Judd Nelson

JUDD NELSON

Date of Birth: November 28, 1959

Before he rose to instant stardom as tough guy John Bender in The Breakfast Club, Judd Nelson majored in philosophy at the prestigious Haverford College in Pennsylvania. Born in Portland, Maine to attorney Leonard Nelson and state assemblywoman Merle Nelson, Judd’s talent for performing was discovered when he attended a friend’s audition and was told he had to audition himself, if he wanted to stay. The experience ignited an interest in acting and Judd left school to move to New York City, where he studied acting at the Stella Adler Conservatory.

Judd began professionally acting in the early 1980s, landing his first role as the street-smart Eddie Keaton in the 1984 comedy Making the Grade. The following year was career changing when he starred in three films: Fandango, The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo’s Fire, the latter of the two which put him in the spotlight and on posters in many teen girls' bedroom walls. After he appeared in The Breakfast Club, the media dubbed Judd and several other young actors the "Brat Pack," including his Breakfast Club co-stars—Ally Sheedy, Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall and Molly Ringwald. Also part of the club were Demi Moore, Rob Lowe and Andrew McCarthy, who starred alongside Judd in St. Elmo's Fire. The group spent much time together off screen as well.

However, what followed in the 1990s was a series of box office disappointments. In 1996, Judd decided to try something new and joined a comedy television series, Suddenly Susan, which starred Brooke Shields as the titular character. He left the show in 1999 and has since then has appeared in various films and television movies including appearances on shows like Two and a Half Men and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

In his spare time, Judd, who lives in Los Angeles, enjoys golfing, riding his motorcycle and reading. He has never been married.