This page uses content from the Haywood Nelson biography page on the English version of Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. This list of authors can be seen in the page history. Rotten Tomatoes disclaims any and all warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of the content.

Haywood Nelson (born March 25, 1960 in New York City) is an actor best known for playing Dwayne Nelson on the television series What's Happening!!.

Nelson started acting at an early age, appearing in the motion picture, Mixed Company (1974), on Broadway in Thieves (1974) opposite Marlo Thomas, and on such television shows as As the World Turns. A successful appearance in Sanford and Son landed him a starring role in the spin-off sitcom, Grady (1975). Though the show and his stint were short-lived, it wasn't long before he was cast as Dwayne Nelson on What's Happening!! For three seasons, Nelson portrayed the loveable yet gullible Dwayne. As one of the favorite characters on the show, Dwayne became a fixture of the 1970s along with his big afro, bell-bottoms, and his signature catchphrase "Hey, Hey, Hey!"(not to be confused with the similar "Hey, Hey, Hey!" used by Fat Albert).

With three seasons on the updated What's Happening Now!! under his belt, Nelson stepped behind the camera to become a camera assistant. After directing a few music videos, he moved on to pursue a career in writing.

Trivia

Like his What's Happening!! co-star Ernest Thomas, Nelson is a Scientologist.

Appeared in David Spade's 2003 comedy, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star as himself.

He was also a partner, with Michael Williams, in a music website in the mid 1990s called music link network.

External links

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