Michael J. Nelson

Characters played by Michael J. Nelson

Mike Nelson — Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1989)

Mike Nelson is the second named human test subject imprisoned aboard the Satellite of Love, following Joel Robinson. He is forced to watch a succession of bad movies as part of the experiments, while the sentient bots Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot remain with him in the theater and help him preserve his sanity through riffing.

Career Overview

Michael J. Nelson has 107 screen credits in a career dating back to 1989. Signature works include Mystery Science Theater 3000, Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death, Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For: Writing
Gender: male
Known Credits: 107
Birth Date: 1964-10-11
Birth Place: St. Charles, Illinois

Known For

Frequent Collaborators

Kevin Murphy (6 collaborations)
Bill Corbett (4 collaborations)
Mary Jo Pehl (1 collaborations)
Patrick Brantseg (1 collaborations)
Trace Beaulieu (1 collaborations)
Jim Mallon (1 collaborations)
John Brady (1 collaborations)
Rex Reason (1 collaborations)
Faith Domergue (1 collaborations)
Jeff Morrow (1 collaborations)

Credits

actors (66 credits)
- Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death
  Mike Nelson
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- The Year of Laughing Dangerously
  Joel Williams
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- RiffTrax: Pressure Point
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- Hunks of Junk
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- GrimTrax Returns
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- RiffTrax Live: Timecop
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2025
- RiffTrax: Super Zeroes
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2025
- RiffTrax Live: Point Break
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2024
- GrimTrax
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2024
- RiffTrax Live: RAD
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2023
- RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2022
- RiffTrax Live: Amityville - The Evil Escapes
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2022
- RiffTrax Live: Hobgoblins
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2021
- RiffTrax Live: Giant Spider Invasion
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2019
- RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2019
- RiffTrax Live: Octaman
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2019
- The Rifftrax Yule Log
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2018
- RiffTrax Live: Space Mutiny
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2018
- RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2017
- RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2017
- Rifftrax Live: Samurai Cop
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2017
- Rifftrax Live: Carnival of Souls
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- RiffTrax Live: Mothra
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- RiffTrax Live: Time Chasers
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2016
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2015
- RiffTrax Live: Miami Connection
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2015
- RiffTrax Live: Sharknado 2
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2015
- Rifftrax Live: The Room
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2015
- Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2015
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2015
- RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2014
- RiffTrax Live: Godzilla
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2014
- RiffTrax Live: Sharknado
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2014
- Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2013
- RiffTrax Live: Night of the Living Dead
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2013
- Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Motion Picture Odyssey
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2013
- Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2013
- RiffTrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2013
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2013
- Santa's Village of Madness
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2012
- RiffTrax Live: Birdemic - Shock and Terror
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2012
- RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2012
- Rifftrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2011
- RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill
  himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2010
- Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2010
- RiffTrax Live: Christmas Shorts-stravaganza!
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2009
- RiffTrax Live: Plan 9 from Outer Space
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2009
- Max the Hero
  Stew (voice)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2007
- The Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2007
- The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2007
- The Film Crew: Killers from Space
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2007
- The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2007
- The Three Stooges in Color
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2005
- Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3
  Mike Nelson
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2000
- The Last Dance: RAW
  Himself / Mike Nelson
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1999
- Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 2
  Mike Nelson
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1999
- 2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
  Mike Nelson
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1998
- Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 1
  Mike Nelson
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1998
- 1st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
  Mike Nelson
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1997
- Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
  Mike Nelson
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1996
- Poopie!
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1995
- Poopie Parade of Values
  Mike Nelson
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1995
- MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special
  Mike Nelson
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1995
- This Is MST3K
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1992
- Mystery Science Theater 3000
  Mike Nelson
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  - Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders (1999) ... Mike Nelson actor actors
  
  - Diabolik (1999) ... Mike Nelson actor actors
  
  - Squirm (1999) ... Mike Nelson actor actors
  
  - Horrors of Spider Island (1999) ... Mike Nelson actor actors
  
  - It Lives by Night (1999) ... Mike Nelson actor actors
  
  1989
- Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
  Michael J. Nelson
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1964
writing (28 credits)
- Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2026
- Hunks of Junk
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2026
- GrimTrax Returns
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2026
- RiffTrax Live: Timecop
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2025
- RiffTrax: Super Zeroes
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2025
- RiffTrax Live: Point Break
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2024
- GrimTrax
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2024
- RiffTrax Live: RAD
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2023
- RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2022
- RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2019
- RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2017
- RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2016
- RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2014
- Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2013
- Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2013
- Santa's Village of Madness
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2012
- RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2012
- RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2010
- Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2010
- The Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2007
- The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2007
- The Film Crew: Killers from Space
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2007
- The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2007
- Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2000
- 2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1998
- 1st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1997
- Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1996
- Mystery Science Theater 3000
  writer
  
  writing
  
  - Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders (1999) ... writer writing
  
  - Diabolik (1999) ... writer writing
  
  - Squirm (1999) ... writer writing
  
  - Horrors of Spider Island (1999) ... writer writing
  
  - It Lives by Night (1999) ... writer writing
  
  1989
directing (7 credits)
- RiffTrax Live: Timecop
  director
  
  directing
  
  2025
- GrimTrax
  director
  
  directing
  
  2024
- RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors
  director
  
  directing
  
  2017
- RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
  director
  
  directing
  
  2016
- Santa's Village of Madness
  director
  
  directing
  
  2012
- 2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
  director
  
  directing
  
  1998
- Mystery Science Theater 3000
  
  - Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders (1999) ... director directing
  
  - Horrors of Spider Island (1999) ... director directing
  
  - Hamlet (1999) ... director directing
  
  - Track of the Moon Beast (1999) ... director directing
  
  - Blood Waters of Dr. Z (1999) ... director directing
  
  1989
production (6 credits)
- RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2012
- RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2010
- The Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon
  producer
  
  production
  
  2007
- The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo
  producer
  
  production
  
  2007
- The Film Crew: Killers from Space
  producer
  
  production
  
  2007
- The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark
  producer
  
  production
  
  2007