Ricky Nelson’s life came to a heartbreaking end in a tragic plane crash, leaving behind four children. Before his passing, he had made a last-minute decision that saved his twin sons from being on that doomed flight.
Ricky Nelson pictured outdoors on January 1, 1950. | Source: Getty Images
Decades later, the twins continued to honor their father’s memory in their way. Take a look at how they carried on his legacy and what Ricky’s children have been up to in recent years.
Ricky Nelson photographed in Los Angeles, California, on May 17, 1958. | Source: Getty Images
A Tumultuous Marriage and Family Life
Ricky was a beloved figure in the entertainment world, known for his musical talent and for becoming a teen idol. Rising to fame in the 1950s and 1960s, he captivated audiences with his boy-next-door charm and hits like “Hello Mary Lou” and “Garden Party.”
He first gained national attention when he starred in his parents’ radio and television show, “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.” The show gave him the platform to launch his successful music career, with hits spanning rock, pop, and country.
However, behind the glitz and glamour, his personal life was far from idyllic. In 1963, he married Kristin Harmon, an actress and painter, and the daughter of football player Tom Harmon and actress Elyse Knox.
Ricky Nelson and Kristin Harmon circa 1963. | Source: Getty Images
The couple had four children together—daughter Tracy, twin sons Matthew and Gunnar, and their youngest son Sam. Their marriage, however, became rocky as Kristin struggled with substance abuse.
Despite attempts at rehabilitation, their marriage suffered. Eventually, in 1982, after nearly two decades together, they separated in what was described as a “vitriolic” divorce.
Despite the issues in their marriage, Ricky remained devoted to his children. Kristin, on the other hand, struggled with her addiction even after the split. Unfortunately, in May 2018, she passed away from a heart attack.
Tracy announced her mother’s passing on Facebook, sharing in part, “A force. A reckoning. Artist, first, always. Anarchist, bohemian, beauty. Hurricane Kris. No one could blow the house down like she could. And no one could make something out of nothing like she could.”
A Devastating Plane Crash and a Life-Saving Decision
On December 31, 1985, Ricky died when his DC-3 plane crashed en route to a New Year’s Eve concert in Dallas, Texas. He was traveling with his fiancée and five band members when the aircraft went down in a wooded area near De Kalb, Texas.
Ricky Nelson photographed in New York in 1981. | Source: Getty Images
The pilot and copilot, though critically burned, were the only survivors. While the world mourned Ricky’s death, an eerie twist to the story emerged — his twin sons were supposed to be on that plane.
At 18, the twins were beginning to follow in their father’s footsteps, pursuing a career in music with his support. The boys had been looking forward to spending New Year’s Eve with their dad and traveling on his private plane for the first time.
Ricky Nelson circa 1982. | Source: Getty Images
However, Gunnar later recounted how their father called them the day before the flight with an unusual request. Initially, Ricky had planned for the twins to meet him in Alabama and fly together to Dallas. But in a phone call that Gunnar described as “chilling,” Ricky changed his mind.
“[…] He sounded strange — not the way he normally sounded. And he said, ‘You know, boys, I was just thinking…I want you guys to fly to Dallas directly, commercial, and meet me there,'” Gunnar recalled.
Ricky Nelson with his sons Gunnar and Matthew Nelson while getting his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 17, 1975. | Source: Getty Images
The boys were confused by their father’s insistence, as the point of the entire trip was to fly on his DC-3 plane for the first time. Ricky was “adamant,” and Gunnar added, “Our dad was such an affable guy that when he was sounding like that, we both knew that it wasn’t the time to argue.”
Gunnar and Matthew Nelson, Tracy Nelson, Olympic gold medalist Olga Korbut, and Ricky Nelson posing for a portrait in circa 1976. | Source: Getty Images
That decision, which Gunnar believed likely came from his father’s gut feeling, saved their lives. Matthew learned of his father’s death when a radio station began playing Ricky’s songs. He initially thought it was a special tribute to his father’s music, unaware of what had transpired.
He pulled over, “[…] And the DJ came on after a long pause on the last note of ‘Garden Party’ and said, ‘This has been a tribute to Rick Nelson, who was killed with his band […]'” Matthew shared.
He was with someone at the time, who looked at him and said, “It can’t be true!” Overwhelmed, Matthew, according to the person he was with, passed out and did not remember much of what happened afterward.
Gunnar learned of the tragedy shortly after, seeing the devastating news on television. “So, you know, that whole thing of ‘Take the time to notify the family,’ that didn’t happen with us because that comes with being a family like ours,” Matthew revealed.
In the wake of the crash, the Nelson twins faced not only emotional devastation but also financial challenges. “People think that we came into money,” Matthew remarked.
“We were like the poor kids in the rich neighborhood. Our dad died, and unfortunately, the truth was, he was over $4 million in debt, and we spent years paying that back,” he explained.
Carrying On the Nelson Legacy
Despite the profound loss and the financial burdens they faced, Ricky’s children went on to build successful lives, each in their own way, while keeping their father’s memory alive.
Tracy became an actress like her parents. She appeared in films and TV shows such as “Square Pegs” and “Yours, Mine and Ours”, establishing a career of her own.
Tracy Nelson, Kristin Harmon, and Ricky Nelson photographed in 1965. | Source: Getty Images
She, however, faced a health battle when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease. Following treatment, she recovered and became pregnant two and a half years later.
Tracy Nelson and Jon Caliri on the set of “Square Pegs” in 1982. | Source: Getty Images
After becoming a parent, Tracy reflected on her relationship with her own parents, and said of her bond with her father, “I had a close but strange relationship with my dad because he was such a kid in so many ways. I was always reminding him to do things. I think he sometimes resented that.”
Tracy Nelson at the screening of “Yours, Mine and Ours” at the 2019 TCM 10th Annual Classic Film Festival on April 14, 2019, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
After the plane crash, Kristin’s brother, actor Mark Harmon, attempted to gain custody of Sam. Mark eventually gave up the custody battle, though Sam lived with his uncle while his mother was in rehab. Like his siblings, Sam pursued a career in entertainment, becoming both an actor and musician.
Matthew and Gunnar followed most closely in their father’s footsteps. In the early 1990s, they achieved massive success with their rock band, Nelson, making a name for themselves in the music industry with their harmony-laden power-pop sound.
The duo enjoyed widespread fame during the pre-grunge era. However, as the musical landscape shifted, the twins found themselves out of sync with the emerging grunge movement, but they continued to create music and maintain a loyal fan base.
More than three decades after Ricky’s death, Matthew and Gunnar remained inspired by their father. In addition to their own music, the twins regularly performed “Ricky Nelson Remembered” concerts, paying tribute to their father’s timeless hits.
“It’s an ongoing labor of love, an open letter to our dad, who was our best friend,” Matthew said. These performances not only kept Ricky’s music alive but also served as a deeply personal connection to the man who shaped their lives.
In the years since Ricky Nelson’s death, his children faced immense challenges, both personal and financial. However, they have continued to honor his memory — from Tracy Nelson’s acting career to Sam and the twins’ dedication to preserving their father’s musical legacy.
