A powerful voice can be one of the main reasons a person becomes famous. Such is the case with actress Fran Drescher. Though her nasal expressions and distinct laugh have fueled a good chunk of her career, Drescher is also known for having a big heart and caring deeply about how others are treated. In fact, her desire to help the underdog is what led her to become a registered minister of the Universal Life Church. Take a look at these details of her career, and learn more about this unique and altruistic woman.
Finding a Taste for Character Work
Drescher began her career as a performer with a variety of bit roles in the 1970s. Her first screen appearance was in the film “Saturday Night Fever,” where she portrayed a dancer and delivered the memorable line, “Are you as good in bed as you are on the dance floor?” to John Travolta. She would also have small parts in the horror film “Summer of Fear” and “American Hot Wax,” a biographical movie about 1950s DJ Alan Freed. These roles gained Drescher attention, and she soon was cast in larger parts as a character actress.
One of her most iconic roles of the 1980s was as publicist Bobbi Flekman in “This Is Spinal Tap,” a mockumentary about a British metal band. As her skills as a comedienne developed, she would guest star on a variety of sitcoms, including “Night Court,” “ALF,” and “Who’s the Boss?”
Creating an Iconic Sitcom Character
In 1993, Fran Drescher would take on a part that would solidify her career and make her a household name. Teaming with her then-husband Peter Marc Jacobson, she would create the show “The Nanny.” She played the part of Fran Fine, a Jewish woman from Queens who becomes the nanny to three wealthy children and develops a romance with their widowed father. The show was an immediate hit and ran for six seasons on CBS. Drescher incorporated a good chunk of her Jewish heritage into the role and played up her unique nasal voice for laughs.
Turning Divorce Into a Chance To Do Good
Drescher met her former husband and collaborator, Peter Marc Jacobson, when they were in high school. The two wed in 1978 and divorced in 1999. The main reason for the split was due to Jacobson being gay and in the closet during their marriage. Though they separated, the two have continued to be incredibly close in their personal and professional lives. In 2011, Drescher and Jacobson created a sitcom called “Happily Divorced.” The show was based loosely on their own experiences, being centered around a woman who discovers that her husband of two decades is gay.
Throughout her life, Drescher has been an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. In order to promote “Happily Divorced,” she decided to become an ordained minister through the Universal Life Church. She then created a contest called "Fran Drescher's 'Love Is Love' Gay Marriage Contest.” Three couples were selected by Drescher, who officiated their marriages in New York City.
Becoming a Healthcare Advocate
While her career has focused predominantly on comedy, Drescher has experienced some serious traumas in her life. Notably, she was diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2000. Thankfully, she underwent a hysterectomy and was given a cancer-free diagnosis not long after. Still, the ordeal prompted Drescher to start a movement known as “Cancer Schmancer.” The movement is focused on providing in-depth information to people to help them recognize the warning signs of cancer and find appropriate treatment. Drescher also works to empower women when it comes to their experiences in the healthcare system.
It is hard to deny the power of laughter. Fran Drescher is a perfect example of this, being able to turn a cancer diagnosis into an important movement and transform a divorce into a way to bring same-sex couples together. Whether she’s on television or working to make the world a better place, Drescher tackles the task in a unique and memorable way.