David Nelson, Brother of Ricky Nelson, Dies; Was Last Living Nelson

David Nelson—the last surviving member of the Nelsons, the American television institution in the 1950s and 1960s—died Tuesday. Nelson, 74, passed away at his Los Angeles home due to complications from colon cancer, according to his publicist. The eldest son of Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, he first appeared on the family’s radio show, which later became a TV series. The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet premiered on ABC in 1952 and ended in 1966 after 435 episodes, allowing America to watch as David and his younger brother Ricky grew up before their eyes. The elder Nelson also had roles in various films, including Peyton Place, and spent the latter part of his career directing commercials and occasional TV series and movies.