Researching Billy Nelson

He also played roles in the historic Hal Roach short comedy films as one of Hal Roach's All-Stars in the two-reel films often shown in theaters during the World War II era.

Nelson was a nightclub master of ceremonies in the United States and abroad.

Nelson and his wife, violinist Irene Knight, developed a musical comedy act that was featured in several major markets during the 1930s.

The Nelson-Knight music and comedy duo often worked shows featuring vaudeville and Broadway ballerina Jeanne Devereaux

Frequently cast as a villain, Nelson was a familiar face during the infancy of network and syndicated television. He played in roles on early television westerns and police procedurals,i.e., The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Death Valley Days, Bat Masterson, Tombstone Territory, Highway Patrol, M Squad and Jack Webb's original Dragnet.

Nelson and his mother, Nettie Newman, were close with the actor Jack Haley.

Nelson made his first film appearances in 1933 in Hal Roach comedy short subjects. His (well-honed) blue-collar appearance made him a likely choice for roles as cab drivers, bartenders, and gunmen. For instance in the five-year run of The Adventures Superman television series, Nelson played five different thugs. Nelson's last role was in the 1961 in Pocketful of Miracles.

Nelson earned a spot on the U.S. team for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, by placing second at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, with a time of 8:21.47. He competed as a member of U.S. track and field team in the men's 3000 m steeplechase, along with his teammates Anthony Famiglietti and Joshua McAdams. Nelson ran in the second heat against thirteen other athletes, including Famiglietti, and France's Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad, who later won the silver medal in the final. He finished the race in eleventh place by six tenths of a second (0.60) behind Great Britain's Andrew Lemoncello, with a time of 8:36.66. Nelson, however, failed to advance into the final, as he placed thirtieth overall, and was ranked farther below four mandatory slots for the next round.

Nelson earned a spot on the U.S. team for the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, by winning the Steeplechase event at the U.S. Track & Field Championships.

Nelson also sought to qualify for his second Olympics in London; however, he finished only in eighth place at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials, with a time of 8:32.21.

In 2014, Nelson decided to take his participation in Track & Field to the next level, by running for the Freedom of Leonard Peltier. He ran in a "Free Leonard Peltier" jersey in four races, including the Payton Jordan Invitational, where he won the steeplechase in a time of 8:28.40. He also wore the jersey at the USA Championships in Sacramento, CA, where he place 12th overall.

Nelson currently resides in Boulder, Colorado, with his wife Alisa, and four children Arabella Kennedy, Noah Andrew, Lonnie Jack and Wyatt Watkins. He works as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Cross Country/Track & Field programs at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Best friend is Former Drake Relays Champion (2-Time) and crime stopper Burke Bockman and current Army Captain Christopher Pedi who is an alternate for the All Army Marathon Team. Recently, Billy was asked by fellow Buffalo and Olympian, Shalaya Kipp to officiate her wedding. She married former CU runner Steve Kasica.