Felix Bradford Nelson (August 13, 1913 – February 17, 1998)Lamarre, Hazel L. (May 28, 1953). "All the World's a Stage: Artist of the Week". Los Angeles Sentinel. p. B-2. was an American stage, film, radio and television actor, best known for his work in Gordon Parks' The Learning Tree and Ruth Woodman's "Land of the Free" (Death Valley Days' acclaimed Season 1 finale)."Two Slaves Join Gold Rush in 'Land of Free'". Kansas City Call. May 22, 1953. p. 9."Negro Actors Star in New Television Film". Jet. June 4, 1963. p. 63. Nelson also appeared as Jim from Huckleberry Finn on both radio and television, and, alongside Sammy Davis Jr. and a mostly African American cast, in Aaron Spelling's groundbreaking 10th Cavalry Regiment-themed TV western, Mission.

Early life and career A native of Franklin, Texas, the older of two sons born to John Nelson and Dove Biggers,"Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LX5-ZJ3Z : 14 February 2020), Felix Bradford Nelson, 1913. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LG6-B82M : 14 February 2020), Dovie Biggers in entry for Johnnie Dovie Nelson, 1915. Nelson ran away from home at the age of 13, joining the J. R. Roberton Circus as a dancer, performing the Charleston and Black Bottom. From 1937 through 1940 and again from 1945 through 1948, he appeared with the Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts, portraying painter Elihu Vedder's "African Sentinel.""Art Studies Prepared for Laguna Festival". Daily Times-Advocate. July 9, 1948. p. 6."FELIX NELSON as Vedder's 'African Sentinel'". Los Angeles Daily News. August 8, 1947. p. 27. In the interim, he served with the United States Army for 3½ years during World War II, in China, India, and Burma, and was awarded the Purple Heart in 1945.

In 1949, Nelson became the first African American graduate of CBS's radio drama school.Brown, Jessie Mae (March 4, 1948). "Whats' Doing in the Social Set". California Eagle. p. 10. The following year, he appeared as Jim—alongside Dean Stockwell's Huck and Jerry Farber's Tom—on NBC University Theater, in Ernest Kinoy's adaptation of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. He also appeared that year on TV in Your Show Time's adaptation of Bret Harte's short story, "Colonel Starbottle for the Plaintiff," and onstage in a revival of the Broadway musical Carmen Jones, staged at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles."Music Show Due Tonight". Los Angeles Times. September 5, 1949. Pt. II, p. 2.

Personal life and death On June 3, 1948, the California Eagle reported that Nelson was residing in Laurel Canyon with his "pretty blue eyed wife." However, a 1953 profile in the Los Angeles Sentinel refers to him as "a bachelor."

On February 17, 1998, Nelson died of undisclosed causes. His remains are interred at Riverside National Cemetery."Felix B. Nelson". cem.va.gov.

Works

Radio Approximate date(s) Program (or LP) Role Notes April 17, 1949 NBC University TheaterEp. "Huckleberry Finn" Jim Ernest Kinoy's one-hour adaptation of Twain's novel, starring Dean Stockwell and Jerry Farber, as Finn and Tom Sawyer, respectively.Palmer, Zuma (April 16, 1949). "Radio-Television; Oldest U.S. Sunrise Service Among Many Broadcast Tomorrow (The following are all Sunday programs)". Hollywood Citizen-News. p. 20. January 22, 1950 NBC University TheaterEp. "At Heaven's Gate" An old man Clarice A. Ross's adaptation of Robert Penn Warren's like-named novel, featuring Vivi Janiss as Sue and Stephen Chase as Gov. Milam.Palmer, Zuma (January 21, 1950). "Radio-Television; Sunday Programs". Hollywood Citizen-News. p. 18. July 23, 1950 NBC University TheaterEp. "Huckleberry Finn" Jim Reprising 4/17/49 production, with Henry Blair taking over as Huck Finn."Today's Programs: 'Huckleberry Finn' in the NBC Theater". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Jul 23, 1950. p. 4G."Felix Nelson". otrr.org August 20, 1950 NBC University TheaterEp. A High Wind in Jamaica The cook Jane Speed's adaptation of Richard Hughes' novel"Felix Nelson: Programs/Episodes". Old Time Radio Researchers.Morrison, Dennis (March 31, 2023). "A HIGH WIND IN JAMAICA - NBC UNIVERSITY RADIO THEATER!!!!!", at 0:54 and 58:49. April 25, 1951 NBC Short StoryEp. "I'm a Fool" and "I Want to Know Why" NA William Hodapp's adaptation of stories by Sherwood Anderson. July 13, 1951 NBC Short StoryEp. "They Are All Afraid" NA Canadian dramatist Len Peterson's award-winning 1943 radio play."Today's Radio Highlights". Wisconsin State Journal. July 13, 1951. Sec. 2, p. 4."Soldier's Short Story Is Heard as First in Victory Loan Series". The Montreal Gazette. October 6, 1944. p. 6. December 28, 1951 NBC Short StoryEp. "The Trader's Wife" NA Adaptation of Jean Kenyon Mackenzie's novel."Today's Features on Radio and TV". Minneapolis Star Tribune. December 28, 1941. p. 23."Negro Actors Featured in NBC Dramatization". Alabama Tribune. January 4, 1952. p. 2. May 2, 1952 NBC Short Storyep. "Biscuit Eater" NA Earl Hamner's adaptation of James Street's novel."Episode Search: Biscuit Eater". Old Time Radio Researchers.

Film and television Year Title Role Notes1937 Flying Down to Rio Dancer (uncredited) 1949 Your Show Time (TV)ep. "Colonel Starbottle for the Plaintiff" NA Smith, Barbara (June 24, 1949). "'Old West' Show Tonight". The Atlanta Journal. p. 24."Sam Looks Awful, But He's Hilarious". The Daily Oklahoman. February 4, 1951. p. 16.1953 Jamaica Run NA 1953 Death Valley Days (TV)Ep. "Land of the Free" Zack "Gold Rushers". Arizona Republic. 1953 Sangaree Billy MacArthur, Harry (June 20, 1953). "'Sangaree' Is a 3-D Film With Abundant Story". Washington Evening Star. p. 7.1953 A Lion Is in the Streets Black cotton grower who corroborates Hank's suspicions just prior to pivotal short-weighting/shooting scene 1953 Ramar of the Jungle (TV)Ep. "Idol Voodoo" Chief Umpala Classic TV Channel (May 5, 2020). "Ramar of the Jungle - Season 2 - Episode 7 - Idol Voo-Doo | Jon Hall, Ray Montgomery, Nick Stewart". YouTube.1954 Playhouse of StarsEp. "The Jungle Trap" George Frank Burt script, dir. Jus Addiss"Ronald Reagan to Star Friday Night in the Jungle Trap". The Oshkosh Northwestern. February 13, 1954. p. 5.1954 Ramar of the Jungle (TV)Ep. "Striped Fury" Chief Gonowa Classic Movies, Cartoons, and TV (November 12, 2022). "Ramar of the Jungle - Striped Fury". YouTube.1955 Cavalcade of America (TV)Ep. A Chain of Hearts Chef Classic TV Channel (May 30, 2021). "Cavalcade of America | Season 4 | Episode 6 | Chain of Hearts | Charles Bronson | Joyce McCluskey". YouTube.1956 Screen Directors Playhouse (TV)Ep. "The Dream" Negro Colorization (October 11, 2023). "Screen Directors Playhouse s1e26 The Dream, Colorized, George Sanders, Sal Mineo, John Banner, 1956". YouTube.1956 General Electric Theater (TV)Ep. "The Jungle Trap" George "Ronald Reagan Stars on 'The Jungle Trap'". The Coshocton Democrat. September 15, 1956. p. 5.1956 Soldiers of Fortune (TV)Ep. "Boomerang" Chief 1959 General Electric Theater (TV)Ep. "Caesar and Cleopatra" NA "Shaw's Play Adapted for TV". The News and Observer. April 12, 1959. Sec. III, p. 49.1959 Zane Grey Theater (TV)Ep. "Mission" Trooper Potts 1960 Shirley Temple's Storybook (TV)Ep. "Tom and Huck" George "'Tom and Huck' Drama". The Times Herald. October 8, 1960. p. 16.1969 The Learning Tree Jack Winger 1969 The Bill Cosby Show (TV)Ep. "Let X Equal a Lousy Weekend" Mr. Paskins Dave's Faves (June 24, 2023). "S1 E06 Let X Equal a Lousy Weekend". YouTube.1970 The Ballad of Cable Hogue William Parish, James Robert (1988). The Great Western Pictures II. Scarecrow Press, 1988. p. 21. >1980 The White Shadow (TV)Ep. "Links" Lawrence Old Soul (April 3, 2021). "The White Shadow S2 (Episodes 13-16)". YouTube.1983 The Winds of War (TV)Ep. 4 ("Defiance") FDR Valet Stalingrad Heritage (July 5, 2015). "The Winds of War IV (Episode 4) Defiance sa prevodom". YouTube.Mitchell, Charles P. (2002). The Hitler Filmography: Worldwide Feature Film and Television Miniseries Portrayals, 1940 Through 2000. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 243. .1983 The Best of Times (TV pilot) Wheeler Terrace, Vincent (1997). Experimental Television, Test Films, Pilots, and Trial Series, 1925 Through 1995: Seven Decades of Small Screen Almosts. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 48. .1983 Hardcastle and McCormick (TV)Ep. "Once Again With Vigorish" Judge William Robinson 1984 Hill Street Blues (TV)Ep. "Nichols from Heaven" Man "Hill Street Blues: Nichols from Heaven". digiguide.tv. Retrieved April 1, 2024.1984 Rituals (TV) Carl Washington Jones, Slick (May 3, 2021). "RITUALS: SEPTEMBER 10, 1984-SEPTEMBER 6, 1985 SYNDICATED". Soap Opera Network. Retrieved April 1, 2024.1986 Blue City Caretaker Mulay, Janes J; Curran, Daniel; Wallenfeldt, Jeffrey H. (1988). Spies and Sleuths : Mystery, Spy, and Suspense Films on Videocassette. Evanston, IL: CineBooks. p. 14. .1986 Stewardess School Judge C. Monk records (Home Channel). "Stewardess School (1986)". YouTube. November 21, 2021.1986 Soul Man Mr. Walker

References

Further reading "Welcome, Friend". The Rock Island Argus. August 11, 1954. p. 9. "One of the most heart-warming true stories". Daily Independent Journal. August 14, 1954. p.T 1. "Mourn Beavers". California Eagle. November 8, 1962. p. 1.

External links

Felix Nelson at OTRr.org