Craig T. Nelson Biography: Age, Wife, Children, Net Worth, Parents, Height, Movies & TV Shows, Awards

Craig Theodore Nelson also known as Craig T. Nelson is a prominent American actor known for his commanding presence and versatile roles in comedy and drama.

He gained fame as Coach Hayden Fox in the sitcom Coach, winning an Emmy Award, and voiced Mr. Incredible in The Incredibles films. His notable performances include Poltergeist, The Incredibles series, Parenthood, and recent appearances in Young Sheldon and its spin-off Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.

Quick Facts

• Full Name: Craig Theodore Nelson
• Stage Name: Craig T. Nelson
• Born: April 4, 1944
• Age: 82 years old
• Birthplace: Spokane, Washington, United States
• Nationality: American
• Ethnicity: Caucasian
• Occupation: Actor
• Height: 192 cm
• Religion: Unknown
• Parents: Armand Gilbert Nelson and Vera Margaret Spindler
• Siblings: One
• Spouse: Doria Cook-Nelson
• Children: Three
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $50 million USD

Early Life and Education

Craig T. Nelson was born on April 4, 1944, in Spokane, Washington, United States. He was brought up by his parents, Armand Gilbert Nelson, a businessman who once played drums in Bing Crosby‘s high-school band, and Vera Margaret Spindler, a dancer, in Spokane. He grew up in a family with show business influences from his parents.

He attended Lewis and Clark High School, where he played football, baseball, and basketball. After high school, he studied at Central Washington University but flunked out, then attended Yakima Valley College where a drama teacher inspired him to pursue acting. He later studied drama at the University of Arizona on a scholarship but dropped out in 1969 to move to Hollywood for his career.

His ethnicity is Caucasian, and his religion is Unknown.

Career

Craig T. Nelson started as a stand-up comedian and writer in the late 1960s, performing at The Comedy Store and joining The Groundlings. He transitioned to acting in the 1970s with early roles in films like …And Justice for All (1979) and Stir Crazy (1980).

He gained prominence as Steve Freeling in Poltergeist (1982). He starred as Hayden Fox in Coach (1989–1997), winning an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. He voiced Mr. Incredible in The Incredibles (2004) and Incredibles 2 (2018).

Other notable roles include Chief Jack Mannion in The District (2000–2004), Zeek Braverman in Parenthood (2010–2015), and recurring as Dale Ballard in Young Sheldon (2019–2024) and Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage (2024–present). His career spans over 100 credits in film, TV, and voice work.

Social Media

Craig T. Nelson does not have social media accounts.

Personal Life

Craig T. Nelson is 82 years old and his height is 192 cm. He is married to Doria Cook-Nelson, a freelance writer, karate instructor, tai chi teacher, and former actress, since 1987. He was previously married to Robin McCarthy from 1965 to 1978 (divorced).

He has three children from his first marriage: Tiffany Nelson, Christopher Nelson, and Noah Nelson. No other past relationships are publicly known. He maintains a private family life, with interests in martial arts and family priorities.

Net Worth

Craig T. Nelson‘s net worth is estimated at $50 million USD. His income primarily comes from acting roles in television series such as Coach, The District, Parenthood, Young Sheldon, and Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage; feature films including Poltergeist, The Incredibles series, and Blades of Glory; voice acting in animations and video games; residuals and royalties from long-running shows, syndication, and streaming platforms; and occasional producing credits across his decades-long career.