'Ozzie & Harriet' star David Nelson Dies at 74
Jan. 12 2011, Published 2:19 p.m. ET
Back in the day when there were only a few channels on TV (imagine that?), The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, ruled the school. In the classic TV sitcom that ran from 1952 through 1964, David Nelson starred along with his real life brother and parents. Well, that era has officially ended as David, the last survivor of the show, passed away yesterday. He was 74.
The Los Angeles Times reported that he passed away from complications from colon cancer. Although David went on to produce and direct commercials and occasional TV series and movies as an adult, he's most known for starring in the family sitcom which originally began on, get this – the radio! The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet began on 1944 on the airwaves and focused on his parents, Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Hilliard. David and his brother Ricky Nelson replaced actors who portrayed them on the radio and in 1949 they joined their parents on the show.
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In 1952 the sitcom moved to TV and was incredibly popular and became the longest-running family comedy in history! Plus, it launched the singing career of David's younger brother who eventually died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve in 1985.