Barry Nelson
Actor

Barry Nelson Net Worth

Barry Nelson was a talented actor and sound track artist born in San Francisco, California in 1917. He was discovered by a talent scout from MGM and cast in secondary roles in Shadow of the Thin Man and Dr. Kildare's Victory. He also appeared in the Moss Hart play "Winged Victory" and the 1944 film version of the play. He was the first to give video life to Ian Fleming's "007" agent James ("Jimmy") Bond in a one-hour production of "Casino Royale" in Climax! (1954). He also starred in the series The Hunter (1952) and My Favorite Husband (1953). In the 1960s he continued to demonstrate his acting muscle on stage and TV, and starred in Mary, Mary (1963). He was nominated for a Tony for his role in "The Act" in the 1970s. He retired in the early 1990s and passed away in 2007 at age 89.
Barry Nelson is a member of Actor

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Actor, Soundtrack
Birth Day April 16, 1917
Birth Place  San Francisco, California, United States
Age 103 YEARS OLD
Died On April 7, 2007(2007-04-07) (aged 89)\nBucks County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Birth Sign Taurus
Occupation Actor
Years active 1941–1990
Spouse(s) Teresa Celli (1951-1965; divorced) Nansilee Hoy (1992–2007; his death)

💰 Net worth: $1.5 Million (2024)

Barry Nelson, a renowned actor and soundtrack artist based in the United States, has amassed a notable net worth throughout his successful career. As of 2024, his estimated net worth stands at an impressive $1.5 million. With his talents and contributions to the entertainment industry, Nelson has garnered significant recognition and financial success. Known for his exceptional acting skills and ability to enhance the cinematic experience with his musical talents, Nelson has become a respected figure in the entertainment world. His wealth not only reflects his accomplishments but also serves as a testament to his enduring impact on the industry.

Biography/Timeline

1941

As an MGM contract player, Nelson made his screen debut in the role as Paul Clark in Shadow of the Thin Man (1941) starring william Powell and Myrna Loy, with Donna Reed. He followed that with his role as Lew Rankin in the film noir crime/drama Johnny Eager (1942) starring Robert Taylor and Lana Turner. He played the lead in an MGM second feature war film A Yank on the Burma Road. (1942)

1943

During his Service in the United States Army in World War II, Nelson debuted on the Broadway stage in one of the leading roles, Bobby Grills, in Moss Hart's play Winged Victory (1943). His next Broadway appearance was as Peter Sloan in Hart's Light Up the Sky (1948), which was a first-rate success. He went on to appear on Broadway with Barbara Bel Geddes in the original Broadway production of The Moon is Blue; he was the last surviving original cast member of the production. During the play's run he also starred in a CBS half-hour drama called The Hunter, premiering in July 1952. He played Bart Adams, a wealthy young American whose Business activities involved him in a series of adventures. He also appeared opposite Lauren Bacall in the Abe Burrows comedy Cactus Flower in 1965 and with Dorothy Loudon in The Fig Leaves Are Falling in 1969. Another Broadway role, that of Gus Hammer in The Rat Race (1949), kept Nelson away from the movies again, but after it closed he starred in the dual roles as Chick Graham and Bert Rand in The Man with My Face (1951), which was produced by Ed Gardner of radio fame.

1951

Nelson had two wives, Actress Teresa Celli, married in 1951 and later divorced, and Nansilee ("Nansi") Hoy, to whom he was married until his death. Nelson and his second wife divided their time between homes in New York and France.

1960

Nelson appeared as Grant Decker in "Threat of Evil", a 1960 episode of CBS's anthology series The DuPont Show with June Allyson. His additional television credits include guest appearances on Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Ben Casey, The Twilight Zone (episode "Stopover In A Quiet Town"), Dr. Kildare, and later years played a hobo on an episode of The Ropers . He appeared regularly on television in the 1960s, having been one of the What's My Line? mystery guests and later serving as a guest panelist on that popular CBS quiz show. Nelson appeared in both the stage and screen versions of Mary, Mary.

1961

He was the first actor to play James Bond on screen, in a 1954 adaptation of Ian Fleming's novel Casino Royale on the television anthology series Climax! (preceding Sean Connery's interpretation in Dr. No by eight years). Reportedly this was considered a pilot for a possible James Bond television series, though it is not known if Nelson intended to continue playing the character. Nelson played James Bond as an American agent whom some in the program call "Jimmy". In 2004, Nelson said, "At that time, no one had ever heard of James Bond ... I was scratching my head wondering how to play it. I hadn't read the book or anything like that because it wasn't well-known." Bond did not become well known in the U.S. until President John F. Kennedy listed From Russia, with Love among his ten favorite books in a March 17, 1961 Life Magazine article.

1963

From 1963 to 1966, he hosted portions of the NBC Radio program Monitor.

1978

In 1978, he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his role as Dan Connors in the Broadway musical The Act (1977) with Liza Minnelli. His final appearance on Broadway was as Julian Marsh in 42nd Street (1986). william Goldman, in his 1968 book The Season, called Nelson a consummately professional actor.

1980

The program also featured Peter Lorre as the primary villain, Le Chiffre; Nelson later noted the opportunity to work with Lorre was the reason he took the role. Originally broadcast live, the production was believed lost until a kinescope emerged in the 1980s. It was subsequently released to home video, and is currently available on DVD as a bonus feature with the 1967 film adaptation of the novel.

2007

Barry Nelson died on April 7, 2007, while traveling in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, nine days before his 90th birthday. The cause of his death was unknown.

Some Barry Nelson images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.