Craig T. Nelson

Doctor of Fine Arts

College of Fine Arts

Craig T. Nelson is an Emmy Award-winning actor, writer, director, producer and University of Arizona alumnus.

Nelson's career spans decades of work across television, film and stage. His career highlights include his iconic role as Hayden Fox in "Coach," which garnered him multiple Emmy nominations and a win in 1992. He also showcased his talent on Broadway in "Ah, Wilderness!" and left an indelible mark as Zeek Braverman in the TV show "Parenthood."

Nelson's film credits include his starring role in the 1982 film "Poltergeist," as well as "All the Right Moves," "The Proposal," "Book Club," "The Family Stone," "I'm Not Rappaport," "Silkwood" and "The Osterman Weekend." He also voiced Mr. Incredible in the 2004 Pixar film "The Incredibles."

For the past five seasons, Nelson has guest starred in the CBS show "Young Sheldon" as Dale Ballard, love interest of Meemaw, played by Annie Potts.

Originally from Spokane, Washington, Nelson drove his 1956 Studebaker from Spokane to Tucson in the fall of 1965 to attend the University of Arizona on a drama scholarship. He attended the university for the next four years.

Much of Nelson's time was spent learning from Peter R. Marroney, who led the university's theater department for 36 years, and for whom the university's Marroney Theatre is named. Nelson credits his time working with Marroney for much of his career success.

Nelson left the university in 1969, before completing his degree, to accept a professional acting opportunity in Hollywood. He went on to establish a six-decade career that has made him one of the most recognizable figures in American film and television.

Nelson has maintained his ties to the university's School of Theatre, Film and Television. In 2018, he returned to Tucson to meet with students and take part in the launch of the public phase of a fundraising campaign to renovate Marroney Theatre. In February, after the renovations were completed, the theater's stage became the Craig T. Nelson Stage. An anonymous donation made the renaming possible.