Born in New York, he began his career at the age of six with numerous principal on-camera and voice-over national commercials, including Lavoris, Campbell's Soup, Libby's, Polaroid, Hot Wheels, Rock'em Sock'em Robots, Johnny Lightning, Aurora AFX, Kodak, Duncan Hines, Milk, Burger King, and Dean Witter.

[4] As a "teenage heartthrob" on a popular television series, Nelson was one of the first Black teen idols.

[4][5][6] After three seasons, Nelson went on to a short run on the television series The White Shadow for MTM Enterprises.

Haywood had his studies in Architectural Design and Electronics Engineering interrupted when the cast of What's Happening!!

Haywood appeared in an urban dramatic Broadway production at New York's Lincoln Center Alice Tully Hall.