The teen idol of the 50s who saved his twin boys in the mysterious
Early Life and Rise to Fame
Born Eric Hilliard Nelson on May 8, 1940, in Teaneck, New Jersey, Ricky Nelson grew up on his family’s sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.
By seventeen, his performance of “I’m Walking” on the show made him a teen idol.
The song “climbed to number four on the Billboard chart,” and hits like “Poor Little Fool,” “Travelin’ Man,” and “Garden Party” followed.
Family and Career
In 1963, Ricky married Kristin Harmon. They had four children—Sam, twins Matthew and Gunnar, and Tracy.
Despite his growing fame, “his family remained central to his life.”
Fear of Flying
Though he toured widely in the 1960s, Ricky battled “a lifelong fear of flying” and even sought therapy to manage it.
Tragic End and Legacy
On December 31, 1985, a plane crash killed Ricky and his entourage.
Rumors swirled, but his family said “the aircraft’s faulty gasoline heater was the likely cause.” His sons later honored his legacy through music.
