Background
John Allen Nelson was born in San Antonio, Texas. He spent his first three years in Germany with his three siblings, David, Nancy and Diana where his father was stationed as a doctor for the United States. Air Force.
John Allen Nelson was born in San Antonio, Texas. He spent his first three years in Germany with his three siblings, David, Nancy and Diana where his father was stationed as a doctor for the United States. Air Force.
Nelson portrayed original series character Warren Lockridge on the American soap opera Santa Barbara from August 1, 1984 to April 29, 1986. He starred as the title character in the low-budget 1987 comedy-fantasy Hunk where a nerd was transformed into a golden-tanned, muscular hunk after "leasing" his soul to the Devil. Nelson co-starred with Grant Cramer, Suzanne Snyder, Royal Dano and John Vernon in the 1988 cult/sci-fi epic Killer Klowns from Outer Space.
Nelson co-starred (and later recurred) in the early seasons of the series Baywatch as "John Doctorate. Cort," a lifeguard who is ultimately forced to retire because of retinitis pigmentosa.
Later, Nelson co-starred with fellow Baywatch alum Gena Lee Nolin in the syndicated Sheena, Queen of the Jungle. Nelson also co-wrote the screenplay for the martial arts-yarn Best of the Best 2, which was released in 1993, as well as American Yakuza starring Viggo Mortensen.
The following year, in 1994, Nelson co-wrote and co-starred in the movie Criminal Passion which featured Joan Severance and Anthony Denison. Nelson"s most critically acclaimed television success was in the role of Walt Cummings in 24, followed by the role of Senator Jeffrey Collins in the 2006 Fox drama Vanished.