David Nelson Lived in Brother Ricky’s Shadow Played Subordinate Role to Him despite Their ‘Twin’ Bond

Many people wondered if David Nelson was ever jealous of his brother, Ricky Nelson’s success. However, the siblings were like twins and had a genuine rapport, and if David held some resentment against his famous brother, he dealt with it well.

David Nelson was the last surviving family member from the show “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” until he died in 2011. His real and television family included Harriet Hilliard, her husband, Ozzie Nelson, and their teenage idol son, Ricky Nelson.

The four were famous for being the stars of a classic television sitcom in the 1950s and 1960s. According to his publicist, Dale Olson, David died from colon cancer complications.

Ricky, Ozzie, David, and Harriet Nelson gather round the piano in circa 1946 in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images

He was 74 when he died at his Century City home. David was 12, and his younger brother was eight when they got to have their radio show roles before making a film, “Here Come the Nelsons,” in 1952.

The movie became a pilot for the family’s television series. In October 1952, David’s family started their ABC show which ran for 14 years with a total of 22 years both on radio and television.

David Nelson at the 51st Annual Boomtown Party for a gala to benefit children in need on May 15, 2004 | Source: Getty Images

Ricky and David became the series’ stars, with the latter describing the former as “the wisecracking kid brother.” The older sibling noted how his younger brother had grown up on television.

He also noted how Ricky was the joker while he was a straight shooter. One of the younger Nelson brother’s famous catchphrases was, “I don’t mess around, boy.”

RELATED: Ozzie & Harriet Nelson’s Family Faced ‘Huge Discrepancy’ between Their Real Life & On-Screen Portrayal

Harriet, Ozzie, David, and Ricky Nelson pose for a portrait to publicize the release of their movie “Here Come The Nelsons” in 1951 | Source: Getty Images

David was more introverted and quiet and was in awe of how Rick overcame his shyness so he could perform in concern or on camera. Speaking about his role in the family, David said:

“I was the only listener in the family. Mom and Dad and Rick were the musicians.”

During an interview for the biography, “Teenage Idol, Travelin’ Man,” David was asked whether he’d ever felt jealous over Ricky’s success. His response showed how bonded he and Ricky once were.

Ricky and David Nelson on “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” on January 9, 1953 | Source: Getty Images

Besides being a teenage idol, Ricky eventually had a wife and children. However, his marriage failed to last, and soon after, he lost his life in an accident, and David had to pick up the pieces for his late brother’s family.

Ricky’s Life after Fame and His Early Death – How David Had to Show Up for His Brother’s Family

The book, “Love, Honor, and Cherish Until Marriage Do Us Part,” revealed how Ricky met his future wife, Kristin Harmon, in the 1950s on his family’s television show. She met him again in her teenage years.

Ricky and Kristin Nelson, and their 6 month old daughter Tracy Nelson pose for a portrait in 1963 | Source: Getty Images

According to rumors, the duo became so close that Ricky made Kristin pregnant at 17. The young couple had their first child, daughter Tracy Nelson, and later married.

The union lasted for eight years, and in that time, they welcomed three more children. Ricky’s addiction to illegal substances and his wife’s drinking problem allegedly led to their divorce.

RELATED: Tragic Accident That Took the Life of Ozzie and Harriet’s Son, Ricky Nelson

Kristin and Ricky Nelson pose for a portrait in circa 1963 | Source: Getty Images

In January 1963, David’s brother was still basking in his fame and signed a 20-year Decca Records deal where he would be paid over one million dollars in disk revenue. Ricky was the most recognizable teenage idol of his time.

He was able to move from a television acting career to singing quickly. David’s younger brother could go on tours around the country, and not long after his marriage fell apart, the star was involved in a fatal accident.

Ricky Nelson and his wife Kristin at the Fifth Annual American Music Awards on January 16, 1978, in Santa Monica, California | Source: Getty Images

In 1985, Ricky was engaged again and flying in his DC-3 plane with his fiancée, Helen Blair, and five other people when they crashed close to De Kalb, Texas. The co-pilot and pilot survived the crash, but the singer, then 45, and the rest of the people didn’t.

David’s brother was flying to Dallas for a New Year’s Eve concert at the Park Suite Hotel in Dallas when the plane crashed. The older Nelson sibling became the executor of his late brother’s estate and was involved in everything that had to do with Ricky afterwards.

Ricky Nelson performs onstage at the Ritz, New York, on February 24, 1981 | Source: Getty Images

David had to continually deny that he was jealous of his late brother’s success. Instead, he revealed they were close despite having different personalities, and the older sibling held Ricky in high regard.

The Bond David and Ricky Shared

In David’s interview with Philip Bashe for the author’s biography, he answered the longstanding question about whether he’d been jealous of Ricky’s success. The older brother denied the accusation.

RELATED: Hard Times For Rick Nelson’s Four Children After The Loss Of Their Iconic Father

David, Ozzie, Harriet, and Ricky Nelson on season one of “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” on January 9, 1953 | Source: Getty Images

However, he did share a story that revealed that there might’ve been some degree of resentment. David said it was hard for him to imagine any two brothers closer than him and Ricky despite their four-year age difference, adding:

“There was a bond between us like twins.We knew each other so well we didn’t have to talk much. There was a real rapport.”

Ricky and David Nelson pose for a photo together circa 1957 | Source: Getty Images

Showing the cracks in his story, David admitted that finding a theme for their show had been challenging, but he got help from his mother. Delving into his relationship with his brother, Ricky’s sibling said:

“Emotionally it was very difficult for me to focus in on Rick.”

Ricky and David Nelson pose in circus wear circa 1960 | Source: Getty Images

The television star shared how if he was still hurting, investigating the root of it helped put things into perspective. Bashe once noted how the two siblings had different personalities, with David being close to their mother and Ricky bonded to Ozzie.

Whether David [Nelson] resented his younger brother [Ricky Nelson] or not, he took the responsibility of putting things in order.

It made sense to the author because Harriet played a subordinate role to her husband, just as their older son played the same one to Ricky. Bashe said everyone who knew the siblings believed David held some resentment against his brother but dealt with it well.

RELATED: Ricky Nelson Allegedly Lived on Junkfood & Away from Family before Fatal Plane Crash

Ricky Nelson performs onstage at the Ritz, New York, on February 24, 1981 | Source: Getty Images

According to 2011’s Chicago Tribune article, David was defined by his younger sibling. He walked in the shadows of his teenage idol brother, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member.

In 2017, Sam Nelson, one of Ricky’s children, talked to Jeremy Roberts about his late uncle, David, and how he showed up for their family after the famous star passed. Sam recalled how everyone had been lost after Ricky’s death.

David Nelson at the 51st Annual Boomtown Party, a gala to benefit children in need on May 15, 2004 | Source: Getty Images

Whether David resented his younger brother or not, he took the responsibility of putting things in order. Sam described him as a good and quiet man, revealing how he was looking for his father after losing Ricky.

He wished David had been more like the late star than he was. The older Nelson brother paid tribute to his younger sibling by creating a documentary and remained devoted to Ricky for life.