2007), The Warden in the NBC sitcom My Name Is Earl (2007), and the voice of Mr. Incredible in the 2004 film The Incredibles and its 2018 sequel.
Nelson also starred as Zeek Braverman in the NBC drama series Parenthood (2010–2015) and recurred as Dale Ballard in the CBS sitcoms Young Sheldon (2019–2024) and its spin-off Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage (2024–present).
Early life Craig Theodore Nelson was born on April 4, 1944, in Spokane, Washington. His parents were Vera Margaret (née Spindler), a dancer, and Armand Gilbert Nelson, a businessman.
Nelson attended Lewis and Clark High School, where he played football, baseball, and basketball. 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.
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 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), Freddy Nefler in Troop Beverly Hills (1989), 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 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 Mk III in the 1996 and 1997 championships.
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 Year Title Role Notes 1973 The Mary Tyler Moore Show Charlie Episode: "Mary Richards and the Incredible Plant Lady"1978 Charlie's Angels Stone Episode: "Angels on the Run" Wonder Woman Sam Episode: "The Deadly Sting"1979 How the West Was Won Tugger Episode: "The Rustler" Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker Driver Television film1980 The Promise of Love Major Landau The White Shadow Father Phil Episode: "A Christmas Story"1981 Inmates: A Love Story Daniels Television film Murder in Texas Jack Ramsey WKRP in Cincinnati Charlie Bathgate Episode: "Out to Lunch" 1981–1982 Private Benjamin Capt. Braddock / Col. Hogan 3 episodes1982 Paper Dolls Michael Caswell Television film Chicago Story Kenneth A. Dutton Recurring role 1984–1985 Call to Glory Col. Raynor Sarnac Main role1986 Alex: The Life of a Child Frank Deford Television film The Ted Kennedy Jr. Story Senator Ted Kennedy 1989 Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story Major Bill Harcourt 1989–1997 Coach Coach Hayden Fox Main role1990 Drug Wars: The Camarena Story Harley Steinmetz Miniseries Extreme Close-Up Philip Television film 1991 The Josephine Baker Story Walter Winchell1993 The Switch Russ Fine The Fire Next Time Drew Morgan Miniseries1994 Ride with the Wind Frank Shelby Television film Probable Cause Lieutenant Louis Whitmire The Lies Boys Tell Larry 1996 If These Walls Could Talk Jim Harris Television film; segment: "1996" 1998 Creature Dr. Simon Chase Miniseries 1999 To Serve and Protect Tom Carr2000 The Huntress Ralph Thorson Episode: "Pilot" Dirty Pictures Simon Leis Television film 2000–2004 The District Chief Jack Mannion Main role 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 Main role 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 2024–2025 Pupstruction PawPaw Voice; 2 episodes 2024–present Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage Dale Ballard 4 episodes 2025 SpongeBob SquarePants Coach Cod Voice; episode: "Pigskin Pearl"
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