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David Nelson Honed Directing Skills at an Early Age

David Nelson, left, with his family in a 1960-61 promotion photo for "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet." Nelson was the last surviving member of the Nelsons TV family. (AP Graphicsbank) AP Graphicsbank

NEW YORK (CBS) David Nelson, the last surviving member of TV's first family of the 1950s, will be forever remembered as Ozzie and Harriet's older son.

But Nelson was a producer and director in his own right, with several famous films to his credit and a production company of his own.

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His film credits included "Peyton Place," "The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker," "The Big Circus," "Day of the Outlaw," "30," "The Big Show," "Love and Kisses" and "Swing Out, Sweet Land." In 1976, he costarred with his mother in "Smash-Up on Interstate 5."

Born in New York but reared in Hollywood, where he attended University of Southern California, Nelson honed his directing and producing skils on the family TV show , "The Adventure of Ozzie and Harriet." He directed many of the show's later episodes, which often dealt with real-life family events.

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