At the age of 9 she buys a Troll House
"Shadowbox" with JR
Thompson
Dreaming of a career in Show Business
she studies theatre, graduates from High School Rialto
California and studies Theatre abroad in Great Britain.
Upon her return she enrolls in the local Junior college.
She majors in Theatre and Film studies starring in over
14 productions. Her first time on a motion picture set
she works as an extra on the set of Sylvester Stallone's
movie after someone tells her they are shooting down
the street from the college. She advises Stallone to
expand his horizons and not limit himself to superficial
macho rolls. Sadly he doesn't take her advise.
Two
years go by and upon graduation she strikes out
on her
own. "I'm tired of living at home. I wanna expand my
horizons.
Travel abroad."She moves one hour away to Los
Angeles.
There
she works for criminal lawyers. She learns Rico is more
than "just some guys name".
It is at this
time she changes the "Y" to "I"in her
name.
THIS for Nanci is a turning point.
Working
during the day she spends her evenings in
comedy clubs and theatre workshops. She resumes her career in Acting.
Television
comedies, motion picture roles abound. Working as a Production
Coordinator/
Producer's Secretary for David Gerber at MGM on
"Boys In Blue"
Chris Chulack, ER producer on the set of "Lady
Blue" in Chicago. Starring Danny Aiello and Jamie
Rose.
Her soon to be second ex-husband Mike Kusley lands a
job in Chicago on a series "Lady Blue". Begging
for work
the producers allow her to appear in each episode. Her
first role is as a cadaver. The producer Chris
Chulack cries "She gives great dead!" A year
later she
returns to Manhattan Beach to assume a new and more
challenging roll as new mother. One year later Mike
leaves
her and she begins life as a single parent.
The cast and crew of NBC's "Down Home"
sitcom Stage 27 @ Paramount starring Judith Ivey,
Ray Baker, Gedde Wattanabe, Dakin Mathews,
Tim Baker, Eric Alan Kramer (3rd one from right
2nd row back Blonde w/poni tail)
Shortly thereafter she will spend the
next two years on the
Paramount lot. Pretending to be working on "Down
Home" for NBC.
Her daughter Nicole by now 4 years old begins spending
hours
in the green room with grips and electricians
mowing over racing forms. Nanci puts up with it.
"Hey I needed the money. I mean I had to work.
Situation
Comedies are grueling and I didn't really think I was
being a
bad mother until Nicole started smoking a cigar and
telling the boys to "F- off!" Good ratings and
a
stellar cast placed "Down Home"in the top ten
more than once.
Having Ted Danson for a producer was no help
and "Down Home" is cancelled and replaced by
"Wings". For years she would hear the word
"wings"
and vomit. She is forced to work in movie
studios on a variety of television series and
motion pictures just to put food on the table
and pay for her health club membership.
She looks for consolation from her
friend Dean Martin,
41 years her senior, they meet working on "Half-Nelson"
starring a then unknown Joe Pesci.
During the craftservice strike she
takes a job as
John Gotti's bodyguard in Los Angeles. Two weeks
later Mr. Gotti is sentenced to prison. She continues to
work
as his bodyguard for two more years until finally
someone tells her that John Gotti is not in Los Angeles.
The
irony is too much for her to bear.
After a brief stint as Donald Trumps bodyguard in
Los Angeles, it is discovered that Donald Trump is
not in Los Angeles either. This would prove to be a
severe blow for Nanci. She takes the news very hard
and starts drinking carrot juice. After
missing for 5 days her friend Kris Robinson locates
her in an alley behind Mrs. Gooches Health Food
in Hermosa Beach. She is holding a TV guide review of
"Wings".
one day Nanci realizes she left her 5 year old daughter
with the grips and electricians on Stage 27. Concerned
her daughter is starting to look like Edward G. Robinson
without legs she frantically returns to Palm Springs to
resume a normal family life. She swears off anything that
has to do with wagering or gambling for good. "I
want to
set an example for my daughter, and I give you 2 to 1
that
I can do it."
To pay the rent she
turns to coaching other actors. Many
find they cannot work without her support. Confident and
feeling renewed, Nanci decides to resume her own acting
career.
Two years later she lands the role of Viola in
"Joey and Maria's
Italian Comedy Wedding" formerly at Fantasy Springs Casino
Marty: Call Nanci!
Now. I can't make a movie unless she
is here to guide me. DeNiro: I know what youse mean.
It's not the same without her.
Nanci as Shakeys Waitress
in License to Drive 1987
I'm OK Productions(c)