What was Ricky Nelson’s Net Worth?
Ricky Nelson, a successful American actor, musician, and singer-songwriter, had a net worth of $500 thousand at the time of his death in 1985. He rose to fame as a child star on the radio and television sitcom “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” and had a successful career as a recording artist with hit songs such as “Poor Little Fool” and “Travelin’ Man.”
Nelson also had notable roles in films, including “Rio Bravo” and “The Wackiest Ship in the Army.” He had over 50 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was the first artist to have a #1 song on the newly created chart. Nelson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Tragically, Nelson died at the age of 45 in a plane crash on December 31, 1985.
Ricky Nelson’s Estate Turnaround
Ricky Nelson’s estate was in disarray due to divorce, debts, and other issues at the time of his death. However, after several years of legal proceedings, his estate was able to recover from a reported debt of $1 million to a more profitable level.
Ricky Nelson’s Early Life
Ricky Nelson, born Eric Hilliard Nelson in 1940, was the son of entertainers Ozzie and Harriet. He had an older brother named David. Nelson spent some time in New Jersey with his grandmother while his family moved to Los Angeles for work, but eventually joined them in 1942.
Despite being a successful child actor, Nelson was a shy child who struggled with severe asthma. He attended Gardner Street Public School, Bancroft Junior High, and Hollywood High School, where he played football and tennis. Nelson did not pursue higher education as he was already a wealthy actor by the age of 18.
Nelson Rose to Stardom on “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet”
Nelson rose to stardom on “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” a radio sitcom created for his parents in 1944. The series had initially featured other actors in the roles of the Nelson brothers, but eventually, when they were old enough, the brothers joined the show in 1949. The family starred together in the film “Here Come the Nelsons,” which soon led to the television sitcom “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.” The program was a huge hit, running on ABC for 14 seasons from 1952 to 1966, and becoming at the time the longest-running American television sitcom in history.
Ricky Nelson’s Music Career
Ricky Nelson signed a record deal with Verve Records while still appearing on “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” in the late 1950s. He had success with singles like “I’m Walkin’,” “A Teenager’s Romance,” and “You’re My One and Only Love.” Nelson left Verve over royalty disputes and signed with Imperial Records, where he had instant success with his single “Be-Bop Baby” and number-one debut album “Ricky.” He formed his own band and released his self-titled second album, which launched the smash hit single “Poor Little Fool” that reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Nelson had numerous Top 10 hits including “Hello Mary Lou” and “Lonesome Town.”
After signing a 20-year deal with Decca Records, Nelson recorded the hit song “For You,” but his career was soon impacted by the British Invasion. In response, he shifted towards a more country-rock sound.
Ricky Nelson’s Commercial Struggles and Brief Comeback
After a period of commercial struggle in the late 1960s, Ricky Nelson returned to the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 with his 1970 single “She Belongs to Me.” However, his success was short-lived, and he only made it to the Top 40 one final time in 1972 with “Garden Party,” which hit number six. Despite releasing the album “Windfall” in 1973 after being transferred to MCA Records, Nelson failed to find success and was eventually dropped from the label.
Television and Film Roles
Ricky Nelson appeared in several television and film roles beyond “Ozzie and Harriet.” On the small screen, he guest-starred on such series as “McCloud,” “Hondo,” “The Streets of San Francisco,” “Petrocelli,” “The Love Boat,” and “The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries.”
Meanwhile, on the big screen, Nelson had an early role in the anthology romance film “The Story of Three Loves,” released in 1953. A bigger role came at the end of the decade in the Howard Hawks Western “Rio Bravo,” in which Nelson played gunslinger Colorado Ryan opposite John Wayne and Dean Martin.
Nelson next starred opposite Jack Lemmon in the 1960 war comedy “The Wackiest Ship in the Army.” He had another leading role five years later in the comedy “Love and Kisses,” based on the eponymous stage play by Anita Rowe Block.
Among his later credits, Nelson appeared in the television films “The Over-the-Hill Gang,” “Three on a Date,” and “High School U.S.A.”
Ricky Nelson’s Personal Life
In 1957, while on “Ozzie and Harriet,” Nelson fell for actress Marianne Gaba, who played his girlfriend on the show. The following year, he fell for singer Lorrie Collins, who also played his girlfriend on the show. However, Nelson’s mother did not approve of either relationship.
Nelson later began dating actress and painter Kristin Harmon, whom his mother did approve of. The pair married in 1963 in a shotgun wedding and had four children together.
However, by 1975, the marriage had fallen apart and Nelson began dating model and animal trainer Helen Blair, who also served as his personal assistant.
On New Year’s Eve in 1985, while traveling on his comeback tour, Nelson was tragically killed in a plane crash along with Blair and five other passengers en route to Dallas, Texas.
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