Marcus Nelson is the son of Dr. Robert N. Nelson and Marianne R. Nelson. Dr. Robert Nelson, a pioneering American Dentist who served as head of Dentac in the Armed Forces in Berlin Germany. Dr. Nelson was the host of a weekly AFN television show on dental hygiene for those serving in he armed forces. He also championed the dental mirror with flashlight in the early 1960s. Marianne R. Nelson is a three generation Berliner, and granddaughter of Emil Stein who published "Vorwarts" the Jewish and social democratic paper from 1891 to 1933. Marcus grew up bilingual, and has lived in Berlin, Paris, New York City, and Austin Texas before coming to Los Angeles. He Lives on a dirt road with his wife and two sons in the Hollywood Hills.