Q. My husband and I watch "The Father Dowling Mysteries" and enjoy it very much. Can you tell us about Tracy Nelson? Is she the daughter of Rick Nelson? - K.C., Woodburn, Ore.
A. Not only is she the daughter of Rick Nelson, she's the sister of rockers Nelson (twins Matthew and Gunnar), granddaughter of Ozzie and Harriet Nelson and niece of Mark Harmon. She's survived several years of a life-threatening illness to resume her career with a TV movie "The Fight for Baby Jesse."Q. I'm interested in getting information on comedian/actor Robert Townsend. Also, what's his address? - P.T., Charlotte, N.C.
A. Townsend's a native of West Chicago who started acting at age 16 with Experimental Black Actors Guild before moving on to the Second City comedy troupe. Next came a move to New York where he worked in theater, comedy clubs and commercials. In 1982, he went to California and made his movie debut in "A Soldier's Story." Since then, he's appeared in movies ("The Mighty Quinn") and wrote, directed and starred in "Hollywood Shuffle," "The Five Heartbeats" and "The Meteor Man." Write him: Fox Broadcasting Co., Box 900, Beverly Hills, Calif. 90213.
Q. I'd like to write Dick Van Dyke to compliment on his good acting in "Diagnosis Murder." - L.E.H., Oak Park, Mich.
A. The Van Dyke doctor-as-detective movies were turned into a weekly series when CBS had a hour to fill on Fridays, because "It Had to Be You" and "Family Album" were yanked after three weeks on the air. Write Van Dyke: CBS-TV, 7800 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90036.
Q. Could we have some information on Billy Moses? We remember him from "Falcon Crest" and the Perry Mason movies. Is he married? Any children? - B.W., Aurora, Colo.
A. Moses, who's worked under the names William R. Moses and Billy R. Moses because of a conflict with another actor named Bill Moses, has been acting since he was 7 when his mother, actress Marian McCargo, took him on location with her for the movie "The Undefeated" and Moses landed a part. He didn't go back to acting until after college. His TV credits include "Glitter" and "Finder of Lost Loves" as well as "Falcon Crest." He has two acting brothers, Rick and Harry. Moses, 33, married actress Tracy Nelson in 1987. They have a 1-year old daughter, Remington Elizabeth.
Q. As a big fan of "Law and Order," I was surprised and disappointed with the cast changes made this season. Can you shed some light as to why Dann Florek and Richard Brooks left the series? Is there any chance their characters will come back? - S.S., Orangeville, Calif.
A. Producer Dick Wolf gave in to NBC's admonitions to add more female characters. There's no indication Florek and Brooks will return.
Q. Critics have praised "Law and Order" for its innovative format. Wasn't there a series, however, in the early '60s called "Arrest and Trial" starring Chuck Connors that had a similar format? - G.P.A., Virginia Beach, Va.
A. Right. "Arrest and Trial" was two separate 45-minute programs. The first, starring Ben Gazzara as an L.A. cop, showed the commission of the crime, police investigation and arrest. The second starred Connors as a defense lawyer at the trial. "Law and Order" is different for its realism.
Q. In 1989-90, I saw a miniseries, "Peter the Great" with Maximillian Schell. I have not been able to find the video. Tell me where to purchase this tape. - M.L., Dearborn Heights, Mich.
A. The eight-hour 1985 miniseries is not on tape. It's a rare mini that's issued on video. Only the shorter and popular make it. Cost is a factor, too; a complete mini can be priced at well over $100. Filmed in the then-Soviet Union at great expense and many production problems, "Peter" garnered dismal ratings, another minus in making it into video.
Q. Settle a bet: What is the name of the dwarf actor who played Dr. Miguelito Loveless on "Wild, Wild West"? - N.R., North Aurora, Ill.
A. The late Michael Dunn played Loveless.
Q. Is "Home Improvement" filmed in Detroit? - B.C., Troy, Mich.
A. It's taped at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, Calif. Star Tim Allen lives in Los Angeles while working on the show but still has his main residence in Beverly Hills, Mich.
Q. Is the lovely girl who plays Hope in the soap opera "The Young and The Restless" blind in real life? What is her real name? - A.W., Ferndale, Mich.
A. Signy Coleman, who plays Hope, is not blind. To prepare for the role, she spent time with a woman who had been blind for 18 years. This is Coleman's second soap. She was Celeste in "Santa Barbara" and has appeared on many prime-time shows.
Q. I say the actor playing Michael Baldwin on "The Young and Restless" was on the show before as a different character. My sister says he was not. - J.R., Youngstown, Ohio.
A. He was not. Christian LeBlanc, who plays Baldwin, was Kirk McColl on "As the World Turns." He's also done guest roles on many prime-time show. He joined "Y&R" in October 1991.
Q. We have an upcoming World War II Army reunion and are looking for a movie starring Susan Hayward about her singing to soldiers. I remember a young Robert Wagner in the cast. Where can I locate this video? - M.S., Huntington Valley, Pa.
A. The movie is 1952's "With a Song in My Heart" with Hayward as singer Jane Froman, who made a comeback after being severely injured in a plane crash. So far the movie is not on video.
Q. What happened to Richard Jordan? I heard he died. When? - R.S.P., Tampa, Fla.
A. Jordan just died Aug. 30 of a brain tumor. His last film was "Gettysburg," in which he played Confederate Gen. Lewis Armistead, who died in the Civil War battle. Jordan was working on "The Fugitive" when he was stricken and was replaced by Jerome Krabbe as the evil doctor. He was 56.
Q. My favorite singer is Petula Clark. What can you tell me about her starring in a Broadway musical? - M.B., Laguna Beach, Calif.
A. Clark is co-starring with the Cassidy brothers, David and Shaun, in "Blood Brothers" in the British musical now on Broadway.
Q. Tell me about Lea Salonga. Does she have any TV credits? - M.L., Norfolk, Va.
A. Salonga, 22, has TV credits in her native Philippines. Her sole U.S. TV appearance was accepting the 1991 Tony Award as best leading actress in the musical "Miss Saigon." A native of Manila, she has been acting on TV and stage since she was 7. Salonga didn't intend to be an actress. She was a pre-med student at Ateneo de Manila and appearing on stage in "The Fantastiks" when the producer of "Miss Saigon" saw her and cast her in the hit British musical. Since "Saigon," she has supplied the singing voice of Princess Jasmine in Disney's "Aladdin." She's currently promoting her first album.
Q. My mother-in-law, age 88, loves old movies, especially Bibical ones. Recently, we gave her "The Robe." She says there is a sequel but can't remember the name. She says it starred many of the same actors. What was it and is it available? - J.C., Lakewood, Colo.
A. "Demetrius and the Gladiators" is the 1954 sequel with Victor Mature as Demetrius. Susan Hayward, Michael Rennie, Debra Paget and Anne Bancroft are featured. Critics were not impressed with it. It's available on tape and laser disc.
Q. Leonard Stabb, Hart on "The Guiding Light," was injured in a hang gliding accident. Can you please tell how he's doing? - Mrs. M.V., Winter Park, Fla.
A. A good friend reports that as of mid-October, Stabb was in a semi-coma, responding to sound, light and touch. He's been moved to a rehabilitation center.
Q. Is it true that Hal Holbrook got his start on a soap on radio many, many years ago? What was the program? Who played his younger sister? - Mrs. B., Orlando, Fla.
A. The soap was "The Brighter Day," on TV, not radio. Holbrook played Grayling Dennis from 1954-59. The character was never on the radio version of the show, heard 1948-56. There were five Dennis sisters on radio; four, plus brother Grayling, on TV, although the oldest sister, Liz, was never seen on TV. Several actresses played the younger Dennis sisters on TV: Lois Nettleton and June Dayton played Patsy, and Mary Linn Beller and Nancy Malone played Babby.