Craig T. Nelson is a prolific movie and TV actor who has co-starred in award-winning dramas and led network sitcoms since the early '80s. Nelson began his career in 1971 in the vampire film, The Return of Count Yorga, where he played Sgt. O’Connor. While the movie was not of particular note, it did give an early look into the types of roles Nelson would end up playing throughout his career. Often appearing as a soldier, coach, father, or some other authority figure, Nelson has always fit the mold (even when he was younger) of an aging man who is still capable of feats of strength and inspiration.
Nelson’s career has spanned decades and even when he isn’t the main character in the movies and shows he appears in, he’s frequently in a crucial supporting role. His starring roles have seen him placed at the forefront of award-winning movies and TV series. Nelson has two Emmy nominations to his name and one win, and he has three Golden Globe nominations. The films he has been a part of have been nominated for Best Picture Academy Awards, and he has managed to lead multiple long-lived TV series across multiple decades. Nelson’s career covers a variety of genres and his presence is always a sign of a production’s quality.
10 The Devil’s Advocate (1997)
The Devil’s Advocate is best known for Al Pacino’s turn as John Milton, who is revealed to be the literal Satan at the movie’s climax. Nelson also does an excellent job playing the evil billionaire client who Keanu Reeve’s character, Kevin Lomax, must defend. The film is about a young lawyer who is urged by a mysterious mentor to throw morals to the wind in order to gain more power and prestige. Nelson’s Alexander Cullen is the perfect client to test Kevin’s mental resolve. Alex is charming and ruthless and Nelson’s ability to make the audience like him helps make it more difficult to choose who to root for.
9 Turner & Hooch (1989)
Nelson appears in the classic buddy-cop comedy Turner & Hooch as Chief Howard Hyde. In the film, Turner (Tom Hanks) and Hooch (Beasley the Dog) are an unlikely pair who are forced to live together after Hooch’s owner dies. Nelson plays Turner’s boss in the precinct who is eventually revealed to be behind the money laundering operation that saw Hooch’s owner killed. Hyde is, at first, a point of comic relief, reacting to the chaos Turner and Hooch cause, and Nelson makes the character seem like a kind, easy-going boss. When the character shifts into something more sinister, Nelson shows a range of acting not always seen in goofy '80s comedies.
8 Silkwood (1983)
Silkwood is based on the true story of nuclear energy whistle-blower Karen Silkwood (played by Meryl Streep in the movie). The plot follows Karen as she stumbles upon alleged misdoings at the Kerr-McGee plutonium plant. Her investigation ends in her mysterious death via a car accident. The movie brings together an all-star talented group with Mike Nichols as director; Nora Ephron as screenwriter; and Streep, Cher, Kurt Russell, and Nelson starring. Nelson plays Winston, another lab worker at the plant, and deftly shares the screen with Streep (who earned an Academy Award nomination). He plays funny and serious in equal parts and gives Streep a strong performance to play off.
7 The Killing Fields (1984)
Nelson has a small but significant role in the Academy Award-winning The Killing Fields. This biographical drama about the Khmer Rouge depicts real-life reporters Sydney Schanberg (Sam Waterston), Dith Pran (Haing S. Ngor), and Al Rockoff (John Malkovich) as they report on the Cambodian Civil War. The film won three Academy Awards and has a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. Nelson appears briefly as Major Reeves and his callous and jocular attitude towards the U.S. role in the conflict sets up the succeeding horror. Nelson is perfect as a condescending strongman and makes his mark on the already celebrated film with only a few minutes of screen time.
6 Blades Of Glory (2007)
In Blades of Glory, Nelson for once is cast in a straight comedy allowing him to be more eccentric than he ever gets to play. Blades of Glory stars Will Ferrell in another iconic performance alongside Jon Heder. The pair play rival ice skaters who have to work together. Nelson plays Coach Goddard, an unorthodox and occasionally irresponsible ice skating coach. While Nelson has played a coach multiple times in the past, they have never been as obviously obnoxious as Goddard. It’s as if Nelson used everything he learned from playing similar characters and cranked those aspects to their maximum, leading to a memorable character in a very funny film.
5 The Family Stone (2005)
The Family Stone is a romantic comedy about the large, rambunctious Stone family and a Christmas Holiday with significant others. Meredith Morton (Sarah Jessica Parker) visits the Stone family with her boyfriend Everett Stone (Dermot Mulroney). Couples break up and fall in love and at the center of it all is matriarch Sybil (Diane Keaton) and patriarch Kelly (Nelson). Kelly at first appears to be the head of the family, but it’s quickly revealed that Sybil is in charge. Nelson’s calm and quirky sense of humor in the role is a good counterbalance to Keaton’s performance and depicts a much looser type of father figure than he usually does.
4 Parenthood (2010-2015)
Nelson co-stars in Parenthood as Ezekiel "Zeek" Braverman, the patriarch of the Braverman extended family that the show is about. Much like Modern Family, Parenthood follows different branches of the same family and how their lives intertwine over the six seasons of the show. Zeek is a completely rounded character with foibles and strengths, just like his children, who are usually more of the focus of the show. Unlike Modern Family, Parenthood tends to run more dramatic than comedic, and it’s when those dramatic moments come, Nelson’s acting pedigree really shines through, allowing him to deliver grave news or admit to an affair in an honest and believable way.
3 The Incredibles Franchise (2004-2018)
Nelson’s voice has also helped him secure many iconic roles. He puts his voice to excellent use as Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible in The Incredibles franchise. The Incredibles earned a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and $631 million (via Box Office Mojo). Incredibles 2 has a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and earned $1.2 billion (via Box Office Mojo). It is a major animated and superhero franchise and Nelson voices the lead character. His loud, but never frightening, voice is perfect for the deconstructed superhero at the center of the film: a middle-aged man with all the stresses of parenthood combined with strength enough to bench-press a train.
2 Poltergeist (1982)
Poltergeist follows the Freeling family who move to a new home that sits on top of an ancient burial ground. Nelson plays Steve Freeling, the father of the family and the one to insist on the move. Unlike some other horror movie fathers, Steve actually believes the ghosts are real and goes about trying to save his family from the start. Nelson is magnetic and fun in the role, and it isn’t hard to understand why his family would happily agree to move upon his request. The movie has an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and earned $77 million (via Box Office Mojo), a fantastic success for a horror film.
1 Coach (1989-1997)
Nelson’s best-known role came in Coach, an ABC sitcom that ran for 9 seasons. Coach stars Nelson as Hayden Fox, head coach of the NCAA Division I-A Minnesota State University Screaming Eagles football team. Nelson was nominated for four Golden Globes in the Best Lead category and twice for Emmys in the Outstanding Lead Actor category, one of which he won in 1992. This role is the culmination of the work he had done previously. Coach Fox is inspiring, funny, weird, cunning, and a father to everyone around him. The role allows Craig T. Nelson to use his full toolbox of skills to make Fox an indelible character.