Judd Asher Nelson, born on November 28, 1959, is an American actor recognized for his roles in the 1980s Brat Pack films and his diverse career spanning film, television, and stage. While he gained prominence for his portrayal of rebellious characters, Nelson's journey involves more than just teen stardom.
Early Life and Education
Born in Portland, Maine, Nelson is the son of Merle Nelson (née Royte), a court mediator and former member of the Maine House of Representatives, and Leonard Nelson, a corporate lawyer. He attended St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, and Waynflete School in Portland, Maine. While at St Paul's School, an Episcopalian school, he started embracing his Jewish identity after experiencing antisemitism. He later studied at Haverford College in Pennsylvania, leaving during his sophomore year.
The Rise to Fame: Brat Pack Era
Nelson began his acting career in the mid-1980s, with roles in Making the Grade (1984) and Fandango (1985) alongside Kevin Costner. However, it was his roles in John Hughes's The Breakfast Club (1985) and Joel Schumacher's St. Elmo's Fire (1985) that catapulted him to stardom. These films established him as a member of the Brat Pack, a group of young actors including Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy.
The Breakfast Club: Behind the Scenes
Nelson's role as John Bender, the "criminal" in The Breakfast Club, remains one of his most iconic performances. The film, directed by John Hughes, revolves around five high school students from different walks of life who spend a Saturday in detention.
Several behind-the-scenes anecdotes reveal the creative process and the dynamics on set:
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- Ad-libbing and Character Immersion: For the detention confession scene, director John Hughes encouraged the actors to ad-lib. Nelson was so dedicated to his character that he stayed in character between takes, even bullying Molly Ringwald (Claire), which nearly got him fired. Paul Gleason (Vernon) intervened, praising Nelson's commitment.
- Improvisation: Bender's joke while crawling through the ceiling was ad-libbed by Nelson and lacked a punchline. Similarly, Bender's loogie catch was improvised.
- The Iconic Fist Pump: For Bender's final scene, Nelson was instructed to simply walk "into the sunset." However, he spontaneously threw his fist in the air, a gesture that was loved by everyone on set and kept in the final film.
- Undercover Research: To prepare for the role, Nelson went undercover at a local high school, convincing students he was one of them. He even bought beer for teenagers with a fake ID and hung out with them, telling them his father was in jail.
- Outfit Repetition: Nelson wore the same outfit for his audition and in the movie.
The Brat Pack Label: A Double-Edged Sword
The Brat Pack label, coined by a New York magazine article, had a significant impact on Nelson and his fellow actors. While it brought them attention, it also created pressure and resentment. Nelson expressed that the label "wreaked havoc" on his friendships and career, leading to pressure to distance himself from his colleagues. He felt the article painted them as spoiled and irresponsible, which was untrue.
Other Brat Pack members have also voiced their objections to the label. Emilio Estevez felt the article ruined his life, while Ally Sheedy believed it negatively impacted her career. Andrew McCarthy claimed he never partied with the group, and Rob Lowe expressed his weariness of the constant questions about the Brat Pack.
Even the author of the article, David Blum, later regretted the piece, feeling "very depressed" by its aftermath.
Career Diversification: Beyond the Brat Pack
Despite the challenges posed by the Brat Pack label, Nelson continued to pursue acting roles in various genres.
Film
- Voice Acting: Nelson voiced Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime in The Transformers: The Movie (1986).
- Thrillers: He starred in William Lustig's Relentless (1989) as a serial killer and headlined the Australian thriller Blackwater Trail (1995).
- Dramas: Nelson appeared opposite Max von Sydow in the World War II drama Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes (1990).
- Comedies: He featured in Airheads (1994) alongside Brendan Fraser and Adam Sandler.
- Urban Gangster Films: Nelson starred in Mario Van Peebles's New Jack City (1991) and Light It Up (1999).
- Cult Films: He appeared in The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day (2009).
Television
- Television Sitcom: Nelson had a starring role on the NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan (1996).
- Guest Appearances: He reprised his role as John Bender in an episode of Family Guy (2007) and appeared in Nikita (2013).
- Television Films: Nelson played a lead role in the Hallmark movie Cancel Christmas (2010) and starred in Lifetime's Girl in the Basement.
Stage
In the fall of 1990, Nelson appeared on stage in Chicago and New York in Jules Feiffer's Carnal Knowledge with Jon Cryer.
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Personal Life
Nelson was born to a Jewish family. While at St Paul's School, an Episcopalian school, he started embracing his Jewish identity after experiencing antisemitism.
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