Jessie Nelson

Production

Jessie Nelson

Los Angeles, California, USA

Jessie Nelson wrote, directed and produced Corrina Corrina and I Am Sam, starring Sean Penn. She co-created and executive produced Sara Bareilles' Little Voice for Bad Robot and Apple TV. Among her other directing credits are Curb Your Enthusiasm and Love, The Coopers. Her writing credits also include Step Mom and The Story of Us. Nelson wrote the Broadway musical Waitress with music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles, which went on to the West End in London. Nelson directed Alice By Heart, which she co-wrote with Steven Sater with music by Duncan Sheik at the National Theater Connections Program in London and at MCC in NYC. She began her career as an actress at the Public Theater, working with the experimental theater, Mabou Mines, and acting with the New York Shakespeare Festival. Nelson is executive producing Nikesh Shukula's Brown Baby and Glennon Doyle's Untamed for television. She wrote the children's book Labracadabra.

Acting credits

Oh, Hi! poster
6.3

Iris and Isaac's first weekend away as a couple is going so well — until Isaac mentions he didn’t know they were a couple. Convinced she's met her perfect guy and that he's just confused, Iris goes to increasingly ridiculous and irrational lengths to prove to Isaac that they are meant to be together.

Oh, Hi!

2025

So I Married an Axe Murderer poster
6.1

Just after a bad breakup, Charlie MacKenzie falls for lovely butcher Harriet Michaels and introduces her to his parents. But, as voracious consumers of sensational tabloids, his parents soon come to suspect that Harriet is actually a notorious serial killer -- "Mrs. X" -- wanted in connection with a string of bizarre honeymoon killings. Thinking his parents foolish, Charlie proposes to Harriet. But while on his honeymoon with her, he begins to fear they were right.

So I Married an Axe Murderer

1993

The Story of Us poster
6.1

After 15 years of marriage, Katie and her husband, Ben, have grown apart. While they keep up the facade of having a contented marriage, mostly to not worry their children, they aren't happy together and argue frequently. While the kids are away at camp, Katie and Ben decide to separate and try to reassess their relationship to see if they should stay together or split up for good. 

The Story of Us

1999

Hoggs' Heaven poster
10.0

A young poet wins his first prize of $250, but his family is not supportive.

Hoggs' Heaven

1994

The Switch poster
9.3

Larry McAfee is paralyzed from the neck down following a motorcycle accident. He gradually loses the will to live, in the meantime befriending a talk radio DJ over the phone. The two meet each other and become friends, though Larry still wishes to end his life. The DJ reluctantly has a switch installed on Larry's life support that Larry can activate at any time (via his mouth) to end his life.

The Switch

1993

Behind the camera

I Am Sam poster
7.6

Sam, a neurodivergent man, has a daughter with a homeless woman who abandons them when they leave the hospital, leaving Sam to raise Lucy on his own. But as Lucy grows up, Sam's limitations as a parent start to become a problem and the authorities take her away. Sam convinces high-priced lawyer Rita to take his case pro bono and in turn teaches her the value of love and family.

I Am Sam

2001

I Am Sam poster
7.6

Sam, a neurodivergent man, has a daughter with a homeless woman who abandons them when they leave the hospital, leaving Sam to raise Lucy on his own. But as Lucy grows up, Sam's limitations as a parent start to become a problem and the authorities take her away. Sam convinces high-priced lawyer Rita to take his case pro bono and in turn teaches her the value of love and family.

I Am Sam

2001

I Am Sam poster
7.6

Sam, a neurodivergent man, has a daughter with a homeless woman who abandons them when they leave the hospital, leaving Sam to raise Lucy on his own. But as Lucy grows up, Sam's limitations as a parent start to become a problem and the authorities take her away. Sam convinces high-priced lawyer Rita to take his case pro bono and in turn teaches her the value of love and family.

I Am Sam

2001

Stepmom poster
7.2

Jackie is a divorced mother of two. Isabel is the career minded girlfriend of Jackie’s ex-husband Luke, forced into the role of unwelcome stepmother to their children. But when Jackie discovers she is ill, both women realise they must put aside their differences to find a common ground and celebrate life to the fullest, while they have the chance.

Stepmom

1998

Fred Claus poster
5.8

Fred Claus and Santa Claus have been estranged brothers for many years. Now Fred must reconcile his differences with his brother whom he believes overshadows him. When an efficiency expert assesses the workings at the North Pole and threatens to shut Santa down, Fred must help his brother to save Christmas.

Fred Claus

2007

Love the Coopers poster
6.0

When four generations of the Cooper clan come together for their annual Christmas Eve celebration, a series of unexpected visitors and unlikely events turn the night upside down, leading them all toward a surprising rediscovery of family bonds and the spirit of the holiday.

Love the Coopers

2015

Love the Coopers poster
6.0

When four generations of the Cooper clan come together for their annual Christmas Eve celebration, a series of unexpected visitors and unlikely events turn the night upside down, leading them all toward a surprising rediscovery of family bonds and the spirit of the holiday.

Love the Coopers

2015

Danny Collins poster
6.7

An ageing hard-living 1970s rock star decides to change his life when he discovers a 40-year-old undelivered letter written to him by John Lennon.

Danny Collins

2015

Corrina, Corrina poster
6.7

When Manny Singer's wife dies, his young daughter Molly becomes mute and withdrawn. To help cope with looking after Molly, he hires sassy housekeeper Corrina Washington, who coaxes Molly out of her shell and shows father and daughter a whole new way of life. Manny and Corrina's friendship delights Molly and enrages the other townspeople.

Corrina, Corrina

1994

Corrina, Corrina poster
6.7

When Manny Singer's wife dies, his young daughter Molly becomes mute and withdrawn. To help cope with looking after Molly, he hires sassy housekeeper Corrina Washington, who coaxes Molly out of her shell and shows father and daughter a whole new way of life. Manny and Corrina's friendship delights Molly and enrages the other townspeople.

Corrina, Corrina

1994

Corrina, Corrina poster
6.7

When Manny Singer's wife dies, his young daughter Molly becomes mute and withdrawn. To help cope with looking after Molly, he hires sassy housekeeper Corrina Washington, who coaxes Molly out of her shell and shows father and daughter a whole new way of life. Manny and Corrina's friendship delights Molly and enrages the other townspeople.

Corrina, Corrina

1994

Because I Said So poster
5.9

In an effort to prevent family history from repeating itself, meddlesome mom Daphne Wilder attempts to set up her youngest daughter, Milly, with Mr. Right. Meanwhile, her other daughters try to keep their mom's good intentions under control.

Because I Said So

2007

Because I Said So poster
5.9

In an effort to prevent family history from repeating itself, meddlesome mom Daphne Wilder attempts to set up her youngest daughter, Milly, with Mr. Right. Meanwhile, her other daughters try to keep their mom's good intentions under control.

Because I Said So

2007

The Story of Us poster
6.1

After 15 years of marriage, Katie and her husband, Ben, have grown apart. While they keep up the facade of having a contented marriage, mostly to not worry their children, they aren't happy together and argue frequently. While the kids are away at camp, Katie and Ben decide to separate and try to reassess their relationship to see if they should stay together or split up for good. 

The Story of Us

1999

The Story of Us poster
6.1

After 15 years of marriage, Katie and her husband, Ben, have grown apart. While they keep up the facade of having a contented marriage, mostly to not worry their children, they aren't happy together and argue frequently. While the kids are away at camp, Katie and Ben decide to separate and try to reassess their relationship to see if they should stay together or split up for good. 

The Story of Us

1999

Waitress: The Musical poster
7.3

A waitress and expert pie-maker dreams of a way out of her small town and rocky marriage.

Waitress: The Musical

2023

Waitress: The Musical poster
7.3

A waitress and expert pie-maker dreams of a way out of her small town and rocky marriage.

Waitress: The Musical

2023

Daniel and the Towers poster
5.5

The story of Simon Rodia, the real-life artist who spent 30 years constructing Los Angeles' Watts Towers, a monument to Christopher Columbus, and his fictional relationship with Daniel, a young boy.

Daniel and the Towers

1987

To The Moon, Alice poster
7.0

A homeless family of three sleeps on a TV production stage, by day looking for a job. One day somebody finds them.

To The Moon, Alice

1991

To The Moon, Alice poster
7.0

A homeless family of three sleeps on a TV production stage, by day looking for a job. One day somebody finds them.

To The Moon, Alice

1991

Alice by Heart poster
NR

Alice by Heart is a musical with music by Duncan Sheik, lyrics by Steven Sater inspired by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, set in a WWII London bomb shelter where a teenage girl uses the story to cope with loss and trauma, leading her through a fantastical version of Wonderland to confront grief and find courage.

Alice by Heart

2019

Alice by Heart poster
NR

Alice by Heart is a musical with music by Duncan Sheik, lyrics by Steven Sater inspired by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, set in a WWII London bomb shelter where a teenage girl uses the story to cope with loss and trauma, leading her through a fantastical version of Wonderland to confront grief and find courage.

Alice by Heart

2019