Ricky Nelson

Nelson in February 1958

Eric Hilliard Nelson (May 8, 1940 – December 31, 1985) was an American rock and roll musician, singer-songwriter and actor. He was born in Teaneck, New Jersey. Nelson starred alongside his family in the radio and television series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. He was added into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on January 21, 1987.^[1]^[2] In 1996 Nelson was ranked #49 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time.^[3] He starred in Rio Bravo (1959). He placed 53 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, and its predecessors, between 1957 and 1973, including "Poor Little Fool" in 1958.

Nelson and Sharon Kristin Harmon were married on April 20, 1963, and divorced in December 1982. They had four children: Tracy Kristine, twin sons Gunnar Eric and Matthew Gray, and Sam Hilliard.

Nelson was killed in a plane crash near De Kalb, Texas on December 31, 1985 at the age of 45.^[4]

Ricky Nelson Media

Publicity photo of American actors, (clockwise from front) Ozzie Nelson, Harriet Nelson, David Nelson and Ricky Nelson promoting their roles on the
Nelson publicity photo, 1960
Nelson in Rio Bravo, 1959
John Wayne and Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson in Rio Bravo, 1959
Nelson performing on The Jim Nabors Show in 1970
Ricky and Kristin Nelson in 1964
Nelson plays at a concert in Lawton, Oklahoma