Jack Nance
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Marvin John Nance (December 21, 1943 – December 30, 1996) was an American actor. A longtime collaborator of filmmaker
David Lynch David Keith Lynch (January 20, 1946 – January 16, 2025) was an American filmmaker, visual artist, musician, and actor. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Lynch was often called a "visionary" and received acclaim f ...
, Nance portrayed the lead in Lynch's directorial debut '' Eraserhead'' (1977). He continued to work with Lynch throughout his career, which included a recurring role as Pete Martell on ''
Twin Peaks ''Twin Peaks'' is an American Surrealist cinema, surrealist Mystery film, mystery-Horror film, horror Drama (film and television), drama television series created by Mark Frost and David Lynch. It Pilot (Twin Peaks), premiered on American Broad ...
'' (1990–1991).


Early life

Marvin John Nance was born on December 21, 1943, in
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to Agnes ( O'Grady) and Marvin Hoyt Nance. He grew up in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of
Dallas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...
. Hoyt Nance was a
Neiman Marcus Neiman Marcus is an American department store chain founded in 1907 in Dallas, Texas by Herbert Marcus, his sister Carrie Marcus Neiman, and her husband Abraham Lincoln Neiman. It has been owned by Saks Global, a Corporate spin-off, spin-o ...
executive. In early childhood, Nance was struck by a car, injuring his back. He graduated from South Oak Cliff High School and attended the North 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 the Dallas Theater Center. He was a student of Paul Baker, the theater's founder. In 1964, Nance headed for
California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
and worked for some time with the American Conservatory Theater in
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. He had success and landed the lead role in a play based on the life of
Thomas Paine Thomas Paine (born Thomas Pain; – In the contemporary record as noted by Conway, Paine's birth date is given as January 29, 1736–37. Common practice was to use a dash or a slash to separate the old-style year from the new-style year. In ...
which was directed by David Lindemann.


Career

Nance was considered for the role of Benjamin in ''
The Graduate ''The Graduate'' is a 1967 American independent romantic comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols and written by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham, based on the 1963 novella by Charles Webb. It stars Dustin Hoffman as Benjamin Braddoc ...
'' (1967), a role which went to
Dustin Hoffman Dustin Lee Hoffman (born August 8, 1937) is an American actor. As one of the key actors in the formation of New Hollywood, Hoffman is known for Dustin Hoffman filmography, his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and emotionally vulnerable charac ...
, and for the role of Perry Smith in
Richard Brooks Richard Brooks (born Reuben Sax; May 18, 1912 – March 11, 1992) was an American screenwriter, film director, novelist and film producer. Nominated for eight Academy Awards in his career, he was best known for ''Blackboard Jungle'' (1955), '' ...
' crime film '' In Cold Blood'' (1967), which went to Robert Blake. 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. Nance met
David Lynch David Keith Lynch (January 20, 1946 – January 16, 2025) was an American filmmaker, visual artist, musician, and actor. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Lynch was often called a "visionary" and received acclaim f ...
in 1972 after an introduction by Lindemann. Lynch was a fellow at the
American Film Institute The American Film Institute (AFI) is an American nonprofit film organization that educates filmmakers and honors the heritage of the History of cinema in the United States, motion picture arts in the United States. AFI is supported by private fu ...
and creating a $10,000, 20 minute short film in Beverly Hills. Lindemann had recommended Nance for the role of Henry Spencer in '' Eraserhead'' (1977). Filming occurred sporadically over five years due to funding problems. ''Eraserhead'' was initially unsuccessful. However, the film became a midnight movie, leading to its
cult classic A cult following is a group of Fan (person), fans who are highly dedicated to a person, idea, object, movement, or work, often an artist, in particular a performing artist, or an artwork in some List of art media, medium. The latter is often cal ...
status. Nance's performance has since been praised for its theatrics. ''
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'' wrote in 1980, " ance'sminimalist features, unchanging expression, tight dark suit, and short, almost crippled steps suggest many silent-film comedians." The film became a favorite of
Stanley Kubrick Stanley Kubrick (; July 26, 1928 – March 7, 1999) was an American filmmaker and photographer. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Stanley Kubrick filmography, his films were nearly all adaptations of novels or sho ...
, and he required the cast of '' The Shining'' to watch it before filming. After '' Eraserhead'', Lynch and Nance remained on good terms. The actor appeared in most of Lynch's subsequent projects during Nance's lifetime: ''
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'' (1984), '' Blue Velvet'' (1986), '' The Cowboy and the Frenchman'' (1988), '' Wild at Heart'' (1990), ''
Twin Peaks ''Twin Peaks'' is an American Surrealist cinema, surrealist Mystery film, mystery-Horror film, horror Drama (film and television), drama television series created by Mark Frost and David Lynch. It Pilot (Twin Peaks), premiered on American Broad ...
'' (1990–91), '' Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me'' (1992), and '' Lost Highway'' (1997). While none of Nance's scenes filmed for ''Fire Walk with Me'' appeared in the theatrical cut, they were later compiled in the feature-length '' Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces'' (2014). Nance appeared with actress Mary Woronov as a married couple in the music video for the 1983
Suicidal Tendencies Suicidal Tendencies is an American crossover thrash band formed in 1980 in Venice, California, by vocalist Mike Muir. The band has undergone various lineup changes, with Muir as the only remaining original member. Their current lineup includes ...
song “ Institutionalized". 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 in '' Miracle Mile'' (1988), due to it conflicting with his job schedule. Dennis Hopper hired him to appear in ''
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'' (1988), after they both performed in ''Blue Velvet''. He also had a brief appearance as the doctor in Chuck Russell's 1988 sci-fi horror film, '' The Blob''. In 1990, Nance was offered the role of Pete Martell in Lynch's ''Twin Peaks,'' appearing throughout the show's original run. 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. He guest-starred on a 1995 episode of '' My So-Called Life'' entitled "Weekend", in which he played an innkeeper. Nance continued in smaller roles until his death in 1996. Nance appeared in '' Twin Peaks: The Return'' (2017) in footage featuring Pete Martell from the
pilot episode A television pilot (also known as a pilot or a pilot episode and sometimes marketed as a tele-movie) in United Kingdom and United States television, is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell a show to a television netwo ...
of the original series. "Part 17" of ''The Return'' was dedicated in his memory. His final film, Michael Moriarty's ''Of Things Past'', was released in 2023. The original filming took place in 1985 and includes additional footage shot in 2022.


Personal life

Nance married Catherine E. Coulson in 1968; they divorced in 1976. Nance met his second wife, Kelly Jean Van Dyke, the daughter of Jerry Van Dyke and niece of
Dick Van Dyke Richard Wayne Van Dyke (born December 13, 1925) is an American actor, entertainer and comedian. Dick Van Dyke on screen and stage, His work spans screen and stage, and List of awards and nominations received by Dick Van Dyke, his awards includ ...
, in 1986 while in rehab. They married in May 1991.


Alcoholism

It is unknown when Nance's alcoholism began, but Lynch recalled that during the filming of '' Eraserhead'', 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." Lynch claimed that he once had to drive Nance to the emergency room for a distended abdomen. Lynch gave Nance the incidental role of Nefud in ''Dune'' (1984). The minor role afforded Nance a lot of spare time during filming in
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, much of which he spent drinking. In 1986, while filming '' Blue Velvet'', Nance told the newly sober Dennis Hopper that if he did not help him, he would jump from the window. Hopper traveled back to
Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
with Nance, tempting him with alcohol and drugs. When the two arrived, Hopper checked Nance into a rehabilitation centre, where Nance went cold turkey. Nance met Van Dyke there and the two began a relationship, with Nance believing he could help her, in turn, become clean. Nance started drinking again in 1993, after a depressive episode following Van Dyke's death, and suffered two strokes from 1995 to 1996. He was cast in the film '' Joyride'' (1997) but sent home after one day of filming due to drunkenness on set.


Kelly Jean Van Dyke's suicide

Nance's wife Kelly Jean Van Dyke died by suicide on November 17, 1991. Nance, who was in Bass Lake, California, filming '' Meatballs 4'' at 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 the
Los Angeles Police Department The City of Los Angeles Police Department, commonly referred to as Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), is the primary law enforcement agency of Los Angeles, California, United States. With 8,832 officers and 3,000 civilian staff, it is the th ...
. They broke in and found that she had hanged herself. Nance claimed she was four months pregnant.


Death

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 a Winchell's Donuts store that morning. He went home, complaining of a headache. Nance had developed a
subdural hematoma A subdural hematoma (SDH) is a type of bleeding in which a collection of blood—usually but not always associated with a traumatic brain injury—gathers between the inner layer of the dura mater and the arachnoid mater of the meninges surrou ...
, resulting in his death the following morning. Bulgarini found his body on the bathroom floor of his apartment in
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, later that day. An
autopsy An autopsy (also referred to as post-mortem examination, obduction, necropsy, or autopsia cadaverum) is a surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse by dissection to determine the cause, mode, and manner of deat ...
revealed that his
blood alcohol content Blood alcohol content (BAC), also called blood alcohol concentration or blood alcohol level, is a measurement of alcohol intoxication used for legal or medical purposes. BAC is expressed as mass of alcohol per volume of blood. In US and many i ...
was 0.24% at the time of his death. His death was initially ruled as resulting from blunt force trauma.


Legacy

The song "I Gotta Move" by
Frank Black and the Catholics Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV (born April 6, 1965), better known by the stage name Black Francis, is an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He is the frontman of the alternative rock band Pixies (band), Pixies. Following th ...
, from their 1997 eponymous debut album, refers to the circumstances of Nance's death and the murder of Peter Ivers, who composed and performed the song " In Heaven" from ''Eraserhead'' (which Black's previous band Pixies had covered). A documentary about Nance funded by Lynch, titled ''I Don't Know Jack'', was released in 2002.


Filmography


Film


Television


Web series


Music videos


References


External links

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Jack Nance Eraserhead Interview
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nance, Jack 1943 births 1996 deaths American male film actors American male stage actors Male actors from Boston Male actors from Dallas 20th-century American male actors American male television actors Van Dyke family Accidental deaths in California Deaths from head injury Deaths from subdural hematoma