Jimmy first reached national prominence as the spokesman for
television's Texaco Star Theater starring Milton Berle. He and his
puppet, Danny O'Day wore twin Texaco gas attendant uniforms during the
commercial sponsored breaks.
Long-running spokesman for Nestle's in TV commercials with his puppets. Danny O'Day would sing: "N-E-S-T-L-E-S, Nestles makes the very best..." and Farfel would finish the song singing "Chaw-klit!" His association with the sponsor makes Nelson one of the longest running TV commercial spokespersons in history (competing with the Maytag Repairman and "Madge" the Palmolive manicurist).
Ventriloquist star from 1950s and 1960s television with side-kicks
"Danny O'Day" and "Farfel" the dog.
A protégé of Bob Evan's and an admirer of Edgar Bergen. Like Bergen, he was born in Chicago of Swedish ancestry.
Also had a cat dummy, Fatatateeta.
Made several instructional albums teaching ventriloquism.
"Farfel" gets his name from a matzoh (flour and water, but broken into
small pieces that when commercially done, reduces "matzoh dust")product
that was on the menu at a Catskill Mountain Resort where he performed
his ventriloquism act.