After years of small roles in films and TV shows, this brunette comic actress gained fame as a Mary Poppins from Queens in what has become her signature role, Fran Fine, "The Nanny" (CBS, 1993-99). With her husband, Peter Marc Jacobson, Dresher co-created and executive produced the sitcom which was basically a study of contrasts with most of the show's humor arising from the juxtaposition of the middle-class Jewish nanny in the refined world of the British-born, upper-class theater producer (Charles Shaughnessy). For her work, the actress was twice nominated for an Emmy as Best Actress in a Comedy Series (in 1996 and 1997). A brazenly sexy, stylish comic performer with a distinctively honking "Noo Yawk" accent, Drescher is a former Miss New York Teenager who began her film career with a bit part in "Saturday Night Fever" (1977), uttering the memorable line "Are you as good in bed as you are on the dance floor?" to John Travolta. She attracted a little attention as a snappy secretary in "American Hot Wax" (1978) and as a plastic public relations director in Rob Reiner's "This Is Spinal Tap" (1984), but generally appeared in supporting roles in forgettable features (i.e., "G.O.R.P" 1980; "Doctor Detroit" 1982). She fared better as Robin Williams' whining mistress in the uneven "Cadillac Man" (1990) and in a reteaming with the actor in Francis Ford Coppola's "Jack" (1996). Once she became established in TV, studios began clamoring for her services. Her first big screen lead in "The Beautician and the Beast" (1997), executive produced by the actress and her husband, was almost a spin-off of her TV series. Drescher was cast as a Queens cosmetician who, through a series of mix-ups, ends up as tutor to the children of an Eastern European dictator (Timothy Dalton). Critics and audiences greeted the result with modest interest.
The small screen has always been more welcoming to Drescher's overwhelming personality. She was able to make her mark in guest appearances on sitcoms such as "ALF", "Who's the Boss?" and "Night Court" and appeared in a handful of TV-movies like the comedies "I'd Rather Be Calm" (CBS, 1982) and "Hurricane Sam" (CBS, 1990) and atypically in dramatic works such as the spooky thriller "Stranger in Our House" (NBC, 1978) and "Without Warning: Terror in the Towers" (NBC, 1993), in which played a teacher. After marking time as one of the students in "Fame" (NBC, 1982-1983), she brought her talent for daffy, deadpan wisecracking to the short-lived "Princesses" (CBS, 1991) opposite Julie Hagerty and Twiggy Lawson. In the latter, she created a role that was a blueprint for what has become her best-known character.
In 1996, Drescher published her memoirs, "Enter Whining", in which she revealed that she had been sexually assaulted in a robbery.
Profession(s):
Actor, producer, director, screenwriter, food manufacturer
Sometimes Credited As:
Francine Drescher
Family
father:Morton Drescher (with wife, has appeared as a contributor on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show")
husband:Peter Marc Jacobson (married on November 4, 1978; high school sweethearts and partners in production company High School Sweethearts; co-produced "The Nanny" with Drescher; separated in October 1996; reportedly reconciled by December 1997; separated again; filed for divorce in October 1999)
mother:Sylvia Drescher (was the inspiration for the title character's mother on "The Nanny"; with husband, has appeared as a contributor on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show")
Companion(s)
Gary Oseary
, Companion
, ```..dated in 1999
Michael Angelo
, Companion
, ```..born c. 1974; together from summer 1999
2006 Joined the cast of Neil LaBute's off-Broadway play "Some Girl(s)," co-starring Eric McCormack
2005 Cast as a divorcee in the WB comedy "Living with Fran"
2003 Starred in the ABC movie "Beautiful Girl"
2000 In June, underwent surgery to remove a cancerous growth in her uterus
1999 Announced in January that she was ending production on the CBS sitcom "The Nanny"
1999 Signed to make Broadway acting debut in "Sweet Deliverance"; production put on hold
1998 Made directorial debut with an episode of her sitcom "The Nanny"
1998 Executive produced, wrote and directed the MTV pilot 'Daytrippers"
1997 Starred in film "The Beautician and the Beast"
1996 Co-starred opposite Robin Williams in Francis Ford Coppola's "Jack"
1996 Signed two-picture deal with Caravan and TriStar
1993 - 1999 Starred as Fran Fine on the CBS sitcom, "The Nanny;" also created show idea and made producing debut
1991 Appeared in stage play "The Rug Merchants of Chaos" (Pasadena)
1991 Co-starred as Melissa Kirschner in the short-lived CBS sitcom, "Princesses"
1990 First screen appearance opposite Robin Williams in "Cadillac Man"
1988 Started company Loaf & Kisses Gourmet Croutons
1984 Had memorable cameo in Rob Reiner's spoof "This Is Spinal Tap"
1978 Earliest TV work includes a role in the TV-movie, "Stranger in Our House" (NBC)
1978 First gained recognition in the feature "American Hot Wax"
1977 Feature film debut (a bit part) in "Saturday Night Fever"; delivered memorable line, "Are you as good in bed as you are on the dance floor?"
Voted Miss New York Teenager
