Jack Nance
Jack Nance | |
|---|---|
 Nance on the poster forEraserhead(1977) | |
| Born | Marvin John Nance December 21, 1943 |
| Died | December 30, 1996(aged 53) |
| Other names | John Nance |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1970–1996 |
| Spouses | |
Marvin John Nance(December 21, 1943 – December 30, 1996), known professionally asJack Nance,was an American actor. A longtime collaborator of filmmakerDavid Lynch,Nance portrayed the lead in Lynch's directorial debutEraserhead(1977). He continued to work with Lynch throughout his career which included a recurring role as Pete Martell onTwin Peaks(1990–1991).
Early life
[edit]Marvin John Nance was born inBostonto Hoyt and Agnes Nance; he grew up in theOak Cliffneighborhood ofDallas.[2][3]Hoyt Nance was aNeiman Marcusexecutive.[4]In early childhood, Nance was struck by a car, injuring his back.[5]He graduated fromSouth Oak Cliff High Schooland attended theNorth Texas State University(now the University of North Texas) studying journalism. He took up acting at university and later left to concentrate on acting; he joined theDallas Theater Center.He was a student of Paul Baker, the theater's founder.[3]
In 1964, Nance headed forCaliforniaand worked for some time with theAmerican Conservatory TheaterinSan Francisco.He had success and landed the lead role in a play based on the life ofThomas Painewhich was directed by David Lindemann.[5]
Career
[edit]Nance was considered for the role of Benjamin inThe Graduate(1967), a role which went toDustin Hoffman[5]and for Robert Blake inRichard Brooks' crime filmIn Cold Blood(1967).[6]He played twin brothers Benny and Tony Rebozo in the Doo Dah Gang, a performance group that staged 1920s-style gang fights at nontraditional venues. When one of his characters died, Nance spent three days lying in a coffin at the staged wake.[6]
Nance metDavid Lynchin 1972 after an introduction by Lindemann. Lynch was a fellow at theAmerican Film Instituteand creating a $10,000, 20 minute short film inBeverly Hills.Lindemann had recommended Nance for the role of Henry Spencer inEraserhead(1977).[5][7]Filming occurred sporadically over five years due to funding problems.[8]
Eraserheadwas initially unsuccessful. However, the film became amidnight movie,leading to itscult classicstatus.[9]Nance's performance has since been praised for its theatrics.The New York Timeswrote in 1980, "[Nance's] minimalist features, unchanging expression, tight dark suit, and short, almost crippled steps suggest many silent-film comedians."[10]The film became a favorite ofStanley Kubrick,and he required the cast ofThe Shiningto watch it before filming.[8]
AfterEraserhead,Lynch and Nance remained on good terms. The actor appeared in most of Lynch’s subsequent projects during Nance's lifetime:Dune(1984),Blue Velvet(1986),The Cowboy and the Frenchman(1988),Wild at Heart(1990),Twin Peaks(1990–91),Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me(1992), andLost Highway(1997). While none of Nance's scenes in filmed forFire Walk with Meappeared in the theatrical cut, they were later compiled in the feature-lengthTwin Peaks: The Missing Pieces(2014).[11]
Nance appeared with actressMary Woronovas a married couple in the music video for the 1983Suicidal Tendenciessong “Institutionalized".[12]
After gaining sobriety in 1986 and needing a steady salary, Nance took courses in hotel management. He began working as a clerk at Hotel Hollywood. While there, Nance refused a role inMiracle Mile(1988), due to it conflicting with his job schedule.[5][7]
Dennis Hopperhired him to appear inColors(1988), after they both performed inBlue Velvet.He also had a brief appearance as the doctor inChuck Russell's1988 sci-fi horror film,The Blob.[13]In 1990, Nance was offered the role ofPete Martellin Lynch'sTwin Peaks,appearing throughout the show's original run.[14][15]
After an addiction relapse in 1993, Nance's life took another turn. He had smaller roles in films that did not perform as successfully. He lived in a hotel and was kicked out for firing a gun at the television.[4]He guest-starred on a 1995 episode ofMy So-Called Lifeentitled "Weekend", in which he played an innkeeper. Nance continued in smaller roles until his death in 1996.
Nance appeared inTwin Peaks: The Return(2017) in footage featuring Pete Martell from thepilot episodeof the original series. "Part 17" ofThe Returnwas dedicated in his memory.[16]
His final film,Michael Moriarty'sOf Things Past,was released in 2023. The original filming took place in 1985 and includes additional footage shot in 2022.[17]
Personal life
[edit]Nance marriedCatherine E. Coulsonin 1968; they divorced in 1976.[1]
Nance met his second wife,Kelly Jean Van Dyke,the daughter ofJerry Van Dykeand niece ofDick Van Dyke,in 1986 while in rehab. They married in May 1991.
Alcoholism
[edit]It is unknown when Nance's alcoholism began, but Lynch recalled that during the filming ofEraserhead,he would send Nance "back to his dressing room to sleep off the booze. He'd get drunk and sometimes end up sleeping in vacant lots."[4]Lynch claimed that he once had to drive Nance to the emergency room for adistended abdomen.[6]
Lynch gave Nance the incidental role of Nefud inDune(1984). The minor role afforded Nance a lot of spare time during filming inMexico City,much of which he spent drinking.[7]
In 1986, while filmingBlue Velvet,Nance told the newly soberDennis Hopperthat if he did not help him, he would jump from the window. Hopper traveled back toLos Angeleswith Nance, tempting him with alcohol and drugs. When the two arrived, Hopper checked Nance into arehabilitation centre,where Nance wentcold turkey.Nance met Van Dyke here and the two began a relationship, with Nance believing he could help her become clean.[7][18]
Nance started drinking again in 1993, after adepressive episodefollowing Van Dyke's death, and suffered twostrokesfrom 1995 to 1996.[4]He was cast in the filmJoyride(1997) but sent home after one day of filming due to drunkenness on set.[18]
Van Dyke's suicide
[edit]Van Dyke died bysuicideon November 17, 1991. Nance, who was inBass Lake, California,filmingMeatballs 4at the time, called her to tell her that he was thinking of leaving her due to her drinking and drug-taking. She threatened to kill herself if he hung up on her, and at that moment a lightning storm knocked out the phone lines in Bass Lake. Nance and the director,Bobby Logan,found a deputy sheriff who contacted theLos Angeles Police Department.They broke in and found that she had hanged herself. Nance claimed she was four months pregnant.[18]
Death
[edit]On December 29, 1996, Nance lunched with friends Leo Bulgarini and Catherine Case. Nance had a visible "crescent-shaped bruise" under his eye; and, when asked about it, he relayed to them a story about a brawl outside aWinchell's Donutsstore that morning.[1][18]He went home, complaining of a headache.
Nance had developed asubdural hematoma,resulting in his death the following morning. Bulgarini found his body on the bathroom floor of his apartment inSouth Pasadena, California,later that day. Anautopsyrevealed that hisblood alcohol contentwas 0.24% at the time of his death. His death was initially ruled as resulting fromblunt force trauma.[7][18][14]
After an investigation, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office could not find evidence of the fight and therefore could not list the death asaccidentalor ahomicide.[citation needed]
Legacy
[edit]The song "I Gotta Move" byFrank Black and the Catholics,from their 1997eponymous debut album,refers to the circumstances of Nance's death and the murder ofPeter Ivers,who composed and performed the song "In Heaven"fromEraserhead(which Black's previous bandPixieshad covered).[19]
A documentary about Nance funded by Lynch, titledI Don't Know Jack,was released in 2002.[5]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Fools | Hippie | |
| 1971 | Jump | Ace | |
| Bushman | Felix | ||
| 1977 | Eraserhead | Henry Spencer | |
| Breaker! Breaker! | Burton | ||
| 1982 | Hammett | Gary Salt | |
| 1984 | Ghoulies | Wolfgang | |
| Dune | Nefud | ||
| City Heat | Aram Strossell | ||
| Johnny Dangerously | Priest | ||
| 1986 | Blue Velvet | Paul | |
| 1987 | Barfly | Detective | |
| 1988 | Colors | Officer Samuels | |
| The Blob | Doctor | ||
| 1990 | Wild at Heart | 00 Spool | |
| The Hot Spot | Julian Ward | ||
| 1991 | Whore | Man who helps Liz | |
| Motorama | Motel Clerk | ||
| 1992 | Meatballs 4 | Neil Peterson | |
| Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me | Pete Martell | Deleted scenes | |
| 1994 | Love and a.45 | Justice Thurman | |
| Across the Moon | Old Cowboy | ||
| 1995 | The Demollitionist | Father McKenzie | |
| Voodoo | Lewis | ||
| 1996 | The Secret Agent Club | Doc | |
| Little Witches | Father Michael | ||
| 1997 | Lost Highway | Phil | Posthumous release |
| 2023 | Of Things Past | Earl Delaney | Posthumous release; filmed in 1985 |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | The Bet | TV film | |
| 1987 | Crime Story | Charlie Green | Episode: "Little Girl Lost" |
| 1988 | The French as Seen by... | Pete | Episode: "The Cowboy and the Frenchman" |
| Tricks of the Trade | Al | TV film | |
| 1990–1991 | Twin Peaks | Pete Martell | 24 episodes |
| 1994 | Another Midnight Run | Reilly | TV film |
| 1995 | My So-Called Life | Warren | Episode: "Weekend" |
| Fallen Angels | Sheriff | Episode: "Tomorrow I Die" | |
| 1996 | Assault on Dome 4 | Mellow / Dome 4 Oldtime | TV film |
| 2017 | Twin Peaks | Pete Martell | Posthumous release; unused footage fromTwin Peaks(1990) |
Music videos
[edit]| Year | Title | Artist | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Institutionalized | Suicidal Tendencies | Father |
References
[edit]- ^abcKyle Smith; Lorenzo Benet (February 10, 1997)."The Death of Twins Peak actor Jack Nance was as strange as the characters he played".People.Archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-19.Retrieved2021-06-25.
- ^"Jack Nance, 53, An Actor Known For 'Eraserhead'".The New York Times.January 11, 1997.
- ^ab"Obituary: Jack Nance".The Independent.1997-01-08.Retrieved2024-02-28.
- ^abcd"Erased".Pasadena Weekly.2016-05-01.Retrieved2024-02-28.
- ^abcdefKhan, Palvasha (2021-12-11)."You don't know Jack".The Strand.Retrieved2024-02-28.
- ^abc"'I Don't Know Jack': Fascinating documentary about 'Eraserhead' star Jack Nance ".DangerousMinds.2014-11-05.Retrieved2024-02-28.
- ^abcde"The Quietus | Film | Film Features | Lost Highway: Jack Nance Remembered By David Lynch & Others".The Quietus.Retrieved2024-02-28.
- ^abDee, Jake (2020-09-19)."Eraserhead: 10 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About David Lynch's Surreal Masterpiece".ScreenRant.Retrieved2024-02-28.
- ^"JACK NANCE HAS TEAMED WITH THE DIRECTOR, FROM 'ERASERHEAD' TO 'TWIN PEAKS'".Los Angeles Times.1990-05-06.Retrieved2024-02-28.
- ^"TimesMachine: Friday October 17, 1980 - NYTimes.com".The New York Times.Retrieved2024-02-28.
- ^Lacob, Jace (July 17, 2014).""Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces" Makes You See "Fire Walk With Me" In A Different Way ".Buzzfeed.RetrievedMay 7,2017.
- ^"Mary Woronov Interview" by Cynthia Rose
- ^Pegg, Robert (Dec 1990)."Jack Nance Interview".Starlog Magazine.Retrieved28 Feb2024.
- ^abEllingwood, Ken (1997-01-04)."Star of 'Eraserhead' Found Dead After Fight".Los Angeles Times.Retrieved2024-02-28.
- ^Myers, Brian (2022-12-14)."The Tragic 1996 Death Of Jack Nance".Grunge.Retrieved2024-02-28.
- ^Lynch, David (2017-09-03),Part 17,Twin Peaks, Kyle MacLachlan, Jay Aaseng, Dana Ashbrook,retrieved2024-02-28
- ^Brew, Caroline (2023-09-21)."1980s Drama 'Of Things Past' With Michael Moriarty Gets VOD Release With New Footage Featuring Tara Reid (EXCLUSIVE)".Variety.Retrieved2024-02-28.
- ^abcdePotter, Maximillian (August 1997)."Erased – Jack Nance".Premiere.p. 92.Retrieved2023-04-10.
- ^"The incredible life and mysterious death of Peter Ivers".Entertainment Weekly.
