David Nelson, the eldest son of Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, has died of colon cancer at the age of 74. He starred in the iconic Ozzie and Harriet for 17 years, beginning on the radio in 1949 and moving to TV in 1952. The show ended in 1966, becoming the longest-running family sit-com in history. For his next act, he pursued a career as a TV director, focusing on commercials. He had occasional acting roles including, improbably, the father of Traci Lords' character in John Waters' Cry-Baby. He is survived by his wife, 5 children and 7 grandchildren.
