Robert Nelson - Actor Profile

Robert Nelson

Directing
Updated: Apr 18, 2026
7Total Films
4.0 Highest Rated
Born: Mar 1, 1930
Birth Place: San Francisco, California, USA

About Robert Nelson

Born in 1930 to a family of Swedish immigrants, Robert Nelson studied painting until changing his focus to concentrate on filmmaking in the early 1960s. Strong influences included the Bay Area bohemian Beat scene and the improvisatory theatre of the San Francisco Mime Troupe, with which he would ultimately collaborate on several films. His marriage to experimental filmmaker Gunvor Nelson also helped jumpstart his early filmmaking impulse and instigated many films.

Known For: Directing

Robert Nelson Movies & Career Overview

The filmography of Robert Nelson reflects a career marked by diverse experimentation. Across 7 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.

Dominant Genre

A large portion of Robert Nelson's work falls within the Documentary genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.

Success Ratio

Approximately 0% of Robert Nelson's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.

One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains The Off-Handed Jape... & How to Pull It Off, which stands out as a key performance.

Advertisement

Best Robert Nelson Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Robert Nelson's career based on audience ratings.

★4.0
The Off-Handed Jape... & How to Pull It Off (1967) movie poster
★4.0

The Off-Handed Jape... & How to Pull It Off: The Off-Handed Jape is an afternoon’s lark made by Nelson and his artist friend William Wiley. The two men perform whims

The Off-Handed Jape... & How to Pull It Off

1967
★0.0
Five Artists: BillBobBillBillBob (1971) movie poster
★0.0

Five Artists: BillBobBillBillBob: A feature-length documentary directed by Dorothy Wiley and Gunvor Nelson about five working San Francisco artists: Willi

Five Artists: BillBobBillBillBob

1971•Documentary
★0.0
Travelogue: Portraits – Images from a journey (1969) movie poster
★0.0

Travelogue: Portraits – Images from a journey: A black-and-white travel journal, in which the themes of memories and their relationship to the past suddenly catch up a

Travelogue: Portraits – Images from a journey

1969
★0.0
Picasso (1973) movie poster
★0.0

Picasso: “When Picasso died I wanted to make the first post-mortem documentary, as I knew would happen anyway, and cheaply. The f

Picasso

1973
★0.0
Riverbody (1970) movie poster
★0.0

Riverbody: A continuous dissolve of 87 male and female nudes. "The film's fascination lies with the suspense of that magic moment,

Riverbody

1970•Drama

Full Filmography

Every movie Robert Nelson has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
1988 Mecca of the Frigid - Flop Similar →
1974 Deep Westurn - Flop Similar →
1973 Picasso Pablo Picasso Flop Similar →
1971 Five Artists: BillBobBillBillBob Himself Flop Similar →
1970 Riverbody - Flop Similar →
1969 Travelogue: Portraits – Images from a journey - Flop Similar →
1967 The Off-Handed Jape... & How to Pull It Off Butch Babad Flop Similar →

Robert Nelson - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Robert Nelson?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Robert Nelson is "The Off-Handed Jape... & How to Pull It Off" with a rating of 4.0/10.

How many movies has Robert Nelson acted in?

Robert Nelson has been featured in at least 7 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Robert Nelson?

Other notable films include "Five Artists: BillBobBillBillBob", "Travelogue: Portraits – Images from a journey", and "Picasso".

Advertisement