Ricky Nelson was adored by his fans for years as a teen pop idol and was one of the most televised musicians of his era.
While many know of the mysterious circumstances of his death, not many know how a last-minute choice saved the lives of his two young sons.
Ricky Nelson was born Eric Hilliard Nelson in Teaneck, New Jersey, on May 8, 1940. His parents, Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Hilliard Nelson were known for their popular sitcom: “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.”
Ricky was a small, shy child who struggled with severe asthma, often needing a vaporizer with evergreen tincture to help him sleep at night. John Guedel, Red Skelton’s producer, described him as “an odd little kid” — likable, introspective, mysterious, and hard to read. When Skelton was drafted in 1944, Guedel created the radio sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet for Ricky’s parents, which premiered on Sunday, October 8, 1944, to positive reviews.
The Nelson’s sitcom ran for sixteen years, a record in sitcom history. Ricky and his older brother, David, joined the cast of the show when they were about the ages of 8 and 10 as well.
Throughout this time, Ricky attended Gardner Street Public School, eventually reaching Hollywood High School. He tended to have an aversion to education, which caused friction with his father, who wanted Ricky to attend college.
