Peyton Place star dies in Greensboro. Ed Nelson, star of the highly successful soap opera “Peyton Place” and the movies Murder in Peyton Place and Peyton Place: The Next Generation dies at the age of 85 due to heart failure. During his 50 year in Hollywood, Neslon appeared in several hundreds of TV shows, plays and movies.
“Peyton Place” star Ed Nelson dies at 85 years old and leaves behind his wife Patricia Miller “Patsy” Nelson whom he married in 1950, 6 children and 14 grandchildren.
According to his daughter-in-law Asta Hansen, Nelson whose full name was Edwin Stafford Nelson died on August 9 in his home in Greensboro, North Carolina from congestive heart failure.
His family was by his side when he passed away. The professor who taught acting in two universities in his native state of Louisiana, began his impressive acting career in 1952 with a non speaking role in the movie entitled The Steel Trap.
He went on to appear in numerous low budget comedy horror and science fiction flicks like Teenage Cave Man in 1958 and Attack of the Crab Monsters in 1957 all produced by Roger Corman.
He hit stardom in 1964 thanks to role of Dr Michael Rossi on ABC’s nightly drama “Peyton Place.”
When he originally joined the spicy soap opera, Mia Farrow, Ryan O’Neal, and Dorothy Malone were the lead stars, but when they left in 1968, the spotlight was put on Ed for an entire year.
After the series’ cancellation, Nelson returned as Rossi in two made-for-TV movies, Murder in Peyton Place and Peyton Place: The Next Generation.
Edwin who was member of the United States Navy aboard the USS Dayton did numerous plays including “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry” where he played President Harry S. Truman.
The actor was last ween in the 2003 film Runaway Jury, alongside Dustin Hoffman, John Cusack and Gene Hackman.
