Cast & creator
Michael J. Nelson
Best known for Mystery Science Theater 3000, Mystery Science Theater 3000, Mystery Science Theater 3000
Michael J. Nelson is the former host and writer of the Emmy-nominated, Peabody Award-winning Mystery Science Theater 3000. Since that time, he has appeared on numerous radio and TV shows, penned a regular column for TV Guide, and authored best-selling books for both HarperCollins and Abrams. His first book, Mike Nelson's Movie Megacheese, thrilled critics, including Richard Schickel of Time Magazine, who said of Mike, "He's more fun than a barrel of Val Kilmers... Smarter than a roomful of Patrick Swayzes... and almost as hilarious as Keanu Reeves." Mike's laugh-out-loud follow-up, Mind Over Matters, prompted Kirkus Reviews to enthuse, "From someplace called Minnesota comes a Nelson funnier than Ozzie, Ricky, Lord or Half," and even dared to compare him to another legendary writer, saying of his Serious Speech to Business People, "[It] could easily precede [Robert] Benchley's immortal Treasurer's Report." And Kirkus Reviews loved his novel, Death Rat!, saying, "Fast-paced, outrageous and funny, first-novelist Nelson's mockery of media mendacity is as biting as La Dolce Vita or Network--only funnier!" Nelson speaks all over the country, is a frequent guest on radio and television, and along with fellow former MST3K writers/performers Bill Corbett and Kevin Murphy operate a podcast called RiffTrax, which, in a similar vein to MST3K, targets more mainstream films.
Also known as: Mike Nelson
101
film credits
21
television credits
80
1964–2026 · acting roles
8.1
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (122)
Showing 122 of 122 credits
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Valeria
1989Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mike Nelson
1989Mystery Science Theater 3000
Torgo
1989Mystery Science Theater 3000
Tony Travis (voice)
1989Mystery Science Theater 3000
Morrissey
1989Mystery Science Theater 3000
Officer Mike
1989Mystery Science Theater 3000
Holo-Clown
1989Mystery Science Theater 3000
Imperialistic Alien
1989Mystery Science Theater 3000
Isaac Asimov Literary Doomsday Device (voice)
1989Mystery Science Theater 3000
Kenny
1989Mystery Science Theater 3000
Megaweapon (voice)
1989Mystery Science Theater 3000
Baywatch characters (voice)
1989Mystery Science Theater 3000
Virtual comedy heckler (voice)
1989Mystery Science Theater 3000
Frank Sinatra (voice)
1989Mystery Science Theater 3000
Director
1989Mystery Science Theater 3000
Writer
1989The Adventures of Edward the Less
The Noble One (voice)
2001
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments
Mike Nelson
2026Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments
Writer
2026Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments
Creator
2026
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
Mike Nelson
1996Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
Writer
1996
2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
Mike Nelson
19982nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
Director
19982nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
Writer
1998
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death
Mike Nelson
2026Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death
Writer
2026Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
Michael J. Nelson
1964
RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party
Self
2017RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party
Writer
2017
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2013
Himself
2013
RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill
himself
2010RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill
Executive Producer
2010RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill
Writer
2010
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2016
Self
2016
The Year of Laughing Dangerously
Joel Williams
GrimTrax Returns
Self
2026GrimTrax Returns
Writer
2026
RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
Self
2016RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
Director
2016RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
Writer
2016
RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny
2015
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2015
Himself
2015
RiffTrax Live: Christmas Shorts-stravaganza!
Himself
2009
RiffTrax Live: Miami Connection
2015
RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate
Self
2012RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate
Executive Producer
2012RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate
Writer
2012
RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders
Self
2019RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders
Writer
20191st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
Mike Nelson
19971st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
Writer
1997
Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers
Self
2013Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers
Writer
2013
The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo
Self
2007The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo
Writer
2007The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo
Producer
2007
Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness
2010Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness
Writer
2010
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 2
Mike Nelson
1999
RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus
Self
2014RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus
Writer
2014
RiffTrax Live: Space Mutiny
Self
2018
RiffTrax Live: Point Break
Self
2024RiffTrax Live: Point Break
Writer
2024
RiffTrax Live: Giant Spider Invasion
Self
2019
The Last Dance: RAW
Himself / Mike Nelson
1999
The Rifftrax Yule Log
Self
2018
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 1
Mike Nelson
1998
Rifftrax Live: The Room
Self
2015
The Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon
Self
2007The Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon
Writer
2007The Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon
Producer
2007
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3
Mike Nelson
2000Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3
Writer
2000
The Film Crew: Killers from Space
Self
2007The Film Crew: Killers from Space
Writer
2007The Film Crew: Killers from Space
Producer
2007
MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special
Mike Nelson
1995
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Motion Picture Odyssey
Himself
2013
RiffTrax Live: Plan 9 from Outer Space
Self
2009
RiffTrax Live: Time Chasers
Self
2016
Rifftrax Live: Samurai Cop
Self
2017
RiffTrax Live: Birdemic - Shock and Terror
Himself
2012
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado 2
Self
2015
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Living Dead
Self
2013
RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing
Self
2022RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing
Writer
2022
This Is MST3K
Self
1992
Hunks of Junk
Self
2026Hunks of Junk
Writer
2026
Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Self
2013Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Writer
2013
RiffTrax Live: Amityville - The Evil Escapes
2022
RiffTrax Live: Timecop
Self
2025RiffTrax Live: Timecop
Writer
2025RiffTrax Live: Timecop
Director
2025Poopie Parade of Values
Mike Nelson
1995The Three Stooges in Color
2005
Rifftrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer
2011Santa's Village of Madness
Self
2012Santa's Village of Madness
Writer
2012Santa's Village of Madness
Director
2012
Rifftrax Live: Carnival of Souls
2016
RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors
Self
2017RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors
Director
2017
RiffTrax Live: RAD
Self
2023RiffTrax Live: RAD
Writer
2023
GrimTrax
Self
2024GrimTrax
Writer
2024GrimTrax
Director
2024Total Riff Off
2014Max the Hero
Stew (voice)
2007
RiffTrax Live: Mothra
Self
2016Poopie!
1995
RiffTrax Live: Godzilla
Self
2014
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado
Himself
2014
RiffTrax Live: Hobgoblins
Self
2021
RiffTrax Live: Octaman
Self
2019
The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark
Self
The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark
Writer
The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark
Producer