Harriet Nelson Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Childhood And Early Life

American actress and singer Harriet Nelson was born Peggy Lou Snyder on the 18 July 1909 in Des Moines, Iowa in the United States. Her parents were Roy Hilliard Snyder and Hazel McNutt. From a young age, Harriet Nelson was exposed to the entertainment industry. At three years of age she made an appearance in vaudeville and by her teens was working on Broadway.

Education

After graduating from high school, Harriet Nelson became a member of the Corps de Ballet.

Rise To Fame

Harriet Nelson worked as a dancer, singer, comedian and actress and was working in vaudeville when she met bandleader Ozzie Nelson. Nelson employed her as a singer in the band Harriet Hilliard. During this time she was under contract to RKO Radio Pictures (1936), and she was also acting in film. After an appearance in Follow the Fleet, a Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers musical, Nelson’s was offered more work in the film industry.

Career

By the 1940s Harriet Nelson and Ozzie married and had established a radio series, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet which became famous.  Because of the success of the radio show, The Adventures of Ozzie and Nelson was adapted for television and began showing on television in 1952. The television series ran successfully on ABC-TV until 1966

Personal Life

Harriet Nelson married Ozzie Nelson in 1935, and the couple had two children: David (b.1936 - d.2011) and Eric (b.1940 - d. 1985). Eric became famous as the rock and roll star Ricky Nelson. Ozzie Nelson died in 1975. Her son David was an actor, writer, and producer.