Haywood Nelson

Haywood Knowles Nelson Jr. (born March 25, 1960) is an American actor. He is best known for having portrayed Dwayne Nelson on the television series What's Happening!! from 1976–1979,[1] and its spin-off series What's Happening Now!! 1985–1988.

Haywood Nelson
Nelson in 2007
Born
Haywood Knowles Nelson Jr.

(1960-03-25) March 25, 1960
OccupationActor
Years active1974–present
Spouse(s)Sheryl Piland (1981–1984)
Diana Ramos (1987–1998)
Khnadya Skye (2014)

Biography

Nelson, who grew up in Garden City Park, Long Island, New York, was a child star, appearing in many national commercials and in a movie, Mixed Company.[2] From 1973 to 1974, he performed on Broadway alongside Marlo Thomas in Thieves.[3] At the age of 14, he guest starred on Sanford and Son as Grady's grandson; at 15, he was in the cast of a spin-off of Sanford and Son called Grady (1975). The show was short-lived. The next year, in 1976, at the age of 16, he landed the role of Dwayne on What's Happening!!, the first Black teen sitcom.[4] As a "teenage heartthrob" on a popular television series, Nelson was one of the first Black teen idols.[4][5][6] In 1977, Nelson guest starred on Kojak in the episode "The Godson" as Bobby Moore.

Nelson has been married to Khnadya Skye since 2014, and is the main point advisor in her oil/petroleum technology corporation, Skyewood. The extremely private Nelson is rarely seen in public.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1971–74As the World TurnsJerry SmithUnknown episodes
1974Mixed CompanyFreddieFeature film
1975Sanford and SonHaywood MarshallEpisode: "The Family Man"
1975–76GradyHaywood MarshallMain cast (10 episodes)
1976–79What's Happening!!Dwayne NelsonMain cast (65 episodes)
1977KojakBobby MooreEpisode: "The Godson"
1977The Brady Bunch HourDwayne NelsonEpisode #1.8
1979The White ShadowRandy JuddEpisode: "Sudden Death"
1981EvilspeakKowalskiFeature film
1983-84That Teen ShowHaywood NelsonCo-host
1985–88What's Happening Now!!Dwayne NelsonMain cast (66 episodes)
1990DragnetLyle PetersEpisode: "The Book"
2000The ParkersHimself (cameo)Episode: "Whassup with Heyyy?"
2003Dickie Roberts: Former Child StarHimself (cameo)Feature film

References

  1. Byrd, Kenya N. (August 7, 2009). "Flashback Fridays: Haywood Nelson". Essence Magazine. Archived from the original on October 31, 2010.
  2. Kennedy, James (October 23, 1998). "Haywood You Remember Garden City Park". Mineola American. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  3. Thomas, Marlo (2010). Growing Up Laughing: My Story and the Story of Funny. Hyperion. p. 223. ISBN 9781401323912. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  4. "'What's Happening!!' Cast Reunion". Washington Examiner. Retrieved 29 December 2014. The former teen idols revealed what it was like to be a part of the first Black teen sitcom
  5. "Haywood Nelson: Boy Crush". Essence. Retrieved 29 December 2014. New York native Haywood Nelson, who played Dwayne Nelson on the 70's sitcom favorite What's Happening!!, was the teenage heartthrob of the show.
  6. Armstrong, Jenice (March 11, 2014). "On the go with Flo Anthony". Philly.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018. teen heartthrob Haywood Nelson


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