Editing Judd Nelson

{{short description|American actor (born 1959)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Judd Nelson
| image              = Judd Nelson (crop 2).jpg
| caption            = Nelson in 2006
| birth_name         = Judd Asher Nelson
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1959|11|28|mf=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Portland, Maine]], U.S.
| occupation         = Actor
| years_active       = 1983–present
| notable_works      = {{flatlist|
* ''[[The Breakfast Club]]''
* ''[[St. Elmo's Fire (film)|St. Elmo's Fire]]''
}}
| spouse             = 
| relatives               = [[Merle Nelson]] (mother)
}}

'''Judd Asher Nelson''' (born November 28, 1959) is an American actor.  After a lead role in the film ''[[Making the Grade (1984 film)|Making the Grade]]'' (1984), Nelson had his breakout with a starring role in the coming-of-age teen film ''[[The Breakfast Club]]'' (1985), which caused him to be associated with a group of actors known as the "[[Brat Pack]]."<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web |date=September 6, 2019 |title=Judd Nelson Biography |url=https://www.biography.com/actor/judd-nelson |access-date=February 23, 2021 |website=[[Biography (TV program)|Biography]]}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web |title=Judd Nelson |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000555/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0 |access-date=February 23, 2021 |website=[[IMDb]]}}</ref>

In the late 1980s, Nelson starred in the Brat Pack films ''[[St. Elmo's Fire (film)|St. Elmo's Fire]]'' (1985) and ''[[Blue City (film)|Blue City]]'' (1986), voiced Hot Rod / Rodimus Prime in the animated film ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' (1986), and had lead roles in ''[[From the Hip (film)|From the Hip]]'' (1987) and ''[[Relentless (1989 film)|Relentless]]'' (1989). For his portrayal of Joe Hunt in the biographical television miniseries ''[[Billionaire Boys Club (1987 film)|Billionaire Boys Club]]'' (1987), Nelson was nominated for a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film]].

In the 1990s, Nelson starred in the films ''[[New Jack City]]'' (1991), ''[[Airheads]]'' (1994), ''[[Steel (1997 film)|Steel]]'' (1997), and ''[[Light It Up (film)|Light It Up]]'' (1999). He experienced a career resurgence with a main role as Jack Richmond on the [[NBC]] sitcom ''[[Suddenly Susan]]'' (1996–1999).

During the 2000s and 2010s, Nelson appeared in a string of television and direct-to-video films. He starred in the film ''[[The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day]]'' (2009) and portrayed Ryan Hunt, the father of Joe Hunt, in a starring role in ''[[Billionaire Boys Club (2018 film)|Billionaire Boys Club]]'' (2018). Nelson reprised his voice role as Hot Rod / Rodimus Prime in the animated web series ''[[Transformers: Titans Return]]'' (2017–2018).

== Early life ==
Nelson was born in [[Portland, Maine]], the son of [[Merle Nelson]] ({{nee|Royte}}), a court mediator and former member of the [[Maine House of Representatives]], and Leonard Nelson, a corporate lawyer. He grew up in a [[Conservative Jewish]] home although his family did not keep [[kosher]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thejc.com/lifestyle/interviews/judd-nelson-the-truth-about-my-brat-pack-past-and-social-media-s-future-1.520174 | title=Judd Nelson: The truth about my Brat Pack past… and social media's future }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Herzfeld |first=Laura |date=October 3, 2012 |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/10/03/judd-nelson-just-45-minutes-from-broadway/ |title=Judd Nelson on religion in movies, 'Breakfast Club,' and his new film 'Just 45 Minutes from Broadway' |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=July 9, 2015}}</ref> His father was the first Jewish president of the [[Portland Symphony Orchestra]].<ref name="father1">{{cite book |last=Peck |first=Abraham J. |author2=Jean M. Peck |title=Maine's Jewish Heritage |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=foNCuNy5EX8C&q=symphony |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |year=2007 |page=108 |isbn=978-0-7385-4965-1}}</ref><ref>[http://www.filmreference.com/film/29/Judd-Nelson.html ''Film Reference.com''].</ref><ref name="ref33">{{cite news |last=Bartlett |first=Will |title=Lillian D. Royte Strong Believer in Public Service |newspaper=[[Portland Press Herald]] |date=January 9, 1996 |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ME&p_theme=me&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAE9AA1EF4CF256&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=March 27, 2008}}</ref> He has two sisters, Eve and Julie.<ref name="ReferenceA" /><ref name="ReferenceB" />

He went to school at [[St. Paul's School (New Hampshire)|St. Paul's School]] in [[Concord, New Hampshire]] and [[Waynflete School]] in [[Portland, Maine]]. While at St Paul's School, an [[Episcopalian]] school, he started embracing his Jewish identity after experiencing [[antisemitism]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thejc.com/lifestyle/interviews/judd-nelson-the-truth-about-my-brat-pack-past-and-social-media-s-future-1.520174 | title=Judd Nelson: The truth about my Brat Pack past… and social media's future }}</ref> He studied at [[Haverford College]] in [[Pennsylvania]], leaving during his sophomore year. He subsequently moved to Manhattan to study acting with [[Stella Adler]].<ref name="ReferenceA" /><ref name="ReferenceB" />

== Career ==
=== 1980s ===
Nelson began acting in the mid-1980s, starring in ''[[Making the Grade (1984 film)|Making the Grade]]''  (1984), and in ''[[Fandango (1985 film)|Fandango]]'' (1985) opposite [[Kevin Costner]].  It was his roles in [[John Hughes (filmmaker)|John Hughes]]'s ''[[The Breakfast Club]]'' (1985) and [[Joel Schumacher]]'s ''[[St. Elmo's Fire (film)|St. Elmo's Fire]]'' (1985) that made Nelson a star. He was affiliated with the [[Brat Pack]] of young 1980s actors, along with [[Emilio Estevez]], [[Anthony Michael Hall]], [[Rob Lowe]], [[Andrew McCarthy]], [[Demi Moore]], [[Molly Ringwald]], and [[Ally Sheedy]]. The ''[[St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)]]'' music video – also directed by Schumacher – reached No. 1 in the US (1985). It was written by [[David Foster]] and John Parr and performed by [[John Parr]]. Nelson appears in the video.<ref name="ReferenceB" /> He also appeared on a video for the [[Simple Minds]]' song "[[Don't You (Forget About Me)]]", from ''The Breakfast Club'', in which members of the "Pack" feature prominently.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HND8ywYcC0&list=RDMM0HND8ywYcC0&start_radio=1 | title=Simple Minds - Don't You (Forget About Me) Breakfast Club | website=[[YouTube]] }}</ref> A subsequent article in [[New York (magazine)|''New York'' magazine]], which focused primarily on the success of these films, resulted in the term "Brat Pack" being coined.<ref>{{cite journal| last=Blum| first=David| journal=New York| date=June 10, 1985| title=Hollywood's Brat Pack| url=http://nymag.com/movies/features/49902/}}</ref>

In 1986 Nelson provided the voice of [[Rodimus|Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime]] in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' and teamed up with ''Breakfast Club'' alumna Ally Sheedy for a third time in ''[[Blue City (film)|Blue City]]''. He also provided narration for [[Bill Couturie]]'s ''[[Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam]]'', a critically acclaimed war documentary that featured a cast including [[Tom Berenger]], [[Robert De Niro]], [[Willem Dafoe]], and [[Matt Dillon]]. Film critic [[Roger Ebert]] praised the documentary, and it maintains a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.<ref>{{cite news| last=Ebert| first=Roger| url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/dear-america-letters-home-from-vietnam-1988| title=Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam| date=September 16, 1988| newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]| via=RogerEbert.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| website=Rotten Tomatoes| title=Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam| date=November 15, 2005| url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dear_america_letters_home_from_vietnam| access-date=February 23, 2021}}</ref>

He starred opposite [[Burt Reynolds]] in the [[ABC Afterschool Special]] ''Shattered If Your Kid's On Drugs'', which also featured [[Megan Follows]] and [[Dermot Mulroney]]. In 1987 he starred in the [[Bob Clark]] courtroom comedy ''[[From the Hip (film)|From the Hip]]'', which co-starred [[John Hurt]] and [[Elizabeth Perkins]]; he also provided a stand-out performance in ''[[Billionaire Boys Club (1987 film)|Billionaire Boys Club]]'', a courtroom thriller based on actual events; his performance earned him a [[Golden Globe Award]] nomination for Best Actor in a Mini-Series.<ref name="ReferenceB" />  In late 1988 he played Konstantin in Chekhov's ''The Seagull'' directed by [[Charles Marowitz]] at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, earning praise, as did the entire production.<ref>{{cite news| last=Sullivan| first=Dan| newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]| title=STAGE REVIEW: 'Seagull' Is a Flight of Caring, Knowing| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-10-10-ca-2708-story.html| date=October 10, 1988}}</ref>

Nelson closed the 1980s with the [[William Lustig]] thriller, ''[[Relentless (1989 film)|Relentless]]'' (1989), in which he plays a Los Angeles [[serial killer]] hunted by two police officers ([[Robert Loggia]] and [[Leo Rossi]]); he provided a cameo in the [[Adam Rifkin]] road film ''[[Never on Tuesday]]'' (1989) along with [[Nicolas Cage]], [[Cary Elwes]], Emilio Estevez and [[Charlie Sheen]]; and appeared in [[Tommy Chong]]'s ''[[Far Out Man]]'' (1989) with [[Rae Dawn Chong]] and [[C. Thomas Howell]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Never on Tuesday| url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095722/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0| website=IMDb| access-date=February 23, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Far Out Man| url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099546/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0| website=IMDb| access-date=February 23, 2021}}</ref>

Key TV roles in the 1980s included ''[[Moonlighting (TV series)|Moonlighting]]'' (1986) – episode "Camille" – in which he played a police officer opposite [[Cybill Shepherd]] and [[Bruce Willis]].

=== 1990s ===
Nelson began the 1990s with a starring role opposite [[Max von Sydow]] in the World War II drama ''Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes'' (1990). The film focused on the horror of the [[Hiroshima bombing]]. It co-stars [[Mako Iwamatsu]] and [[Pat Morita]].  In the Fall of 1990 he appeared on stage in Chicago and New York in Jules Feiffer's ''Carnal Knowledge'' with [[Jon Cryer]].<ref>{{cite book| work=Theatre World 1990–1991| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aFgiEodvfKEC&q=carnal+knowledge| title=Carnal Knowledge|
editor-first=John| editor-last=Willis| page=61| date=February 1, 2000| publisher=Hal Leonard Corp| isbn=978-1-55783-126-2}}</ref>  He then worked for a second time with Adam Rifkin, this time starring in ''[[The Dark Backward]]'' (1991) with [[Bill Paxton]]. This quirky comedy featured fellow actor Rob Lowe, as well as [[Lara Flynn Boyle]], [[James Caan]], and [[Wayne Newton]]. Nelson plays the worst comedian in [[stand-up comedy]] history.

In 1991, he had a starring role in the [[Mario Van Peebles]]-directed ''[[New Jack City]]'', an urban gangster film with [[Wesley Snipes]], [[Ice-T]], [[Vanessa A. Williams]], and [[Chris Rock]]. The film was a commercial success.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=newjackcity.htm |title=New Jack City (1991) |website=Box Office Mojo |date=May 21, 1991 |access-date=June 15, 2013}}</ref> He then had a special guest appearance in the HBO TV series ''[[Tales from the Crypt (TV series)|Tales from the Crypt]]'' – on the episode ''What's Cookin'' (1992) – with [[Christopher Reeve]] and [[Meat Loaf]], followed by a starring role with [[Richard Jordan]] in the thriller ''Primary Motive'' (1992), and a similar role in ''Entangled'' (1993) opposite [[Pierce Brosnan]], which was set in Paris.

In 1994 Nelson appeared with [[Brendan Fraser]], [[Steve Buscemi]], [[Chris Farley]], and [[Adam Sandler]] in the comedy ''[[Airheads]]'', with [[Gina Gershon]] in the psychological thriller ''Flinch'', and with then partner [[Shannen Doherty]] in the thriller ''Blindfold: Acts of Obsession''. Nelson wrote, produced, and starred in the thriller ''Every Breath'' in which he co-starred with [[Joanna Pacula]]. He headlined the Australian thriller, ''Blackwater Trail'' (1995), with [[Peter Phelps]]. He had a starring role on the [[NBC]] television sitcom ''[[Suddenly Susan]]'' (1996), which saw success for a four-season run. He had a starring role in the [[Shaquille O'Neal]] movie ''[[Steel (1997 film)|Steel]]'' (1997). The film also starred [[Annabeth Gish]] and [[Richard Roundtree]] (''Steel'' was a commercial flop).<ref name="ReferenceB" /><ref>{{cite web| title=Steel| url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1078035-steel| website=Rotten Tomatoes}}</ref>

Nelson wrapped up the 1990s with another urban gangster thriller, ''[[Light It Up (film)|Light It Up]]'' (1999), which featured an ensemble cast including [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] singer/actor [[Usher Raymond]] (in his first leading role), [[Rosario Dawson]], [[Forest Whitaker]], and [[Vanessa L. Williams]]. He played [[Alan Freed]] in the latter's life story, ''Mr. Rock 'N' Roll: The Alan Freed Story'' (1999) opposite [[Mädchen Amick]] and [[Paula Abdul]].<ref name="ReferenceB" />

=== 2000s to present day ===
In the 21st century, Nelson has appeared in such TV series as ''[[The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]'' (2000), ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]'' (2006), ''[[CSI: NY]]'' (2007), ''[[Las Vegas (TV series)|Las Vegas]]'' (2007), ''[[Eleventh Hour (U.S. TV series)|Eleventh Hour]]'' (2008) as a psychologist researching soldiers returning from Iraq who suffer from [[posttraumatic stress disorder]], ''[[Psych (TV series)|Psych]]'' (2010), and a recurring role in ''[[Two and a Half Men]]'' (2010) with Charlie Sheen.

Films include the [[psychological thriller]] ''[[Cabin by the Lake]]'' (2000), its sequel ''[[Return to Cabin by the Lake]]'' (2001), and a cameo appearance in the 2001 film ''[[Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back]]''; the film's writer-director, [[Kevin Smith]], had been a long-time fan of Nelson and the "Brat Pack" films.<ref>{{cite news| first=Steve| last=Spears| title=That's Mr. Nelson to you| newspaper=[[Tampa Bay Times]]| date=November 28, 2006}}</ref> In 2002 he co-starred with [[Lauren Holly]] in ''[[Santa Jr.]]'' and reprised his role as John Bender in an episode of ''[[Family Guy]]'' (2007). Later, Nelson reprised his role of Rodimus Prime in ''[[Transformers Animated]]'' (2009) and appeared in ''[[The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day]]'' (2009), the latter with [[Julie Benz]], [[Billy Connolly]], [[Sean Patrick Flanery]], and [[Peter Fonda]].

He portrayed Father Charley Lock on ''Brookwood Sleazebags'' (2010), a pilot he did for HBO.<ref name="ReferenceB" /><ref>{{cite web| url=http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/12/05/judd-nelson-peter-fonda-join-the-cast-of-boondock-saints-2| title=Judd Nelson & Peter Fonda Join The Cast Of 'Boondock Saints 2'| website=Geeks of Doom| date=December 5, 2008| access-date=June 15, 2013}}</ref> In 2012, Nelson played the role of Headmaster Nash in the live-action feature film ''[[Bad Kids Go to Hell]]'', based on the graphic novel of the same name. The same year, Nelson co-wrote and starred in the short film ''The Spin Room: Super Tuesday''. Nelson reprised his role as Rodimus in ''[[Transformers: Animated]]'' and voiced Ben 10,000, Eon, and Atomic-X in ''[[Ben 10: Omniverse]]''.

In 2013, Nelson authored four books released on Kindle: ''The Power of Speech'', ''Nine of Diamonds'', ''The Gig'', and ''Water Music''.<ref>{{cite web| title=Judd Nelson| url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4817165.Judd_Nelson| website=[[Goodreads]]| access-date=February 23, 2021}}</ref>

Nelson played a pivotal role in the final season of ''[[Nikita (TV series)|Nikita]]''.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://tvline.com/2013/08/20/nikita-cast-judd-nelson-final-season-undercover-operative| title=''Nikita'' Exclusive: Brat Packer Judd Nelson to Go Undercover for Major Final Season Arc| last=Masters| first=Megan| website=[[TVLine]]| date=August 20, 2013| access-date=August 31, 2013| archive-date=August 24, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824172845/https://tvline.com/2013/08/20/nikita-cast-judd-nelson-final-season-undercover-operative/| url-status=dead}}</ref>

Nelson played a lead role in the 2010 Hallmark movie, ''Cancel Christmas''. He portrayed Chris Frost, who is also [[Santa Claus]].<ref>{{cite book| last=Crump| first=William D.| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4AmgDgAAQBAJ&q=judd+nelson+Cancel+Christmas&pg=PT38| title=How the Movies Saved Christmas: 228 Rescues from Clausnappers, Sleigh Crashes, Lost Presents and Holiday Disasters| date=April 27, 2017| publisher=McFarland| isbn=978-1-4766-6488-0| language=en}}</ref>

In 2019, he starred in the suspense thriller, ''Dead Water''.

In 2021, Nelson starred as Don Cody in the [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] film ''[[Girl in the Basement]]'' which was inspired by the [[Fritzl case]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Lifetime Greenlights 'Girl In The Basement' Movie Starring Stefanie Scott, Judd Nelson & Joely Fisher; Elisabeth Rohm Directs|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/lifetime-girl-in-the-basement-movie-ripped-from-the-headlines-stefanie-scott-judd-nelson-star-elisabeth-rohm-directs-1234591965/|work=Deadline Hollywood|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|date=October 6, 2020|access-date=January 23, 2021}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1983
| ''Rock 'n' Roll Hotel''
| Rocker Johnny
|
|-
| 1984
| ''[[Making the Grade (1984 film)|Making the Grade]]''
| Eddie Keaton
|
|-
| rowspan=3| 1985
| ''[[The Breakfast Club]]''
| John Bender
| Won – MTV Movie Silver Bucket of Excellence Award
|-
| ''[[St. Elmo's Fire (film)|St. Elmo's Fire]]''
| Alec Newbury
|
|-
| ''[[Fandango (1985 film)|Fandango]]''
| Phil Hicks, Groover
|
|-
| rowspan=2| 1986
| ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''
| [[Rodimus|Hot Rod / Rodimus Prime]]
|Voice<ref name="btva">{{cite web |title=Judd Nelson (visual voices guide) |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Judd-Nelson/ |access-date=November 28, 2023 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref>
|-
| ''[[Blue City (film)|Blue City]]''
| Billy Turner
|
|-
| 1987
| ''[[From the Hip (film)|From the Hip]]''
| Robin 'Stormy' Weathers
|
|-
| rowspan=2| 1989
| ''[[Relentless (1989 film)|Relentless]]''
| Arthur 'Buck' Taylor
|
|-
| ''[[Never on Tuesday]]''
| Motorcycle Cop
| Uncredited
|-
| 1990
| ''[[Far Out Man]]''
| Himself
| Cameo
|-
| rowspan=2| 1991
| ''[[New Jack City]]''
| Nick Peretti
|
|-
| ''[[The Dark Backward]]''
| Marty Malt
|
|-
| 1992
| ''[[Primary Motive]]''
| Andrew Blumenthal
|
|-
| rowspan=2| 1993
| ''[[Conflict of Interest (film)|Conflict of Interest]]''
| Gideon
|
|-
| ''[[Entangled (film)|Entangled]]''
| David
|
|-
| rowspan="5" | 1994
| ''Every Breath''
| Jimmy
| Also Writer and Producer
|-
| ''[[Hail Caesar (1994 film)|Hail Caesar]]''
| Prisoner One
|
|-
| ''[[Airheads]]''
| Jimmie Wing
|
|-
| ''Flinch''
| Harry Mirapolsky
|
|-
| ''[[Caroline at Midnight]]''
| Phil Gallo
|
|-
| 1995
| ''[[Blackwater Trail]]''
| Matt
|
|-
| 1996
| ''For a Few Lousy Dollars''
| Hitman
|
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Steel (1997 film)|Steel]]''
| Nathaniel Burke
|
|-
| 1999
| ''[[Light It Up (film)|Light It Up]]''
| Ken Knowles
|
|-
| rowspan=2| 2000
| ''Endsville''
| Rufus the Buck-Toothed Sluggard
|
|-
| ''[[Falcon Down]]''
| Harold Peters
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2001
| ''[[Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back]]''
| Sheriff
|
|-
| ''Dark Asylum''
| Quitz
|
|-
| ''The Cure for Boredom''
| Max
|
|-
| 2002
| ''Deceived''
| Jack Jones
|
|-
| 2003
| ''[[White Rush]]''
| Brian Nathanson
|
|-
| rowspan=2| 2005
| ''Lethal Eviction''
| Shep
|
|-
| ''The Lost Angel''
| Father Brian
|
|-
| 2006
| ''[[National Lampoon's TV: The Movie]]''
| Fear Factor Host/Judd
|
|-
| rowspan=2| 2007
| ''[[Netherbeast Incorporated]]''
| Steven P.D. Landry
|
|-
| ''[[Nevermore (2007 film)|Nevermore]]''
| Jonathon Usher
|
|-
| rowspan=2| 2008
| ''The Caretaker''
| Ella's dad<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/35259/the-caretaker-takin-care-killin-teens-business| title=The Caretaker Takin' Care of the Killin' Teens Business| website=DreadCentral| access-date=January 8, 2010| archive-date=October 29, 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029190307/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/35259/the-caretaker-takin-care-killin-teens-business| url-status=dead}}</ref>
|
|-
| ''[[The Day the Earth Stopped]]''
| Charlie
|
|-
| rowspan=4| 2009
| ''Dirty Politics''
| Billy
|
|-
| ''[[A Single Woman (film)|A Single Woman]]''
| Jewish reporter
|
|-
| ''Little Hercules in 3-D''
| Kevin
|
|-
| ''[[The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day]]''
| Concezio Yakavetta
|
|-
| rowspan=3| 2010
| ''The Terror Experiment (Fight or Flight)''
| Agent Wilson
|
|-
| ''Endure''
| Emory Lane
|
|-
| ''Mayor Cupcake''
| Donald Maroni
|
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Bad Kids Go to Hell]]''
| Headmaster Nash
|
|-
| rowspan=3| 2013
| ''[[Last Chance Holiday]]''
| Glenn Cartwell
|
|-
| ''[[Down and Dangerous]]''
| Charles
| Nominated – Maverick Movie Award
|-
| ''[[Nurse 3D]]''
| Dr. Morris
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2014
| ''[[Bigfoot Wars]]''
| Dr. Smith
|
|-
| ''[[Private Number (2014 film)|Private Number]]''
| Sheriff Stance
|
|-
|''Road to the Open''
|Anger Management Therapist
|
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Stagecoach: The Texas Jack Story]]''
| Sid Dalton
|
|-
| rowspan=2| 2018
| ''[[Billionaire Boys Club (2018 film)|Billionaire Boys Club]]''
| Ryan Hunt
|
|-
| ''1/1''
| Robert
|
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2019
| ''[[Dead Water (film)|Dead Water]]''
| San McLean
|
|-
| ''[[Santa Fake]]''
| Seb
|
|-
| ''[[Electric Jesus]]''
|Pastor Wember
|
|-
| ''[[Dauntless: The Battle of Midway]]''
|Admiral R.A. Spruance
|
|-
| 2022
| ''[[The Most Dangerous Game (2022 film)|The Most Dangerous Game]]''
| Marcus Rainsford
| 
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1986
| ''[[Moonlighting (TV series)|Moonlighting]]''
| Policeman
| Episode: "Camille"
|-
| 1987
| ''[[Billionaire Boys Club (1987 film)|Billionaire Boys Club]]''
| Joe Hunt
| 2 episodes<br />Nominated—[[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film]]
|-
| 1990
| ''[[Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes]]''
| Pete Dunham
| Television film
|-
| 1992
| ''[[Tales from the Crypt (TV series)|Tales from the Crypt]]''
| Gaston
| Episode: "What's Cookin'"
|-
|1994
|''[[Blindfold: Acts of Obsession]]''
|Dr. Jannings
| rowspan="2" |Television film
|-
| 1995
| ''Circumstances Unknown''
| Paul Kinsey
|-
| 1996–1999
| ''[[Suddenly Susan]]''
| Jack Richmond
| 71 episodes
|-
| 1999
| ''[[Mr. Rock 'n' Roll: The Alan Freed Story]]''
| Alan Freed
| Television film
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2000
| ''[[The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]''
| Harry Longworth
| Episode: "Something About Harry"
|-
| ''[[Cabin by the Lake]]''
| Stanley
| rowspan="10" | Television film
|-
| ''[[The Spiral Staircase (2000 film)|The Spiral Staircase]]''
| Phillip Warren
|-
| ''[[The New Adventures of Spin and Marty: Suspect Behavior]]''
| Jack Hulka
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2001
| ''Strange Frequency''
| Martin Potter
|-
|''[[Return to Cabin by the Lake]]''
|Stanley
|-
| ''[[Lost Voyage]]''
| Aaron Roberts
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2002
| ''[[Cybermutt]]''
| Alex
|-
| ''[[Santa Jr.]]''
| Darryl Bedford
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Three Wise Guys]]''
| George
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2006
| ''[[The Black Hole (2006 film)|Black Hole]]''
| Eric
|-
| ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]''
| Mick Sheridan
| Episode: "Time of Your Death"
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2007
|''[[Las Vegas (TV series)|Las Vegas]]''
| Ollie
| Episode: "Fleeting Cheating Meeting"
|-
| ''The Kidnapping''
| Glen
| Television film
|-
| ''[[CSI: NY]]''
| Cigarette Company Executive
| Episode: "The Ride In"
|-
| ''[[Family Guy]]''
| John Bender
| Voice, episode: "[[Blue Harvest]]"
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Infected (2008 film)|Infected]]''
| Malcolm Burgess
| Television film
|-
| rowspan=2| 2009
| ''[[Phineas and Ferb]]''
| The Guru
| Voice, episode: "Isabella and the Temple of Sap"<ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[Transformers: Animated]]''
| Rodimus Prime
| Voice, episode: "TransWarped Part 1"<ref name="btva" />
|-
| rowspan=2| 2010
| ''[[Psych]]''
| Dr. Steven Reidman
| Episode: "Death Is in the Air"
|-
| ''[[Two and a Half Men]]''
| Chris McElroy
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2011
| ''Cancel Christmas''
| Santa / Chris Frost
| Television film
|-
| 2013–2014
| ''[[Ben 10: Omniverse]]''
| Eon, Ben 10,000, Atomic-X
| Voice, 5 episodes<ref name="btva" />
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Nikita (TV series)|Nikita]]''
| Ronald Peller
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2015, 2019
| ''[[Empire (2015 TV series)|Empire]]''
| Billy Beretti
| 5 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2017
| ''[[Transformers: Titans Return]]''
| Rodimus Prime / Hot Rod
| Voice, main role<ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[From Straight A's to XXX]]''
| Don
| Television film
|-
| 2018
| ''[[Transformers: Power of the Primes]]''
| Rodimus Prime / Hot Rod / Rodimus Cron
| Voice, recurring role<ref name="btva" />
|-
| 2021
| ''[[Girl in the Basement]]''
| Don Cody
| Television film
|}

=== Music videos ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Artist
|-
|1985
|"[[St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)]]"
|[[John Parr]]
|-
| 2012
| "Gotten"
| [[Slash (musician)|Slash]] featuring [[Adam Levine]]
|}

=== Theatre ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
| rowspan="4" |1986
|''Sleeping Dogs''
|Henry Hitchcock
| rowspan="2" |[[Mark Taper Forum]]
|-
|''Planet Fires''
|Sling and Bartender
|-
|''[[Orphans (Lyle Kessler play)|Orphans]]''
|
| rowspan="2" |[[Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre]], Jupiter, Florida
|-
|''Wrestlers''
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1988
|''[[The Seagull]]''
|Konstantin 
|The Los Angeles Theatre Center
|-
|''Temple'' 
|Paulie
|American Jewish Theatre, New York City
|-
|1990
|[[Carnal Knowledge (film)|''Carnal Knowledge'']]
|Jonathan Fuerst
|[[Martin R. Kaufman Theatre]], New York City
|-
|2001
|''[[The Cocktail Hour]]''
|
|The Cape Playhouse, Massachusetts
|-
|2003
|''He She Them''
|
|[[Shubert Theatre (Boston)|The Shubert Theatre]]
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{IMDb name|555}}

{{Brat Pack}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Judd}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male stage actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:Haverford College alumni]]
[[Category:Jewish American male actors]]
[[Category:American people of Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Male actors from Portland, Maine]]
[[Category:St. Paul's School (New Hampshire) alumni]]
[[Category:Waynflete School alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]
[[Category:American expatriate male actors]]
[[Category:American expatriates in the United Kingdom]]