Eric Hilliard "Ricky" or "Rick" Nelson (May 8, 1940 – December 31, 1985) was an American musician and actor. He began appearing with his family in the radio and television series "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" at age eight. In 1957, he started his career as a recording artist. Nelson also appeared in films, including a co-starring role with John Wayne, Dean Martin, Walter Brennan, and Angie Dickinson in Howard Hawks's western "Rio Bravo" (1959). Between 1957 and 1973, he placed 54 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and its predecessors, including "Poor Little Fool" (1958), the first number one on Billboard's newly established Hot 100 chart. He recorded 17 additional top ten hits and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on January 21, 1987. In 1996, he was ranked number 49 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time. Nelson's entertainment career began in 1949, when he played himself in the radio version of "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet." He made his first feature film appearance in "Here Come the Nelsons" (1952). In 1957, he released his first single, "I'm Walkin'" b/w "A Teenager's Romance," and his debut album "Ricky" reached number one. His single "Poor Little Fool" became his first number one hit in 1958. Following "Rio Bravo," he received a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Male Newcomer in 1959. After the television series ended in 1966, Nelson made occasional guest appearances on television programs. During his twenties, Nelson shif

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