Jhoon Rhee obit

Jhoon Rhee, 'father of American Taekwondo,' dies at age 86

Jhoon Rhee opened his first taekwondo school in Washington, D.C., in 1962. By the 1980s, he had 11 schools in the Washington area. 

He was not on the list.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee, the man known as the "father of American Taekwondo," died Monday after a long illness. He was 86.

His son, Chun Rhee, said his father died in hospice care in Arlington, Virginia, a suburb of the nation's capital.

Jhoon Rhee was a 10th-degree black belt credited with popularizing taekwondo in the United States, especially around the nation's capital, after emigrating from Korea in the 1950s. He opened his first taekwondo school in Washington, D.C., in 1962. By the 1980s, Rhee had 11 schools in the Washington area.

Rhee became friends with legendary martial artist and actor Bruce Lee and appeared in a 1973 movie titled "When Taekwondo Strikes."

He also befriended boxer Muhammad Ali. Chun Rhee said that during a 1976 sports awards ceremony, his father jokingly challenged Ali and basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain to a fight to settle which one of them was "the greatest" athlete.

"Martial arts was a way of life for him," Chun Rhee said.

Chun Rhee said funeral arrangements have not yet been finalized. He said information about a memorial service will be posted later this week.

Rhee was born on January 7, 1932, in Asan, Korea, during the period of Japanese occupation. He began training in the martial arts at age 13 in 1945 without his father's knowledge. Rhee received martial art training from Nam Tae Hi and graduated from the Chung Do Kwan. While an officer in the Korean Army, he went to the U.S. to attend Southwest Texas State College in 1956, and later returned to attend Texas to attend the University of Texas at Austin for an engineering degree.

During the 1960s, Rhee befriended Bruce Lee—a relationship from which they both benefited as martial artists. Lee taught Rhee an extraordinarily fast punch considered almost impossible to block, something Rhee named the "accupunch".[3] During his study in Texas, Rhee issued his first U.S.-awarded black belt to Pat Burleson and his first fully US-trained student was Allen Steen, both of whom teamed up to establish the influential Southwest Black Belt Association (later the American Black Belt Association), resulting in many champions. Upon graduation from college, Rhee relocated to the East Coast and opened his first studio in the U.S. 1962 in Washington, D.C., and over time expanded to 11 studios in the DC Metro area.

In 1973, Rhee made his only martial arts movie, When Taekwondo Strikes; he also had a small role in Fist of Fury.

Robert Mandan obit

Robert Mandan, the Womanizing Chester Tate on ‘Soap,’ Dies at 86

Robert Mandan, the veteran television actor who starred as Chester Tate, the philandering husband of Katherine Helmond's character, on the ABC sitcom 'Soap,' has died. He was 86.

 

 He was not on the list.

Robert Mandan, the veteran television actor who starred as Chester Tate, the philandering husband of Katherine Helmond’s character, on the ABC daytime-serial spoof Soap, has died. He was 86.

Mandan died April 29 in Los Angeles after a long illness, his friend, playwright and screenwriter Gary Goldstein, told The Hollywood Reporter. Mandan starred in Goldstein’s first play, Just Men, at the Stella Adler Theater in Hollywood in 1996.

Mandan, who often played suits and white-collar types during his long career, also portrayed the wealthy investment banker James Bradford at the end of ABC’s Three’s Company and on its 1984-85 spinoff, Three’s a Crowd.

Mandan also was the bombastic Col. Lawrence Fielding on the CBS adaptation of Private Benjamin, and his doctor character married Mrs. Garrett (Charlotte Rae) on NBC’s The Facts of Life and whisked her away to the Peace Corps.

Mandan had worked on such soap operas as The Edge of Night, From These Roots and Search for Tomorrow when he was hired to play Chester, a conniving Wall Street stock broker, on Soap.

Susan Harris created the sitcom, which aired for four seasons, from 1977-81, and spawned the Robert Guillaume-starring Benson. The show, always a critical darling, was a top 10 hit in its first season but suffered in the ratings as it was moved around the schedule.

Mandan and Helmond reunited for two episodes of her next series, Who’s the Boss?, and for a 2002 production of A Twilight Romance at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank. He also returned to the soap opera world with gigs on Santa Barbara, Days of Our Lives and General Hospital.

His other notable TV work included playing an unctuous attorney on All in the Family and a homosexual friend of Bea Arthur’s character on Maude, and he appeared on Sanford and Son, Barney Miller, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Married … With Children as well.

A native of Clever, Missouri, Mandan grew up in Southern California and majored in theater at Pomona College. He got a big break when veteran actor Edward Arnold pushed for him to star alongside him in a production of All My Sons in Palm Springs.

Mandan made his Broadway debut in 1956 in Speaking of Murder, directed by Delbert Mann, and he worked with Lauren Bacall in the original 1970 production of the Betty Comden-Adolph Green musical Applause.

On the big screen, Mandan played a senator in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) and appeared in other films including Hickey & Boggs (1972), MacArthur (1977) and, as a principal, in Zapped! (1982).

He did lots of local theater late in his career, Goldstein noted.

Survivors include his wife, Sherry.

Actor (120 credits)

 2014 Our Man in Madras (Short)

HB

 2010 Hunter and Prayer (Short)

Jerome

 2006 General Hospital (TV Series)

Judge Bryant

- Episode #1.11185 (2006) ... Judge Bryant

 2004 Stanley Marshall's Myth (Short)

Chris

 2002 ER (TV Series)

John Doe

- Tell Me Where It Hurts (2002) ... John Doe

 2002 The Face of the Hero (TV Short)

Narrator

 2001 Teddy Bears' Picnic

Stanton Vandermint

 2001 Judging Amy (TV Series)

Dr. Wendice

- 8 1/2 Narrow (2001) ... Dr. Wendice

 2000 Family Law (TV Series)

Roger Dunbar

- A Mother's Son (2000) ... Roger Dunbar

 1999 HBO First Look: The Making of the End of the Affair (TV Short)

Narrator

 1999 Behind the Passion (TV Movie)

Narrator (voice)

 1997-1998 Days of Our Lives (TV Series)

Steven 'Jonesy' Jones

- Episode #1.8426 (1998) ... Steven 'Jonesy' Jones

- Episode #1.8415 (1998) ... Steven 'Jonesy' Jones

- Episode #1.8413 (1998) ... Steven 'Jonesy' Jones

- Episode #1.8410 (1998) ... Steven 'Jonesy' Jones

- Episode #1.8408 (1998) ... Steven 'Jonesy' Jones

1998 Weird Science (TV Series)

Principal Farber

- School Spirits (1998) ... Principal Farber

 1997 The MatchMaker

McGlory Senior

 1995-1997 Sherman Oaks (TV Series)

Fred / Mr. Duckworth

- Sanford's Crisis (1997) ... Fred

- Killer Breasts (1995) ... Mr. Duckworth

 1996 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: A Legacy of Fear (TV Movie)

Narrator

 1995 Fast Track (TV Movie)

Narrator

 1995 Lights, Camera, Magic (TV Movie)

Narrator

 1995 Burke's Law (TV Series)

Arlen Dooley

- Who Killed Cock-a-Doodle Dooley? (1995) ... Arlen Dooley

 1994 Sisters (TV Series)

Governor Musgrove

- Heroes (1994) ... Governor Musgrove

 1994/II Last Resort (Video)

Hemlock

 1994 Married... with Children (TV Series)

Walter Traugott

- The D'Arcy Files (1994) ... Walter Traugott

 1993 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series)

Kotan Pa'Dar

- Cardassians (1993) ... Kotan Pa'Dar

 1993 Delta (TV Series)

Sid Broder

- Red Hot Mama (1993) ... Sid Broder

 1992 The Nutt House

Mr. Henderson

 1992 Intruders (TV Series)

Dr. Stanley Epstein

- Episode #1.2 (1992) ... Dr. Stanley Epstein

- Episode #1.1 (1992) ... Dr. Stanley Epstein

 1991-1992 Who's the Boss? (TV Series)

Reed Hamilton

- Tony, Can You Spare a Dime? (1992) ... Reed Hamilton

- Tony Bags a Big One (1991) ... Reed Hamilton

 1992 Pacific Station (TV Series)

Bill DuPont

- My Favorite Dad (1992) ... Bill DuPont

 1991 The New WKRP in Cincinnati (TV Series)

McKenzie Ballard

- The Cincinnati Kids (1991) ... McKenzie Ballard

 1990-1991 Santa Barbara (TV Series)

Maxwell Hammer

- Episode #1.1643 (1991) ... Maxwell Hammer

- Episode #1.1639 (1991) ... Maxwell Hammer

- Episode #1.1631 (1991) ... Maxwell Hammer

- Episode #1.1604 (1990) ... Maxwell Hammer

- Episode #1.1603 (1990) ... Maxwell Hammer

Show all 13 episodes

 1990 Dr. Ruth's House (TV Movie)

Dean Richard Gordon

 1990 My Two Dads (TV Series)

Louis J. Frazier

- You Only Surprise the Ones You Love (1990) ... Louis J. Frazier

 1990 The Golden Girls (TV Series)

Steven

- Great Expectations (1990) ... Steven

 1989 Mama's Family (TV Series)

Leslie LaMoyne

- Tri-State's Most Wanted (1989) ... Leslie LaMoyne

 1989 Murder, She Wrote (TV Series)

Irving Randolph

- Three Strikes, You're Out (1989) ... Irving Randolph

 1987 Foofur (TV Series)

- Annabell Gets Framed/Scary Harry (1987) ... (voice)

- Look Homeward, Foofur (1987) ... (voice)

- Fencer Gets Soul/You Bet Your Life (1987) ... (voice)

- Rocki's Big Fib/Bye, Bye, Birdie (1987) ... (voice)

- Annabell Goes Punk/Puppy Love (1987) ... (voice)

1987 Dolly (TV Series)

Mr. Edgar Fullbright

- A Down Home Country Christmas (1987) ... Mr. Edgar Fullbright

 1987 Hotel (TV Series)

Edward Nicholson

- Past Tense (1987) ... Edward Nicholson

 1987 You Are the Jury (TV Series)

Peter Farley

- The State of Oregon vs. Stanley Manning (1987) ... Peter Farley

 1987 Stingray (TV Series)

Captain Redler

- Caper (1987) ... Captain Redler

 1978-1987 The Love Boat (TV Series)

Robert Mandan / Ernie Ryan / Jim White / ...

- Who Killed Maxwell Thorn? (1987) ... Robert Mandan

- The Father of the Bride/The Best Man/Members of the Wedding (1986) ... Ernie Ryan

- The Anniversary Gift/Honey Bee Mine/Bewigged, Bothered and Bewildered (1982) ... Jim White

- The Return of the Captain's Lady/Love Ain't Illegal/The Irresistible Man (1982) ... Irwin Budge

- Second Chance/Don't Push Me/Like Father, Like Son (1979) ... Woody Billingsley

1987 Matlock (TV Series)

General Connors

- The Court-Martial: Part 2 (1987) ... General Connors

- The Court-Martial: Part 1 (1987) ... General Connors

 1987 Perry Mason: The Case of the Lost Love (TV Movie)

Dr. Michaels

 1986 Here to Stay (TV Movie)

 1986 Highway to Heaven (TV Series)

Frank Kelly

- Love and Marriage: Part 2 (1986) ... Frank Kelly

- Love and Marriage: Part 1 (1986) ... Frank Kelly

 1986 The Facts of Life (TV Series)

Dr. Bruce Gaines

- Out of Peekskill: Part 2 (1986) ... Dr. Bruce Gaines

- Out of Peekskill: Part 1 (1986) ... Dr. Bruce Gaines

 1984-1985 Three's a Crowd (TV Series)

James Bradford

- A Star Is Born (1985) ... James Bradford

- Jack Gets Trashed (1985) ... James Bradford

- King for a Day (1985) ... James Bradford

- The New Mr. Bradford (1985) ... James Bradford

- Deeds of Trust (1985) ... James Bradford

1984 E. Nick: A Legend in His Own Mind

Earl The Bartender

 1984 Three's Company (TV Series)

James Bradford

- Friends and Lovers: Part 2 (1984) ... James Bradford

- Friends and Lovers: Part 1 (1984) ... James Bradford

- Cupid Works Overtime (1984) ... James Bradford

 1984 The Outlaws (TV Movie)

Nicholas Zotanis

 1983 Trapper John, M.D. (TV Series)

Dr. J.D. Everett

- All About Everett (1983) ... Dr. J.D. Everett

 1983 For Members Only (TV Movie)

Austin Ruggles

 1982-1983 Private Benjamin (TV Series)

Col. Lawrence Fielding

- Judy's Cousin (1983) ... Col. Lawrence Fielding

- Take My Mother, Please (1983) ... Col. Lawrence Fielding

- Sacred Land (1982) ... Col. Lawrence Fielding

- Tank's Soldier (1982) ... Col. Lawrence Fielding

- The Talent Show (1982) ... Col. Lawrence Fielding

1982 In Love with an Older Woman (TV Movie)

Senator Strickland

 1982 Zapped!

Walter J. Coolidge

 1982 The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

Senator Wingwood

 1982 Too Close for Comfort (TV Series)

Bill Rush

- Brotherly Hate (1982) ... Bill Rush

 1980-1982 Fantasy Island (TV Series)

King Arthur / Captain Rosicker

- King Arthur in Mr. Roarke's Court/Shadow Games (1982) ... King Arthur

- Flying Aces/The Mermaid Returns (1980) ... Captain Rosicker

 1981 Today's F.B.I. (TV Series)

Barton

- Charleston Case (1981) ... Barton

 1981 Mr. Merlin (TV Series)

Robert Denbark

- The Music's in Me (1981) ... Robert Denbark

 1981 Return of the Rebels (TV Movie)

Big Al Williams

 1977-1981 Soap (TV Series)

Chester Tate

- Episode #4.16 (1981) ... Chester Tate

- Episode #4.15 (1981) ... Chester Tate

- Episode #4.14 (1981) ... Chester Tate

- Episode #4.13 (1981) ... Chester Tate

- Episode #4.12 (1981) ... Chester Tate

1981 Goldie and the Boxer Go to Hollywood (TV Movie)

Jack Fountain

 1979-1980 CHiPs (TV Series)

Robert Mandan

- The Great 5K Star Race and Boulder Wrap Party: Part 2 (1980) ... Robert Mandan (uncredited)

- Roller Disco: Part 2 (1979) ... Robert Mandan (uncredited)

 1979 You Can't Take It with You (TV Movie)

Anthony Kirby

 1979 Sweepstakes (TV Series)

- Cowboy, Linda and Angie, Mark (1979)

 1979 Greatest Heroes of the Bible (TV Series)

King Xerxes

- The Story of Esther (1979) ... King Xerxes

 1978 Vega$ (TV Series)

Lou Smith

- Love, Laugh and Die (1978) ... Lou Smith

 1975-1977 Barnaby Jones (TV Series)

Godfrey Wilder / College Dean Raymond Carson / Rex Turner

- Prisoner of Deceit (1977) ... Godfrey Wilder

- The Killer on Campus (1977) ... College Dean Raymond Carson

- Counterfall (1975) ... Rex Turner

 1976-1977 Kingston: Confidential (TV Series)

Harold Tamburi / Senator Hobath

- Monolith (1977) ... Harold Tamburi

- Kingston (1976) ... Senator Hobath

 1977 MacArthur

Representative Martin

 1977 Hunter (TV Series)

Maklin

- The Barking Dog (1977) ... Maklin

 1976-1977 Police Story (TV Series)

Captain Saunders / Deputy Chief Henry Burns

- Hard Rock Brown (1977) ... Captain Saunders

- The Jar: Part 2 (1976) ... Deputy Chief Henry Burns

 1977 Delvecchio (TV Series)

Zefferilli

- Dying Can Be a Pleasure (1977) ... Zefferilli

 1977 Phyllis (TV Series)

Larry Waterman

- Phyllis Runs the Office (1977) ... Larry Waterman

 1976 Most Wanted (TV Series)

Fred Watson

- The Skykiller (1976) ... Fred Watson

 1976 The Tony Randall Show (TV Series)

Lionel Crenshaw

- Pilot (1976) ... Lionel Crenshaw

 1972-1976 Marcus Welby, M.D. (TV Series)

Tom Camlin / Alex

- Aspects of Love (1976) ... Tom Camlin

- All the Pretty People (1972) ... Alex

 1976 Sara (TV Series)

Clarkson

- Bright Boy (1976) ... Clarkson

 1976 The Rockford Files (TV Series)

Charles Blackhorn

- Where's Houston? (1976) ... Charles Blackhorn

 1976 Doc (TV Series)

Fitzgibbons

- Great Expectations (1976) ... Fitzgibbons

 1975-1976 Medical Story (TV Series)

Dr. Burns

- The Quality of Mercy (1976) ... Dr. Burns

- The Right to Die (1975)

 1976 One Day at a Time (TV Series)

Pete Holston

- How to Succeed Without Trying (1976) ... Pete Holston

 1972-1975 Maude (TV Series)

Randolph Cutler / Barry Witherspoon / Harry

- Walter's Ethics (1975) ... Randolph Cutler

- Maude's New Friend (1974) ... Barry Witherspoon

- Maude's Dilemma: Part 2 (1972) ... Harry

 1975 Barney Miller (TV Series)

Charlie Huntsinger

- Grand Hotel (1975) ... Charlie Huntsinger

 1975 Kojak (TV Series)

Dr. Michael Clossen

- Secret Snow, Deadly Snow (1975) ... Dr. Michael Clossen

 1975 Caribe (TV Series)

Ed Rawlings / Commissioner Ed Rawlings

- Assault on the Calavera (1975) ... Ed Rawlings

- The Assassin (1975) ... Ed Rawlings

- Counterfeit Killer (1975) ... Ed Rawlings

- The Patriots (1975) ... Ed Rawlings

- One Second to Doom (1975) ... Ed Rawlings

1975 Petrocelli (TV Series)

Sheriff Arnheit

- Death in Small Doses (1975) ... Sheriff Arnheit

 1974 Panic on the 5:22 (TV Movie)

Dr. Cruikshank

 1972-1974 Cannon (TV Series)

Al / Gordon Kraeler / Dr. Dean

- A Killing in the Family (1974) ... Al

- The Rip-Off (1972) ... Gordon Kraeler

- To Kill a Guinea Pig (1972) ... Dr. Dean

 1974 The Manhunter (TV Series)

Arnie Olson

- The Ma Gantry Gang (1974) ... Arnie Olson

 1974 Love Story (TV Series)

Frank

- Time for Love (1974) ... Frank

 1973 All in the Family (TV Series)

Mr. Morrison

- The Taxi Caper (1973) ... Mr. Morrison

 1973 The New Perry Mason (TV Series)

Anthony Brewer

- The Case of the Horoscope Homicide (1973) ... Anthony Brewer

 1973 Insight (TV Series)

Pete Amison

- Hey Janitor (1973) ... Pete Amison

 1972-1973 Circle of Fear (TV Series)

Ted Murray / Walter Jerrold

- The Ghost of Potter's Field (1973) ... Ted Murray

- The Summer House (1972) ... Walter Jerrold

 1973 The Magician (TV Series)

Mr. Radder

- Pilot (1973) ... Mr. Radder

 1973 Applause (TV Movie)

Howard Benedict

 1973 The Norliss Tapes (TV Movie)

George Rosen

 1972 The Heist (TV Movie)

Owens

 1971-1972 Mannix (TV Series)

Coden / Ed Noble

- The Inside Man (1972) ... Coden

- To Save a Dead Man (1971) ... Ed Noble

 1972 A Great American Tragedy (TV Movie)

Leslie Baker

 1972 Hickey & Boggs

Mr. Brill

 1971-1972 Mission: Impossible (TV Series)

Tim Sharkey / Mr. C.

- Break! (1972) ... Tim Sharkey

- Shape-Up (1971) ... Mr. C.

 1972 The Streets of San Francisco (TV Series)

Dockmaster

- Pilot (1972) ... Dockmaster

 1972 The Carey Treatment

Dr. Barr

 1971-1972 O'Hara, U.S. Treasury (TV Series)

George Landy / Thomas Jorgens

- Operation: Good Citizen (1972) ... George Landy

- Operation: Heroin (1971) ... Thomas Jorgens

 1972 Longstreet (TV Series)

John Holt

- Field of Honor (1972) ... John Holt

 1972 The F.B.I. (TV Series)

William McGrath

- The Hunters (1972) ... William McGrath

 1972 Sanford and Son (TV Series)

Auctioneer

- Crossed Swords (1972) ... Auctioneer

 1966-1970 Search for Tomorrow (TV Series)

Sam Reynolds

- Episode dated 3 July 1970 (1970) ... Sam Reynolds

- Episode dated 27 October 1967 (1967) ... Sam Reynolds

- Episode dated 22 February 1966 (1966) ... Sam Reynolds

- Episode dated 10 February 1966 (1966) ... Sam Reynolds

 1966 Hawk (TV Series)

Inspector Hahn

- Ulysses and the Republic (1966) ... Inspector Hahn

 1964 The Defenders (TV Series)

Committee #2

- Moment of Truth (1964) ... Committee #2

 1964 Light Fantastic

 1963 The Doctors (TV Series)

Mike Hennessey / Mr. Tabor

- The Candidate: Part 5 (1963) ... Mike Hennessey

- The Candidate: Part 4 (1963) ... Mike Hennessey

- The Candidate: Part 3 (1963) ... Mike Hennessey

- The Candidate: Part 2 (1963) ... Mike Hennessey

- The Candidate (1963) ... Mike Hennessey

1958-1963 Armstrong Circle Theatre (TV Series)

- Secret Document X256 (1963)

- Case for Room 310 (1958)

 1963 Jackie Gleason: American Scene Magazine (TV Series)

Various

- Episode #1.16 (1963) ... Various (uncredited)

 1959-1961 From These Roots (TV Series)

David Allen (1959-1961)

- Episode #1.912 (1961) ... David Allen (1959-1961)

- Episode #1.910 (1961) ... David Allen (1959-1961)

- Episode #1.911 (1961) ... David Allen (1959-1961)

- Episode #1.908 (1961) ... David Allen (1959-1961)

- Episode #1.909 (1961) ... David Allen (1959-1961)

1958 Kraft Theatre (TV Series)

- Trick or Treat (1958)

 1956 The Edge of Night (TV Series)

Nathan Axelrod (1963)

Kristin Nelson obit

Kristin Harmon Nelson, ex wife of Ricky Nelson, sister of Mark Harmon Dies at 72

 

She was not on the list.

Kristin Harmon Nelson has died at age 72 at her home in New Mexico according to her daughter, actress Tracy Nelson ( Father Dowling Mysteries , Seinfeld ) who posted the news on her Facebook page: “My mother, Kristin Harmon Nelson, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly last night. Love and light are welcome.”

Kristin married the singing legend Ricky Nelson and later played his wife on the Ozzie and Harriet Show. Kristin and Ricky has four children: Tracy, twins Matthew and Gunnar Nelson ( the Nelson Brothers) and Sam Nelson. Her father was Heisman football star and announcer Tom Harmon and her mother was film star Elyse Knox. Her brother is Mark Harmon (NCIS).

Her messy divorce from Ricky Nelson made headlines in 1982. A highly publicized custody battle with her brother Mark Harmon also drew headlines

Here is the biography from Wikipedia:

Sharon Kristin Nelson (née Harmon; June 25, 1945) is an American primitive painter, actress and author, once married to the actor and musician Ricky Nelson.

he daughter of the American football star Tom Harmon and the actress Elyse Knox, she is the older sister of model-actress Kelly Harmon and actor Mark Harmon. She married Nelson in 1963 and joined their family television show. The couple had four children, but their extravagant lifestyle forced Nelson to tour for long periods, placing great pressure on the marriage. A long-fought divorce was finally granted before Rick Nelson’s death in an air-crash in 1985.

In 1988, she married Mark Tinker, who encouraged her to paint. Her brightly colored primitives found favor with Jacqueline Kennedy and Mia Farrow, among other celebrities, and they form the basis of her coffee-table autobiography Out of My Mind.

Following her marriage to Nelson in 1963, Harmon joined the Nelson family television show The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet as a regular cast member, first appearing in the episode, “Rick’s Wedding Ring”.

In 1965, she co-starred with Nelson in the romantic comedy, Love and Kisses, in which they demonstrate the troubles of a young couple of school age who get married—an “inspired casting”, according to one critic.

Subsequently, she played Officer Jim Reed’s wife Jean on Adam-12, guest-starred on other series and appeared in a few theatrical films, including The Resurrection of Broncho Billy, which won an Academy Award for best live action short film.

She retired from acting in 1982 following Liar’s Moon.

In 1988, she met the director-producer Mark Tinker, who asked her what she wanted to do with her life. She told him, “I want to paint.”

She made her living as an artist, receiving a career boost when Jacqueline Kennedy purchased one of her paintings. She became a favorite of several Hollywood collectors including Mia Farrow, Tyne Daly and Dwight Yoakam. Her work, which is “widely acclaimed,” is in the primitive genre, and has been likened to that of Grandma Moses. 

Her paintings are conceived without perspective and are brightly colored[1] with many figures included. Judy Blundell said, “Any symbolism is straightforward and honest. As an artist she is not concerned with being clever or elusive; she is simply using her talent as a means of true visual documentation.”

Subjects include When the Kennedys Were in the White House (1964) and The Day He Died (1990), a memorial to her father which is painted on a window frame and depicts a country church and clouds raining. In 1999, Nelson’s paintings were published in a coffee-table-sized autobiography, Out of My Mind.The paintings document her life story and are supplemented with diary entries and poems.

Harmon is the daughter of football star Tom Harmon and actress Elyse Knox. Her brother Mark is an actor and her sister Kelly is an actress-model.

Harmon began dating her longtime friend Ricky Nelson on Christmas Day, 1961.

A year later, the couple announced their engagement,. They were married on April 20, 1963, in a Catholic ceremony at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Los Angeles. Harmon was pregnant,and Nelson later described the union as a “shotgun wedding.”

Nelson, a non-practicing Protestant, received instruction in Catholicism before the wedding and signed a pledge to have any children of the union baptized in the Catholic faith.

By 1975, the Nelsons were on the verge of breaking up. When Nelson returned from a tour in 1977, he discovered Harmon had moved him out of their home and into a rented house. Less than a month later, she found him there with two Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders. Nelson later claimed that she set him up to use the incident against him in court.

In October 1977, Harmon filed for divorce and asked for alimony, custody of their four children and a portion of community property, but the couple temporarily reconciled.

In April 1980, the couple bought Errol Flynn‘s 1941 Mulholland Drive estate for $750,000. Harmon wanted Nelson to give up music, spend more time at home, and focus on acting, but Nelson continued touring relentlessly. The dispute over Nelson’s career created unpleasantness at home.

In October 1980, Harmon again filed for divorce. Attempts to negotiate a preliminary settlement agreement were unsuccessful. In February 1981, Harmon was temporarily granted custody of the children and $3,600 in spousal support. Nelson was required to pay a number of family expenses such as property taxes, doctor bills, and school tuitions. Harmon claimed Nelson was hiding assets, but in fact Nelson was almost broke

Accusations of drug and alcohol use and poor parenting were exchanged and, after two years of acrimony, the couple was divorced in December 1982. The divorce was financially devastating for Nelson with attorneys and accountants taking over $1 million.

Harmon and Nelson had four children. Their first, daughter Tracy Kristine Nelson, was born six months after the wedding on October 25, 1963, at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, California. She weighed four pounds, one ounce, and was slightly premature.As a pre-schooler, she appeared in Yours, Mine, and Ours with Lucille Ball. In her teens, she attended the exclusive Westlake School for Girls. During her parents’ marital difficulties, she stayed with her father in the Mulholland Drive house

Twin sons Gunnar Eric Nelson and Matthew Gray Nelson were born on September 20, 1967. Shortly after their father’s death, they formed the band Nelson, which is still together today.

Their fourth child, Sam Hilliard Nelson, was born August 29, 1974. At six years, he was placed in the care of his maternal grandparents.

Nelson left his estate to his four children.

In 1987, two years after Nelson’s death, Harmon was undergoing drug rehabilitation when her brother Mark Harmon and his wife Pam Dawber petitioned for custody of Kristin’s youngest son Sam, on the grounds that Kristin was incapable of good parenting. Sam’s psychiatrist testified that the thirteen-year-old boy depicted his mother as a dragon and complained about her mood swings and how she prevented him from being with his siblings.

Mark Harmon dropped the custody petition after his sister made allegations of cocaine use by Dawber. Kristin retained custody, although Mark Harmon was granted visitation rights.

Marriage to Mark Tinker

She married Mark Tinker in 1988; they divorced in 2000.

Actress

Sonic Boom

Audrey Maginni (as Kristin Nelson)

Short

1975

 

Kent McCord and Martin Milner in Adam-12 (1968)

Adam-12

Jean Reed (as Kristin Nelson)

TV Series

1975

3 episodes

 

Eddie Albert, Eva Gabor, and Arnold the Piggy in Green Acres (1965)

Green Acres

Carol Kenworthy (as Kris Nelson)

TV Series

1970

1 episode

 

The Resurrection of Broncho Billy (1970)

The Resurrection of Broncho Billy

The Girl (as Kristin Nelson)

Short

1970

 

Walter Brennan, Edgar Buchanan, and Chill Wills in The Over-the-Hill Gang (1969)

The Over-the-Hill Gang

Hannah Rose (as Kris Nelson)

TV Movie

1969

 

Bill Craig, Kristin Harmon, Stephanie Hill, and Leroy VanDyke in What Am I Bid? (1967)

What Am I Bid?

Beth Hubbard (as Kristin Nelson)

1967

 

Harriet Nelson, David Nelson, Ozzie Nelson, and Ricky Nelson in The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952)

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet

Kris NelsonKris

TV Series

1963–1966

30 episodes

 

Kristin Harmon and Ricky Nelson in Love & Kisses (1965)

Love & Kisses

Rosemary (as Kristin Nelson)

1965