Although the Nelsons family became a mere memory of the past, their family drama was still very much alive and present. The youngest members of the Nelson family were now carrying around the burden of new family drama. When Ricky and Kristin divorced, their youngest son Sam was still just a preteen.
Kristin was dealing with her own personal struggles with drug abuse. Sam, as a result, had to deal with his mother’s antics and constant ups and downs. He turned to his uncle, actor Mark Harmon, in a plea for help. However, this only heightened the drama.
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.
David Passes
David was the only survivor left of America's beloved Nelson family. On January 11, 2011, at the age of 74, David passed away at his Century City home after losing his battle with colon cancer at the age of 74. He was survived by his big family including his second wife, five children, and seven grandchildren. Although David’s parents and younger brother were buried in a family plot at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, David wanted to be buried in Westwood Memorial Park’s outdoor Garden of Serenity columbarium.
In an interview with Esquire, David reminisced about how difficult the show had been and how he’d even once punched through a wall during an argument on set. “It’s an awfully big load to carry, to be everyone’s fantasy family,” he said. “How long can you keep protecting that image and never let any of the outside world in?”
The Ugly Custody Battle
After Sam called his uncle for help, Mark Harmon became worried about the state that Kristin was in. According to a story in People magazine, Mark thought that Kristin was "emotionally gone" and needed “to come in for a rest." Kristin reportedly agreed with her brother on that. Mark urged Kristin to let Sam stay with him and his wife.
Kristin felt like Mark was the only one who could have convinced her into doing this. She said that she heard a voice in her head urging her to accept help from somebody else. Kristin made the responsible decision to check herself into a rehab program called New Beginnings. According to Kristin the program helped her, however, her family wasn’t so quick to agree.
No Support for Kristin
Kristin's family was very supportive of her efforts to sober up from alcohol and substance abuse. However, they found it very difficult to help her as they claimed that she denied taking hard drugs. During a particular therapy session, the therapist asked Mark to give Kristin a hug, but he allegedly “jumped up irritable and ‘bolted’ from the premises.”
Kristin shared with People magazine that the Nelsons were the only people to witness and listen to her as a “bona fide human being.” During her time in rehab, Harriet Nelson was the only one to send her flowers and a card saying that she loves her. Kristin felt that she was the only one who believed in her sobriety.