Nelson, Craig T.

Attended University of Arizona

Craig T. Nelson, 2009. Photo by Angela George .

(Craig Richard Nelson, 1946.04.04-    )  Comic, actor.

Best know as his role as coach Hayden Fox in the long running CBS TV series Coach (1989-1997), Craig attended the University of Arizona, Tucson, before heading off to make his mark in Hollywood. 

He maintained an active role in the U of A's alumnae association, receiving the Sidney S. Woods Alumni Service Award from the College of Fine Arts in 2000-01.

Newton, Wayne

Lived in Phoenix

Attended North Phoenix High School

(Carson Wayne Newton, 1942.04.03-    )  Singer.

Wayne Newton was born in Roanoke, Virginia but grew up in Phoenix.  When he was 12 years old, he cut a record with his brother, Jerry, titled the "New Rascal Boogie."

Before "Danke Schoen" and Jackie Gleason made him nationally famous, he appeared on KPHO's "Lew King Rangers" television talent show. 

Nicks, Stevie

Born in Phoenix

Lives in Paradise Valley

(Stephanie Lynn Nicks, 1948.05.26-    )  Singer.

Stevie Nicks was born at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix to Jess Seth Nicks, a corporate president, and Barbara Nicks, a housewife.

Stevie's grandfather, Aaron Jess "A.J." Nicks was a colorful country singer that lived out of a couple of trailers in the Arizona mountains, traveled on freight trains, and was a bit of a pool shark. 

Nielsen, Leslie

Lived in Phoenix area

(1926.02.11-2010.11.28)  Actor.

Leslie Nielsen played solid character parts in films for nearly 30 years.  He didn't hit it really big until the 1980 spoof, Airplane! (1980), with dialog like this:

Ted Striker (Robert Hays):  Surely you can't be serious.
Dr. Rumack (Leslie Nielsen):  I am serious, and don't call me Shirley.

Nielsen was born in Canada, the son of a Mountie, where one of his brothers became Deputy Prime Minister. He became a resident of the Salt River Valley before moving on to Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Nixon, Richard M.

Spent summers in Prescott

(Richard Milhous Nixon, 1913.01.09-1994.04.22)  37th President of the United States (1969-1974), Vice President (1953-1961).

The only president to ever resign from office spent the summers of 1928 and 1929 at 937 W. Apache Drive in Prescott. 

Nolte, Nick

Lived in Phoenix

Attended Arizona State University, Tempe; Eastern Arizona College, Thatcher; Phoenix College, Phoenix

(Nicholas King Nolte, 1941.02.08-    )  Actor.

Nick Nolte, 2009. Photo by Tony Shek .

If you depend on Nick's interviews, you might not get the real story.  He once told the Daily News, "I decided I was going to lie to the press, since I didn't think I had anything to say that was really of value."

In his college years, he was a migrant worker of sorts.  He attended several colleges where he joined the team as a walk-on and played the season.  Hence his educational credits include Arizona State University, Eastern Arizona College, and Phoenix College, all of which he attended on football scholarships.

It is also reported that he had other ways to pay for his college expenses.  In 1962 he was given five years probation on charges of selling fake draft cards.

The same year, he moved to his mother's house in Phoenix, took Allen Dutton's photography course at Phoenix College, and joined the Actors Inner Circle Theater in Phoenix.