Meet Doria Cook-Nelson, a Former Actress and Actor Craig T. Nelson’s Wife

Doria Cook-Nelson is a celebrity wife and a former actress. She is the wife of actor Craig T. Nelson, who is better known for his role as Hayden Fox in Coach. He won an Emmy Award for this role. Doria Cook-Nelson and her husband have been together for close to four decades. The two lovebirds exchanged their wedding vows in 1987 and have been together ever since.

Early Life

Doria Cook-Nelson was born in May 1949 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The former film actress had a pretty normal childhood. When she came of age, her parents enrolled her in a local elementary school before proceeding to high school.

Life Before Meeting Craig T. Nelson

Doria Cook-Nelson kept a low profile before meeting Craig T. Nelson. It is hard to tell if she was ever married to anyone and if they shared any kids. However, she focused on her craft; she loves martial arts and she has always trained kids on different martial art styles.

Marriage to Craig T. Nelson

Doria Cook-Nelson has been married to Craig T. Nelson since 1987. It is unclear how the couple met, but it seems their love for each other has kept growing over the years. Doria has always been supportive of her husband’s endeavors. Whenever Craig mentions people who have been impactful in his acting journey, Doria is always on top of that list. She is not only his wife but also his greatest supporter. Doria always accompanies Craig to various red-carpet events.

Judging from the pictures the two lovebirds post online, it is clear that they love each other. Additionally, there have been no rumors of divorce or separation. Hopefully, they spend the rest of their lives together.

Professional Life

Doria Cook-Nelson was once a film actress. However, she retired to focus on other aspects of her life. As an actress, Doria appeared in a few films, including Mame, The Rockford Flies, and The Parallax View. After leaving acting, Doria began writing and teaching tai chai. She is a freelance writer, tai chi teacher, and karate instructor. Doria also serves as the president of a martial arts association.

Her Husband

Doria Cook-Nelson’s husband has been in the acting industry for over five decades. He began his acting career in the late 1960s, and as the years went by, he kept growing as an actor. Craig appeared in several theatre plays before finally making his film debut in 1971. He portrayed Sgt. O’Connor in The Return of Count Yorga.

Since making his debut, Craig T. Nelson has appeared in several films and television shows. In the ’70s, Doria’s husband did not appear in many television shows, but in the ’80s, things began changing for the better. In 1982, he portrayed Kenneth A. Dutton in Chicago Story. Two years later, Doria’s husband landed the role of Col. Raynor Sarnac in Call to Glory. He appeared in 23 episodes. From 2019 to 2023, Craig played the role of Dale Ballard in Young Sheldon. He appears as Meemaw’s (Connie Tucker) love interest.