IMDb and Wikipedia give the unconfirmed details that he was born on June 19th 1932 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. IMDb adds that his birth name was Burton Merriam and that he was 1.91m (6' 3") tall.
He was handsome in a fairly nondescript way and muscular without having a bodybuilder's physique. Rodd Dana described Nelson to Johan as a "Hollywood he-man type who created “Popeyes” Marburger Restaurant on the Via Veneto. Did some acting and dubbing".
He first appeared in small roles in American TV shows and films between 1957-1959. In 1960 he turned up in Europe, reportedly residing in Rome, and over the next 5 years he would appear in at least 6 Italian film productions, of which 2 were shot in Spain and 2 in Yugoslavia, including his only lead role in Drakut il vendicatore (1961). He disappeared from view after 1964, bar one appearance in a semi-documentary in 1972, reappearing for one final role 24 years later in an international production shot in Germany. It seems he also did some dubbing work while in Italy, though the one dubbing credit listed by IMDb is incorrect.
Burt died on June 16th 1998, at the age of 65.
- Have Gun - Will Travel (TV series) S. 1, ep. 5: "A Matter of Ethics" .... Farmer (credited)
- Playhouse 90 (TV series) S. 1, ep. 3: "The Helen Morgan Story" .... Bouncer (credited)
- The Story of Mankind .... Second early man (credited)
1958 - Bullwhip .... Pine Hawk (credited)
- Cheyenne (TV series) S. 3, ep. 16: "The Long Search" .... Ad Stevens (credited)
- Cimarron City (TV series) S. 1, ep. 1: "I, the people" .... Deputy (credited)
- Richard Diamond, Private Detective (TV series) S. 2, ep. 16: "Last Testament" .... Harry Hill (credited)
- Seven Guns to Mesa .... Bear (credited)
- The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (TV series) S. 1, ep. 3: "The Mysterious Cowhand" .... Red (credited)
- The Restless Gun (TV series) S. 1, ep. 38: "The Peddler" .... Jeff Jackson (credited)
1960 - La rivolta degli schiavi .... Catulo (credited)
1961 - Barabba .... Gladiator (uncredited - uncertain identification)
- Drakut il vendicatore .... Drakut (credited)
1962 - Colpo gobbo all'italiana .... American tourist (credited)
1963 - Tempo di Roma .... The Cook's son (credited)
1964 - Il ponte dei sospiri .... Scalabrino (credited)
- Massacro al Grande Canyon .... Bear Mason (credited)
1972 - Erinnerung an einen Sommer in Berlin (semi-documentary) .... Thomas Wolfe (poster credit)
1988 - Judgement in Berlin .... Colonel Heller (credited)
- The Lawless Years (1961 TV series) S. 3, ep. 18: "The Jonathan Wills Story". IMDb as Tarzan
- Don't Give Up the Ship (1959) IMDb, as Saunders - navy guard. Not credited and I found neither this role nor anyone who looked like Burt.