In the late 1980s, he privately coached Broadway legend Gwen Verdon ("Sweet Charity," "Chicago") in "Vogue" dancing. Played "Larry" in the 1994 Los Angeles production of Lanford Wilson's "Burn This" at the Coast Playhouse. He is a multiple marathon runner, having completed seven marathons and scores of 5k, 10k and Half-Marathon races. Most of these benefit charitable organizations, notably AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) and St. Jude Children's Hospital. Auditioned for the role of "Jack" when "Will & Grace" (1998) was originally cast. Told he was "too Will" to be "Jack." As a young actor he was coached and mentored by daytime TV icon Mary Stuart, with whom he worked on "Search for Tomorrow" (1951). When she joined the cast of "The Guiding Light" (1952) in the role of Meta Bauer, Aspen wrote her a "bible" on the character's long history. The two remained close friends until her death. Two months after the publication of his book, "Let's Dish Up A Dinner Party!" in 2004, Elle magazine selected him as one of its six "Good Time Gurus", along with Martha Stewart and Serena Bass. US Weekly named the book as one of its "Hot Picks." In February, 2006, when Aspen's twice-daily live segments for Australia's Sunrise morning show were cut back to only one a day, over 7,000 phone calls came in during the three hour telecast to request him back for both live reports. He returned the next morning and resumed his original twice-daily schedule. His childhood favourite actress was Carol Lynley, whom he first met in the mid 1970s while she appeared on Broadway in "Absurd Person Singular." A life long friendship resulted and they frequently appear together at press events, film festivals, etc. The only non-Catholic in his class at Bishop Shanahan Catholic High School in Pennsylvania, Aspen graduated Valedictorian at age 16 and was voted "Class Actor.". Nelson's designated charity for 2007 is Camp Heartland. Based in Wisconsin, Camp Heartland was founded by Neil Willenson in 1991 and operates education programs and summer camps for children living with HIV/AIDS. In 2006, Nelson became one of 300 athletes to be sponsored by the inaugural Snickers Marathon Team. His sponsorship was renewed for a second year in 2007 as part of their "talented team of 215 top age groupers" in the fields of Running, Cycling and Triathlon. In March 07, Nelson ran a Personal Best 26.2 mile time of 4:03:46 at the DC National Marathon and is slated to participate in his eleventh marathon, San Francisco's, in July 07. With his producing partner, Holly Harter, he is developing a movie version of Marlin Keesler's running autobiography, "Our Life on the Run.".
