--- name: "Judd Nelson" canonical: "https://film.one/person/judd-nelson" fi1m_id: "judd-nelson" imdb_id: "nm0000555" tmdb_id: 21624 wikidata_id: "Q445302" roles: ["Actor"] born: "28 November 1959" reviewed_on_fi1m: 3 average_fi1m_score: 70 average_as: "actor" average_over: 3 updated: "2026-10-09T19:31:47.421654+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Judd Nelson ## Identity Judd Nelson - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/judd-nelson - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** judd-nelson - **IMDb ID:** nm0000555 - **TMDB ID:** 21624 - **Wikidata ID:** Q445302 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judd_Nelson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q445302, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000555/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/21624 Actor. Born 28 November 1959 in Portland, Maine, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 28 November 1959, Portland, Maine, USA - **Active:** 1985–2001 - **Also known as:** جاد نلسون - **Average Fi1m score:** 70, as actor, over 3 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 78 (2), 2000s 54 (1) - **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 1 of 1 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Comedy 3, Drama 2, Action 1, Adventure 1, Crime 1, Mystery 1 - **Screen time:** 3 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $85m across 2 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judd_Nelson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q445302, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000555/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/21624 ## Coming up - *Yellow Lights* (2026-12-01), as Dan Caufield ## Streaming the US now - **Disney+:** [*The Breakfast Club*](https://film.one/film/the-breakfast-club.md) (75) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Judd Nelson > Judd Nelson makes rebellion abrasive enough to unsettle the people around him. We rate the force he brings to *The Breakfast Club*, with a firm caveat: he needs a director willing to tell him when we have heard enough. In *The Breakfast Club* (1985), Judd Nelson's John Bender gets the other pupils talking by giving them something to push back against. His aggression is useful in a film that begins with school types and needs to make us listen to them. Nelson makes the detention feel competitive before it can become companionable. We value that awkwardness, though John Hughes sometimes allows him to keep pressing long after the point has landed. That rebellious part helped establish an early image, reinforced by the Brat Pack association that followed *The Breakfast Club* and Joel Schumacher's *St. Elmo's Fire* (1985). The subsequent work is less easily contained by that label. Nelson voiced Hot Rod in the *Transformers* film (1986), then played Nick Peretti in *New Jack City* (1991). The shift to the sitcom *Suddenly Susan* (1996–1999), as Jack Richmond, put him in a television lead. Those credits are a useful corrective to treating one detention-room performance as the whole career. In *The Breakfast Club*, the group scenes benefit from Emilio Estevez's competitive edge, while Ally Sheedy helps prevent an easy slide into cosiness. Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall give us more reason to care about the people behind the school labels. Nelson is forceful enough to get the arguments started, but he is not always the person we most want to hear from. We grew tired of Bender when the complaints about parents began repeating themselves and his volume took the place of persuasion. Hughes needed to question those complaints more firmly; leaving them largely unchallenged does Nelson no favours. For us, Bender is the clearest place to see both what Nelson supplies and what a director needs to control. The troubled boy beneath the aggression matters more than another round of raised voices. Nelson can suggest that vulnerability, but the writing has to leave him room to do it. Start with *The Breakfast Club*, with the caveat that its quieter actors often give the better reasons to stay. ## Biography Judd Nelson is an American actor. He was born on 28 November 1959 in Portland, Maine. He studied at St Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, and at Haverford College in Pennsylvania before training at the Stella Adler Conservatory in New York. Nelson began his film career in the mid-1980s. He is known for his role as John Bender in *The Breakfast Club* (1985) and as the voice of Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime in *The Transformers: The Movie* (1986). Other credits include *St. Elmo's Fire* (1985), *New Jack City* (1991) and the television series *Suddenly Susan*. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (3) - *Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back* (2001), Fi1m 54, as Sheriff — [page](https://film.one/film/jay-and-silent-bob-strike-back.md) - *Moonlighting* (1985), Fi1m 82, as Policeman — [page](https://film.one/tv/moonlighting.md) - *The Breakfast Club* (1985), Fi1m 75, as John Bender — [page](https://film.one/film/the-breakfast-club.md) ## Complete filmography (125) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Yellow Lights* (2026), as Dan Caufield - *The Final Run* (2025), as Sam Sloane - *The Engagement Plan* (2024), as Dash Donnelly - *South of Hope Street* (2024), as Tom - *Dante's Hotel* (2023), as Brayer - *Save Christmas* (2022), as Malcolm - *The Most Dangerous Game* (2022), as Marcus Rainsford - *A Tale of Two Guns* (2022), as Captain Mathias - *#Unknown* (2022), as Garrett Stance - *Girl in the Basement* (2021), as Don - *The Downside of Bliss* (2020), as Doug - *Electric Jesus* (2020), as Pastor Wember - *Iceland is Best* (2020), as Mr. Sonquit - *Dead Water* (2020), as McLean - *Dauntless: The Battle of Midway* (2019), as Rear Admirial Raymond Spruance - *Santa Fake* (2019), as Seb - *Madness in the Method* (2019), as Miscreant - *Billionaire Boys Club* (2018), as Ryan Hunt - *1/1* (2018), as Robert - *Transformers: Power of the Primes* (2018), as Hot Rod / Rodimus Cron / Rodimus Unicronus / Unicron (voice) - *Transformers: Power of the Primes* (2018), series, Actor - *Transformers: Titans Return* (2017), as Rodimus Prime (voice)/Hot Rod (voice) - *Transformers: Titans Return* (2017), series, as Hot Rod - *From Straight A's to XXX* (2017), as Don - *Stagecoach: The Texas Jack Story* (2016), as Sid - *The Bandit Hound* (2016), as Manny - *Kreep* (2016), as Whitman Thaw - *When Duty Calls* (2015), as Gary Lawton - *This Is Happening* (2015), as Steven (Father) - *Private Number* (2015), as Garrett Stance - *Empire* (2015), series, as Billy Baretti - *Road to the Open* (2014), as Anger Management Therapist - *Bigfoot Wars* (2014), as Dr. Leonard Evans - *Haunting of the Innocent* (2014), as Mr. Franklin - *Kristin's Christmas Past* (2013), as Glenn - *Nurse 3-D* (2013), as Dr. Robert Morris - *Down and Dangerous* (2013), as Charles Ward - *Bad Kids Go to Hell* (2012), as Headmaster Nash - *Just 45 Minutes from Broadway* (2012), as Jimmy D'Angelo - *Cancel Christmas* (2011), as Santa Claus / Kris Frost - *Mayor Cupcake* (2011), as Donald Maroni - *Shadow People* (2011), as Sheriff Donnelly - *Nikita* (2010), series, as Ronald Peller - *The Terror Experiment* (2010), as Agent Wilson - *Endure* (2010), as Emory Lane - *The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day* (2009), as Concezio Yakavetta - *Little Hercules* (2009), as Kevin - *Nevermore* (2009), as Jonathan Usher - *The Day the Earth Stopped* (2008), as Charlie - *Eleventh Hour* (2008), series, as Dr. Bruce Nesic - *A Single Woman* (2008), as Jewish Reporter - *Infected* (2008), as Malcolm Burgess - *The Caretaker* (2008), as Ella's Dad - *The Kidnapping* (2008), as Glen - *Transformers: Animated* (2007), series, as Rodimus (voice) - *Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest* (2007), as John Bender (uncredited) (voice) - *Phineas and Ferb* (2007), series, as The Guru (voice) — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/phineas-and-ferb.md) - *Netherbeast Incorporated* (2007), as Steven P.D. Landry - *National Lampoon's TV: The Movie* (2006), as Fear Factor Host / Self - *Psych* (2006), series, as Steven Reidman - *The Black Hole* (2006), as Eric Bryce - *Three Wise Guys* (2005), as George - *The Lost Angel* (2005), as Father Brian - *Lethal Eviction* (2005), as Shep - *CSI: NY* (2004), series, as Cigarette Company Executive - *The Freediver* (2004), as Ziad - *Two and a Half Men* (2003), series, as Chris — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/tv/two-and-a-half-men.md) - *Las Vegas* (2003), series, as Ollie - *Cybermutt* (2003), as Alex - *White Rush* (2003), as Brian Nathanson · Associate Producer - *Santa, Jr.* (2002), as Darryl Bedford - *Deceived* (2002), as Jack Jones - *Dark Asylum* (2001), as Quitz - *Lost Voyage* (2001), as Aaron Roberts - *The Cure for Boredom* (2001), as Max - *Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back* (2001), as Sheriff — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/jay-and-silent-bob-strike-back.md) - *Strange Frequency* (2001), series, as Martin Potter - *Return to Cabin by the Lake* (2001), as Stanley Caldwell - *Falcon Down* (2001), as Harold Peters - *Strange Frequency* (2001), as Martin Potter (segment 'More Than a Feeling') - *Endsville* (2000), as Rufus the Buck-Toothed Sluggard - *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2000), series, as Mick Sheridan - *The New Adventures of Spin and Marty: Suspect Behavior* (2000), as Jack Hulka - *The Spiral Staircase* (2000), as Phillip - *Cabin by the Lake* (2000), as Stanley - *Light It Up* (1999), as Ken Knowles - *Mr. Rock n Roll: The Alan Freed Story* (1999), as Alan Freed - *Family Guy* (1999), series, as John Bender (voice) (uncredited) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/family-guy.md) - *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1997), series, as Jack Hulka - *Steel* (1997), as Nathaniel Burke - *Suddenly Susan* (1996), series, as Jack Richmond - *For a Few Lousy Dollars* (1995), as Hitman - *Blackwater Trail* (1995), as Matt - *Circumstances Unknown* (1995), as Paul Kinsey - *The Outer Limits* (1995), series, as Harry Longworth - *Flinch* (1994), as Harry Mirapolsky - *Airheads* (1994), as Jimmie Wing - *Blindfold: Acts of Obsession* (1994), as Dr. Jennings - *Hail Caesar* (1994), as Prisoner One - *Every Breath* (1994), as Jimmy · Writer - *Caroline at Midnight* (1994), as Phil Gallo - *Conflict of Interest* (1993), as Gideon - *Entangled* (1993), as David Merkin - *Primary Motive* (1992), as Andrew Blumenthal - *The Dark Backward* (1991), as Marty Malt - *New Jack City* (1991), as Nick Peretti - *Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes* (1990), as Pete Dunham - *Relentless* (1989), as Arthur 'Buck' Taylor - *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Gaston - *Never on Tuesday* (1989), as Motorcycle cop (uncredited) - *Billionaire Boys Club* (1987), as Joseph 'Joe' Hunt - *Billionaire Boys Club* (1987), series, as Joe Hunt - *Funny, You Don't Look 200: A Constitutional Vaudeville* (1987), as Vietnam Soldier - *Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam* (1987), as (voice) - *From the Hip* (1987), as Robin "Stormy" Weathers - *The Transformers: The Movie* (1986), as Hot Rod / Rodimus Prime (voice) - *Blue City* (1986), as Billy Turner - *St. Elmo's Fire* (1985), as Alec Newbary - *Moonlighting* (1985), series, as Policeman — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/moonlighting.md) - *The Breakfast Club* (1985), as John Bender — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/the-breakfast-club.md) - *Fandango* (1985), as Phil Hicks - *Making the Grade* (1984), as Eddie Keaton - *Rock 'n' Roll Hotel* (1983), as Johnny - *Kill Me Now*, Actor - *You Are Here*, as Zachary ## Gallery - ![Judd Nelson](https://film.one/media/person/92986/gallery-8b30d3cd1a76.jpg) Judd Nelson — Jeanmariesimpson (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Judd_Nelson_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Cast of "The Breakfast Club" speaking at a Q&A panel at MEGACON Orlando 2025 on February 7, 2025.](https://film.one/media/person/92986/gallery-e7b9d27247ea.jpg) Cast of "The Breakfast Club" speaking at a Q&A panel at MEGACON Orlando 2025 on February 7, 2025. — Nielsoncaetanosalmeron, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/MEGACON_Orlando_2025_%22The_Breakfast_Club%22_Q%26A_panel.jpg/1280px-MEGACON_Orlando_2025_%22The_Breakfast_Club%22_Q%26A_panel.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Judd Nelson](https://film.one/media/person/92986/gallery-2d7c1379e2f9.jpg) Judd Nelson — Image via TMDB - ![Judd Nelson](https://film.one/media/person/92986/gallery-923bbe096c66.jpg) Judd Nelson — Image via TMDB - ![Judd Nelson](https://film.one/media/person/92986/gallery-3b2e75dec92f.jpg) Judd Nelson — Image via TMDB - ![Judd Nelson](https://film.one/media/person/92986/gallery-2358152388bd.jpg) Judd Nelson — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Other awards — 0 won, 2 nominated - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor 1988: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor (nominated), for *From the Hip* - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor 1987: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor (nominated), for *Blue City* *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/judd-nelson