You are familiar that Ozzie and Harriet were both working hard on their show. Ricky, as well, was strongly invested in his music career. So where was David? Well, David’s path took a more “normal” route. After he graduated from high school, he went to college at the University of Southern California. He even joined a fraternity there. During his family’s TV show run, he was granted the opportunity to direct several episodes of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.
After the show came to an end, David continued to act. One of his most memorable performances was in The Big Circus, a 1959 thriller. In the film, David played Tommy Gordon, a young boy who is troubled and violent. He has also acted in Up and in Smoke and Cry-Baby.
Ricky's Downward Spiral
Ricky had an intense fear of flying, however, he was unwilling to travel by bus. These two things led him to purchase a private plane that apparently came with a history of mechanical issues. Not exactly the sort of plane you want to be flying in. In late December 1985, Ricky and his band embarked for their three-stop tour of the Southern U.S. On New Year’s Eve that year, the plane crashed straight into some trees northeast of Dallas, Texas. Ricky and six others died on the spot.
Rumors circulated that the crash came about due to drug use by Ricky or the crew, but the Civil Aeronautics Board, as well as other agencies, confirmed in an official report that the cause of the crash was likely due to an onboard heater which caught fire.
Did Cigarettes Kill Harriet?
We have already mentioned that Harriet Nelson became somewhat of a recluse after her husband Ozzie died. The death of her youngest son, Ricky, didn't help her emotional state. When asked if she was in “good spirits” in the early ‘90s, her eldest son David replied, “She hasn’t been in good spirits since dad died,” according to The Baltimore Sun.
Following their deaths, Harriet moved to the Nelson family beach home in Laguna Beach, California. Harriet suffered from emphysema in her later years, something which resulted from her smoking habits which began at age 13. On October 2, 1994, she passed away from congestive heart failure. She reportedly passed away peacefully in her sleep, with David at her side.
He Had Other Projects
A long time after The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet came to an end, David wanted to revive his family's iconic show by producing a sequel to the show called Ozzie’s Girls. Ozzie's Girls premiered in September 1971. Ozzie’s Girls was set to follow the life of Ozzie and Harriet after their two sons had moved out of the house.
They rented out the boys' bedrooms to two college girls and most of the show’s plot involves the girls’ lives. David was the director of the series himself, but sadly, the show wasn't such a big hit. It never quite took off and after 24 half-hour episodes, it was canceled.
Ozzie Stayed Behind the Camera
After the short-lived sitcom Ozzie's Girls, Ozzie decided to stay behind the camera, and work as a producer and director. Ozzie's perceptive business skills assisted him in directing successful and iconic shows like Adam-12, The D.A., and Bridge Loves Bernie.
However, as a result of his battle with liver cancer, his post-acting days were short-lived. Cancer in the Nelson family was genetic, and it would soon take another family member's life as well.