Biography

Haywood Nelson is best known for his role as Dwayne from the legendary TV show "What's Happening!!" His character Dwayne was a pretty-boy who is a slightly shy but friendly, down-to-earth teen, who was likable and with his catch phrase, "Hey, HEY, Hey!" became a favorite memorable character. Haywood arguably became the first Black TV teenage sex symbol. He had a sweetness, a sense of humor, wit, and a natural likability. He had a rare quality that endeared him to both girls and guys.

Haywood Nelson has been a member of the entertainment community for over 40 years. This New York native began his career in the 1960s as a child with many national commercials completed, including the brand campaigns "Lavoris" (Pucker Power), Campbell's Soup (Mmm Mmm Good), Libby's (Libby's Libby's Libby's on the Label Label Label), Rockem Sockem Robots, Hot Wheels, Johnny Lightning, Aurora Cars, Kodak, Polaroid, and many others. In 1972 Haywood appeared as Freddie in the feature film "Mixed Company" under the directorial helm of SAG and WGA Pres. Melville Shavelson. This quickly led to a run in New Haven, Boston, and ultimately two years on Broadway at the Broadhurst and Longacre Theaters respectively in Herb Gardner's "Thieves" for directors Michael Bennett and then Charles Grodin, beginning with Valerie Harper and ultimately starring Marlo Thomas, Richard Mulligan, William Hickey, and other theater veterans. He went on to guest-star in the series "Sanford and Son" for Tandem Productions, and then as the grandson of Whitman Mayo's Grady in the series of the same name. Haywood soon landed the role of Dwayne in the television series "What's Happening!" for TOY Productions based upon the hit movie "Cooley High" by writer Eric Monte. After a successful 3 seasons Haywood studied Architecture and Electronics Engineering when the cast of "What's Happening!" was re-united for three seasons of syndication in the series "What's Happening Now!" Haywood also began work behind-the-scenes as a 2nd-Assistant Cameraperson, Lighting Technician, Film Distributor Foreign and Screen Writer. Haywood reemerged to the theater in the mid-2000s in a stage production at New York's Lincoln Center - Alice Tully Hall, also in a guest appearance on the television series "The Parkers" and an appearance in the Paramount Pictures feature film "Dickie Roberts" for Adam Sandler's Happy Madison Productions.

Haywood still works in the entertainment business. In addition to a number of personal appearances as Himself, he has worked as part of the production of network talk shows, TV shows, and interview programs. Continuing behind-the-scenes of the entertainment industry, Haywood consults numerous technology, distribution, and production companies as an analyst and in data science. Haywood is an active humanitarian dedicated to encouraging artists to flourish and supporting the idea of exemplary education and ethical behavior within our communities and to providing youth with access to historical heroes that have provided usable truths, technologies and philosophies to achieve these goals.
- IMDb mini biography by: William Noe

Hold on to that. You have an autograph. I'm going to be famous some day. [after handing in an assignment to his English teacher in high school]

My family was my guide to my reality.