Judd Nelson

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Judd Nelson

Judd Nelson with Jeanmarie Simpson

on the set of A Single Woman (film), November 2006.

Born Judd Asher Nelson
November 28, 1959 (1959-11-28) (age 48)
Portland, Maine, United States

Judd Asher Nelson (born November 28, 1959) is an American actor. He is most known for his role as John Bender in The Breakfast Club, and Jack Richmond in Suddenly Susan.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Nelson was born in Portland, Maine, the son of Merle (née Royte), a court mediator and former member of the Maine state legislature, and Leonard Nelson, a corporate lawyer who was the first Jewish president of the Portland Symphony Orchestra.[1][2][3] He has two sisters, Eve and Julie. He went to school at St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, and studied at Haverford College in Pennsylvania, leaving part way through his sophomore year. He subsequently moved to Manhattan where he studied with Stella Adler.

[edit] Career

Nelson was one of the 1980s "Brat Pack", starring in such films as Joel Schumacher's St. Elmo's Fire and John Hughes' The Breakfast Club (which was his most popular role as rebel "John Bender"), as well as providing the voice of Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime in Transformers: The Movie. He also starred in a film titled Making the Grade and co-starred alongside a young Kevin Costner in the road-rip movie Fandango (1985 film).

Following his starring role in The Breakfast Club, Nelson's career failed to take off in a big way, as several of his films, including Blue City (co-starring Breakfast Club alumna Ally Sheedy) and From the Hip, performed poorly at the box office, and he played a serial killer in Relentless. His career lost momentum for a time, and in the 1990s he appeared in urban-themed dramas such as New Jack City and Light It Up. However, in 1996 he received a starring role on the NBC television sitcom Suddenly Susan, which saw enormous success for a four-season run. Nelson made a cameo appearance in the 2001 film, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back; the film's writer and director, Kevin Smith, had been a long time fan of Nelson and the "Brat Pack" movies. Throughout the late 1990s and 2000s, Nelson mostly appeared in television roles and lower-budget films, although he also acts on stage.

Nelson also recently appeared in the television show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as a friend of a murder victim. He plays the host in The Real Fear Factor, a spoof on Fear Factor, in National Lampoon's TV: The Movie.

[edit] Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1984 Making the Grade Eddie Keaton
1985 St. Elmo's Fire Alec Newbary
The Breakfast Club John Bender MTV Silver Bucket of Excellence (2005)
Fandango Phil Hicks, Groover
1986 Transformers: The Movie Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime
Blue City Billy Turner
1986 From the Hip Robin 'Stormy' Weathers
1989 Relentless Arthur 'Buck' Taylor
1991 New Jack City Nick Peretti
The Dark Backward Marty Malt
1994 Airheads Jimmie Wing
1996 Falcon Down Harold Peters
1997 Steel Nathaniel Burke
1999 Light It Up Ken Knowles
2000 Cabin by the Lake Stanley
2001 lost voyage Aaron Roberts
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back Sheriff
2002 Deceived Jack Jones
2006 Black Hole Eric
Nevermore Jonathon Usher
2007 Netherbeast Incorporated Steven P.D. Landry
Little Hercules in 3-D Kevin
2008 A Single Woman Jewish reporter
The Caretaker Ella's dad completed
Nevermore Jonathan Usher completed
Dirty Politics Billy post-production
The I Scream Man Brent in production

[edit] References

  1. ^ Peck, Abraham J.; Jean M. Peck (2007). Maine's Jewish Heritage. Arcadia Publishing, 108. ISBN0738549657. 
  2. ^ Film Reference.com.
  3. ^ Bartlett, Will. "LILLIAN D. ROYTE STRONG BELIEVER IN PUBLIC SERVICE", Portland Press Herald, 1996-01-09. Retrieved on 2008-03-27. 

[edit] External links