John Allen Nelson

Early life

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 U.S. Air Force.

Career

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 D. 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.

Nelson also appeared as Paul, Monica Geller's boyfriend (aka "The Wine Guy") in the first episode of Friends.

Personal life

Nelson married Åse Nelson in 1988. They separated in 2003 and divorced in 2005. His two children from that marriage—son Axel (b. 1990) and daughter Linnea (b. 1994)—live with their mother in Sweden. He married actress Justine Eyre in a four-day fairytale wedding at Château de Farcheville outside Paris, France in September 2007 and they have a son born in August 2009.