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Fran Drescher, Fran Fine: The Nanny Herself Charles Shaughnessy, Maxwell Sheffield: Millionaire of Fran's Dreams Daniel Davis, Niles: The Eaves-Dropping Butler Lauren Lane, C.C. Babcock: The Jealous Business Partner Renee Taylor, Sylvia Fine: Fran's Obsessive Mother Nicholle Tom, Maggie Sheffield: Oldest Daughter Benjamin Salisbury, Brighton Sheffield: Only Son Madeline Zima, Grace Sheffield: Youngest Daughter |
Fran Drescher, Fran
Fine.![]() Fran, born and raised in Queens, New York, wanted to be an actress from the time she was a child. She attended Hillcrest High School, a career-oriented school, and studied drama. She met her husband, Peter Marc Jacobson, in the drama club and they have been together ever since. After a year at Queen's College, Fran and Peter decided they needed a practical trade to fall back on and entered cosmetology school. After receiving their licenses, they opened a mini-salon giving $5.00 haircuts. Fran's first feature film role was in "Saturday Night Fever." Her other film credits include "American Hot Wax ," "Gorp,""The Hollywood Knights," "Ragtime," "Cadillac Man," " Serious Money" and "It Had To Be You." Her role in the cult classic "This is Spinal Tap" won her a "five minute Oscar" from Esquire magazine. (She later revived her Spinal Tap character, Bobbi Flekman, for a Nanny Episode.) She starred in the series "Princesses" and has guested on television in "Alf," "Night Court," "Nine to Five," "Fame," "The Tracy Ullman Show" and " Civil Wars." Fran also co-starred in the television movies "Love and Betrayal" and "Terror in the Towers." Fran and Peter, who serve as co-creators, writers and producers on "The Nanny," still find outlets for their entrepreneurial spirit. She and Peter are partners in a gourmet food line which produces Loaf n' Kisses Gourmet Croutons. " The 1988 writer's strike was the catalyst that got us started," she explains. Fran, born on September 30, lives in Los Angeles with her pomeranian, Chester, who's also made a number of appearances on "The Nanny" (as CC's dog.)
Charles Shaughnessy, Maxwell
Sheffield.
Charles Shaughnessy stars as Maxwell Sheffield, the sophisticated
Broadway producer, who can't make a commitment to Fran, even though
everyone including the Butler can see he's in love with her!
Shaughnessy, born and raised in London, England, came from a show
business family. His father was the principal writer and script
editor on "Upstairs, Downstairs" and his mother was
an actress. He started acting in school plays while in grade school
and, after graduating from Eton College, was accepted at Cambridge
University to study law. "Despite a lifelong love of the
theater, I thought it was about time someone in my family did
something sensible," he says.
While at Cambridge he joined the famous "Footlights Revue"
comedy group. Upon graduation, Shaughnessy returned to his first
love, acting, and enrolled in drama school in London. After a
year touring in repertory, he was cast in the Agatha Christie
television series, "Partners in Crime." He then won
the lead role in the BBC drama series "Jury."
Romance brought the actor to America and he moved to Hollywood
to marry Susan Fallender, an actress he had met in drama school.
Shaughnessy's first Los Angeles appearances included performances
at the Mark Taper Forum, the Los Angeles Theatre Company and the
Globe Playhouse. He was then cast in the role of Shane Donovan
in the daytime series "Days of Our Lives." He stayed
with the series for seven years and won three Soap Opera Digest
Acting awards.
Among his other television credits are the miniseries "'Til
We Meet Again" and the movie "Dayo." He also has
made guest appearances on "Murphy Brown" and "Mad
About You."
Shaughnessy and his wife live in Santa Monica with their children.
Daniel Davis,
Niles.
Veteran actor Daniel Davis co-stars as Niles, the witty, very
proper butler with a predelection for eaves-dropping!
Davis, a native of Little Rock, Arkansas, began his career in
show business at age 11 on a local television show for children
where he sang, danced and performed skits. He attended the Arkansas
Arts Center and graduated with a bachelor's and master's degree
in Fine Arts. Upon his graduation, he was invited to join the
Oregon Shakespeare Festival where he was spotted by a producer
who brought him to New York for the lead in the off-Broadway production
of "Futz."
When Davis left the play, he joined the American Shakespeare Festival
in Stratford, Conneticut for two years, thus launching his career
in regional theater. He has performed with numerous companies
over a 22 year span, including The Guthrie Theatre, The Williamstown
Theatre Festival, The National Theatre of Canada and seven years
with The American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco.
The actor also performed on Broadway in "Amadeus" and
with Katharine Hepburn in "Coco." Davis also appeared
in the feature films "The Hunt for Red October,"
"Havana" and "K-9."
His numerous television guest starring credits include "Cheers,"
"L.A. Law," "Civil Wars," "Frank's
Place," "The Equalizer" and "Cagney & Lacey.
" He also played the recurring role of Professor Moriarty in "Star
Trek: The Next Generation." Davis was a regular on the series
"Texas" and co-starred in the television movies "A
Mighty Fortress" and "The Perfect Tribute."
Davis, who moved to Hollywood in 1986, loves to read and is an
exercise enthusiast. He is currently learning to ride dressage,
a form of English horseback riding.
Lauren Lane, C.C. Babcock.
Lane, who was born in Oklahoma City and raised in Texas, graduated
from the University of Texas with a bachelor of fine arts degree
in theater and then went on to earn a master's degree in the advanced
training program at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre.
Upon graduation, Lane began her professional acting career in
various regional productions. Her stage work, which includes "Uncle
Vanya," "Burn This," "The Imaginary Invalid,"
"Boy's Life" and "No End of Blame," was noticed
by representatives of NBC, who offered her a development deal.
Lane first became well-known to television audiences while a regular
in the hit series "Hunter." Her other television credits
include a recurring role on the long-running series "L.A.
Law" and also appearances in "Crime and Punishment"
and "South Beach."
Additionally, Lane is a member of "The Actor's Gang,"
an experimental theatre company headed by actor Tim Robbins.
The actress currently resides in Hollywood with her Boxer puppy,
Atticus. She is married and has a daughter; and her birthday is the 2nd of
February.
Renee Taylor, Sylvia Fine.
Renee Taylor stars as Sylvia Fine, Fran's obsessive, outrageous mother.
Like Buttah - she's a Jewish mama, all gilt and guilt. Topped off by an
outrageous meringue of whipped-up platinum tresses, and diva-dressed for
a postmodern Mae West costume party, Sylvia Fine freely dispenses gobs of
smothering mothering.
As played by Emmy nominee Renee Taylor - a seasoned stage and film actress -
Sylvia cuts an in-your-face swath as mother to Nanny Fran Fine. "Mothers on
TV used to be asexual. Mothers never flirted with men. So I'm blazing new
trails," says Taylor, who's no stranger to neurotic nurturing, having played mom
to comedian Richard Lewis on his late network sitcom, Daddy Dearest and
to Brian Benben in HBO's Dream On.
Taylor was born in New York City on March 19, 1935. Her screen credits include
a wide range of movies and television, both as actress, director and writer. She
recently played the part of Roweena Johnson on an episode of ABC's
Lois and Clark (Oedipus Wrecks).
Nicholle Tom, Maggie
Sheffield.
Nicholle, born in Hinsdale, Illinois, started her career in Chicago
appearing in print ads and commercials with her twin brother,
David, at age eight. Her family soon moved to Seattle, where she
continued to work in commercials, along with David and her older
sister, Heather.
The family moved to Los Angeles where Nicholle began classes with
both the Young Actors Space and Margrit Pollak at the Strasberg
Institute. She soon appeared in her first acting role as the older
daughter in the feature film, "Beethoven," and reprised
the role in "Beethoven's 2nd." She also provided the voice-over
for her character in the upcoming cartoon version. Other feature
film credits include a co-starring role in "Season of Change."
Nicholle was cast in the recurring role of Sue Scanlon in the
television series "Beverly Hills, 90210." She has also
guested in "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" and in the
miniseries, "The Ninja Murders."
Nicholle is very proud of her sister, Heather, who co-stars on
the series "The Young And The Restless" and her brother,
David, who has appeared in the films "Stay Tuned" and
"Swing Kids."
The actress, who is in high school, loves to swim, ride her bike,
horseback ride and shop.
Benjamin Salisbury, Brighton Sheffield.
Benjamin, born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, discovered acting when
he was nine years old and attended a community play with friends.
"I came home and told my mother I wanted to be in a play
and I auditioned for the next production," he says. He won
a role in a production of "Sleeping Beauty, the Musical"
in which he not only acted for the first time, but also sang and
danced.
The youngster captured the attention of an agent and moved quickly
into professional acting. He appeared in industrial films and
commercials and also in two productions of "Nutcracker,"
with the Cincinnati Ballet Company and The Joffrey Ballet.
Benjamin also appeared in the feature films "Captain Ron,"
"The Mighty Ducks" and "Iron Will." His first
television appearance was on the American Playhouse Theatre in
"and the earth did not swallow him." In addition, he
played the voice of the tin boy in the cartoon "The Little
Wizard."
Benjamin, who lives in Plymouth, Minnesota, plays the piano and
dances when he is not in front of the cameras. He also plays second
base on his Little League team, is a Boy Scout and enjoys computers.
His favorite subject in school is social studies because of his
interest in politics.
Madeline Zima, Grace Sheffield.
Madeline Zima co-stars as Grace Sheffield, the very serious, analytical
youngest daughter of Maxwell Sheffield.
Madeline, born on September 16 in New Haven, Connecticut, began
her career in show business at the young age of 22 months starring
in a Downey commercial. She went on to appear in dozens of national
commercials in New York before being cast in the daytime serial
"Guiding Light."
She co-stars in the feature film "Mr. Nanny" with Hulk
Hogan, and has appeared in "Last Supper" and "The
Hand That Rocks the Cradle." Madeline also guested on the
TV drama "Law & Order."
Madeline and her family now live in the Los Angeles area. Her
favorite subject in school is art and she enjoys swimming, camping,
panning for gold and roller skating with her sister.
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