Danny Nucci

Danny Nucci (born September 15, 1968) is an American actor of Moroccan Jewish descent, best known for his supporting roles in blockbuster films of the 1990s such as the junior officer in Crimson Tide (1995), the deputy marshal in Eraser (1996), and the optimistic Italian immigrant Fabrizio De Rossi in James Cameron's Titanic (1997).^[1][2] Born in Klagenfurt, Austria, to Moroccan Jewish parents—his father from Fez and his mother from Casablanca—Nucci spent his early childhood near Venice, Italy, before his family relocated to the United States at age seven, initially settling in Queens, New York, before moving to Los Angeles.^[3][4] Nucci's acting career began in the late 1980s with guest appearances on television series such as Growing Pains (1989) and the soap opera Generations (1989–1991), followed by his film debut in the independent romantic comedy Book of Love (1990), where he played a naive Italian-American teenager.^[1] His breakthrough came with dramatic roles in Roosters (1995), portraying a son in a Cuban refugee family, and subsequent action thrillers that showcased his versatile screen presence.^[1] On television, he gained prominence as Frankie Zito in the short-lived CBS sitcom Some of My Best Friends (2001) and later as the devoted stepfather Mike Foster in the family drama The Fosters (2013–2018), a role that earned him recognition for addressing themes of foster care and LGBTQ+ issues.^[5][6] More recent credits include recurring appearances in 9-1-1 (2018–present) as Detective Rick Romero, voice work as Abba in the animated series The Chosen Adventures (2025), and the role of Luiz Acosta in the film Lake Jesup: Bonecrusher's Revenge (2025).^[7][8][9] In his personal life, Nucci married artist Terre Bridgham in 1995, with whom he has a daughter, Savannah (born 1996); the couple divorced in 1998.^[6] He wed actress Paula Marshall on October 12, 2003, and they have a daughter, Maya.^[10] Nucci has occasionally directed, including episodes of The Fosters, and maintains a low-profile family life in Los Angeles, where he has resided since his early years in the U.S.^[6]

Early life

Birth and family background

Danny Nucci was born on September 15, 1968, in Klagenfurt, Austria.^[11] He was born to a Jewish family, with his mother of French-Moroccan descent from Casablanca and his father, a clothes manufacturer of Moroccan Jewish descent (with Italian heritage).^[6][3][4] Nucci's multicultural heritage reflects his Sephardi Jewish roots tied to his family's Moroccan origins, combined with Italian influences.^[4][3] His parents' backgrounds shaped an early identity influenced by Jewish cultural traditions, including Sephardi customs from Morocco.^[4] The family had emigrated from Morocco to Italy before moving to Austria, where Nucci was born.^[12][3]

Upbringing and education

Nucci spent his early childhood near Venice, Italy, before his family relocated to the United States when he was seven years old, initially settling in Queens, New York.^[6] They later moved to the San Fernando Valley in California.^[6] In California, Nucci adapted to American life while navigating cultural transitions from his multicultural background, including his Jewish-Moroccan-Italian heritage.^[13] He attended Ulysses S. Grant High School in Van Nuys, where he earned his high school diploma.^[6][13] During his high school years, Nucci took private acting classes to hone his skills.^[6] Nucci's initial exposure to the performing arts came through participation in school plays at Grant High School, which sparked his interest in theater and performance.^[6] These activities, combined with local theater opportunities in the San Fernando Valley, provided foundational experiences that shaped his early artistic development before pursuing professional endeavors.^[6]

Personal life

Marriages and relationships

Danny Nucci was first married to Terre Bridgham in 1995; the couple divorced in 1998.^[11][14] Nucci's second marriage is to actress Paula Marshall, whom he wed on October 12, 2003.^[2][15] The pair met on the set of the 1997 romantic comedy That Old Feeling, in which they portrayed lovers, and began dating shortly thereafter, marking an intersection of their professional collaboration and personal lives.^[16] As of 2025, Nucci and Marshall remain married.^[17][18]

Children and family

Nucci is the father of two daughters from his two marriages. His first daughter, Savannah, was born in October 1996 during the filming of Titanic, to his then-wife Terre Bridgham.^[3][19] Following their divorce in 1998, Nucci has co-parented Savannah, integrating her into blended family activities such as attending the 2015 premiere of Disney's Monkey Kingdom alongside his wife Paula Marshall and younger daughter Maya.^[20] His second daughter, Maya, was born in March 2005 with his current wife, actress Paula Marshall, whom he married in 2003.^[3][20] The family resides in the Los Angeles area, prioritizing privacy away from the public eye despite occasional red-carpet appearances together.^[3] Nucci has publicly discussed the challenges of balancing his demanding acting schedule with family life, notably recounting how he briefly left the Titanic set in 1996 to be present for Savannah's birth in Los Angeles before returning to complete filming.^[19]

Career

Early career

Nucci began his acting career in the mid-1980s, starting with small television roles after moving to Los Angeles as a teenager. His screen debut came in the 1986 ABC TV movie The Children of Times Square, where he portrayed Luis Sotavento, a street kid involved in urban youth struggles.^[21] That same year, he appeared in the TV movie The Brotherhood of Justice as Willie, a member of a vigilante group of high school students, alongside Keanu Reeves and Kiefer Sutherland. In 1985, prior to these, Nucci had minor guest spots on series like Hell Town and Mr. Belvedere, marking his entry into episodic television. He also had a brief uncredited role as a nasty kid at school in the sci-fi adventure film Explorers, directed by Joe Dante and starring River Phoenix. These early appearances provided initial exposure, often casting him in supporting parts that highlighted his youthful energy and ethnic versatility. A significant step forward came with his recurring role on the CBS prime-time soap Falcon Crest from 1988 to 1989, where he played Gabriel Ortega, the younger brother of Pilar Ortega, across 16 episodes.^[22] This role on the long-running series allowed Nucci to build screen presence in a dramatic ensemble. He continued with guest appearances on popular shows, including Family Ties in 1985 and Growing Pains in 1986, further honing his craft in family-oriented sitcoms.^[23] Nucci's first notable film role arrived in 1990 with Book of Love, a coming-of-age comedy set in the 1950s, in which he played Spider Bomboni, one of a group of high school friends navigating romance and rebellion. Additional early credits included the 1986 comedy Combat High (also known as Combat Academy) as Jai, a cadet in a military school satire. These projects in the late 1980s and early 1990s established Nucci as a reliable supporting actor, transitioning from bit parts to more defined characters while working steadily in both film and television.

1990s film roles

Nucci gained significant visibility in Hollywood through his supporting role as Petty Officer Danny Rivetti, the sonar supervisor aboard a U.S. nuclear submarine, in Tony Scott's action thriller Crimson Tide (1995), where he shared the screen with Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman.^[6] In the film, Rivetti navigates high-stakes tension during a potential nuclear launch crisis, showcasing Nucci's ability to portray a dedicated crew member under pressure. This role marked a breakthrough for Nucci, as he noted it led to greater recognition among peers and casting directors, elevating his profile at age 32. He also received acclaim for his dramatic performance as Hector Morales, a son in a Cuban refugee family, in the independent film Roosters (1995).^[6][24] Building on this momentum, Nucci appeared in two more high-profile action films in 1996. He played Lieutenant Shepard, a Navy SEAL involved in a mission to stop rogue Marines on Alcatraz, in Michael Bay's The Rock, starring Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage.^[25] That same year, he portrayed WitSec Deputy Monroe, a marshal assisting in witness protection amid a conspiracy involving advanced weaponry, in Chuck Russell's Eraser opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger.^[26] These parts, though brief and often involving dramatic demises, highlighted Nucci's versatility in ensemble casts of blockbuster productions. Additionally, he took on the lead role of Jesse Torrejo, a compassionate gardener and artist entangled in a scheme involving infidelity and fraud, in the independent drama The Big Squeeze, directed by Marcus DeLeon.^[27] Nucci's most iconic 1990s role came as Fabrizio De Rossi, the optimistic Italian immigrant and loyal friend to Leonardo DiCaprio's Jack Dawson, in James Cameron's epic Titanic (1997). Fabrizio, a fictional character representing the era's steerage passengers seeking opportunity in America, wins his third-class ticket in a poker game and shares Jack's excitement during the voyage, including moments of joy like dancing in the lower decks.^[19] His arc culminates tragically in the ship's sinking, where he is crushed by a falling smokestack amid the flooding grand staircase, underscoring the disaster's toll on immigrants.^[28] This performance in the highest-grossing film of the time further boosted Nucci's career visibility, despite some of his scenes being edited for pacing.^[6]

Television work

Nucci began his television career in the mid-1980s with small roles in series and miniseries, including a recurring appearance as Boy #1 in the military family drama Call to Glory (1984–1985), where he appeared in two episodes depicting life during the Cold War era.^[29] His early TV work also encompassed guest spots in shows like Family Ties and Quantum Leap, building a foundation in episodic television before transitioning to more prominent parts.^[23] One of Nucci's most notable television roles came as the lead character Mike Foster in the Freeform family drama series The Fosters (2013–2018), portraying a dedicated police officer and stepfather navigating complex family dynamics in a blended household with adopted and foster children.^[30] Over the course of 104 episodes, his performance as the protective yet flawed patriarch earned praise for highlighting themes of resilience and unconditional love within modern families. The series, which addressed social issues like LGBTQ+ rights and foster care, solidified Nucci's presence in ensemble-driven television narratives.^[31] In more recent years, Nucci has taken on recurring and guest roles in procedural dramas, including Detective Rick Romero in 9-1-1 (2019–present), a tough investigator appearing in 10 episodes across multiple seasons, often intersecting with high-stakes emergency response cases.^[32] He also portrayed Congressman Mario Biaggi in the Paramount+ miniseries The Offer (2022), a four-episode portrayal of the real-life New York politician involved in the behind-the-scenes production of The Godfather, contributing to the depiction of Hollywood's political and creative tensions during the early 1970s. These roles underscore Nucci's versatility in both long-form series and limited-run projects.^[33]

Recent projects and directing

In 2017, Nucci made his directing debut with the episode "Exterminate Her" from season 5 of the television series The Fosters, in which he also starred as Mike Foster.^[34] Transitioning into the 2020s, Nucci took on a supporting role as Mark Gallagher in the horror thriller Stoker Hills (2020), where he portrayed a police investigator navigating a supernatural mystery. He has maintained a recurring presence on television with his role as Detective Rick Romero in 9-1-1, appearing in multiple episodes through the show's eighth season as of 2025, including the installment "Wannabes." Looking ahead, Nucci is slated to star as Luiz Acosta, an ex-convict hunting a rampaging alligator in Florida's Lake Jesup, in the 2025 horror film Lake Jesup: Bonecrusher's Revenge (also known as Gator Lake), directed by Michael Houston King.^[9] He is also attached to the animated series The Chosen Adventures (2025), providing voice work as Abba in this family-oriented production set in biblical times.^[2] On September 4, 2025, Nucci attended the Los Angeles premiere of the comedy film The Baltimorons at Vidiots, supporting the event alongside cast members. In a 2023 interview, Nucci reflected on his career longevity, emphasizing the importance of mental resilience in acting, turning rejection into motivation, and finding joy in the process to sustain a decades-long presence in Hollywood.^[35]

Filmography

Film

• 1990: Book of Love – Spider Bomboni, a high school student in this coming-of-age comedy set in the 1950s.^[25]
• 1992: Rescue Me – Todd, the boyfriend of the kidnapped woman in this action-adventure road trip film.^[25]
• 1993: Alive – Hugo Díaz, a member of the Uruguayan rugby team whose plane crashes in the Andes, based on the true story of the 1972 Andes flight disaster.^[36]
• 1993: Roosters – Hector Morales, the rebellious son in this family drama about a patriarch returning home from prison.^[37]
• 1995: Crimson Tide – Petty Officer First Class Danny Rivetti, a sailor involved in a tense submarine standoff during a nuclear crisis; the film grossed over $157 million worldwide.^[2]
• 1995: Homage – Gilbert Tellez, a local officer in this independent drama about obsession on a New Mexico ranch.
• 1995: In the Flesh – Rico Sanchez, a character in this thriller about a couple scheming to steal a baby.^[25]
• 1996: The Big Squeeze – Jesse Torrejo, in this crime drama involving blackmail and infidelity.^[25]
• 1996: Eraser – Deputy Monroe, a U.S. Marshal colleague who meets a tragic end; the film earned $242 million at the box office.^[38]
• 1996: The Rock – Lieutenant Shepard, a Navy SEAL on a mission to stop terrorists; the blockbuster grossed $366 million globally.^[39]
• 1997: Love Walked In – Cousin Matt, supporting role in this neo-noir thriller about a pianist entangled in murder.^[40]
• 1997: That Old Feeling – Joey Donna, the daughter's boyfriend in this romantic comedy about divorced parents reuniting.^[41]
• 1997: The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue – Alberto (voice), in this direct-to-video animated sequel where appliances rescue animals from a junkyard.^[25]
• 1997: Titanic – Fabrizio De Rossi, the loyal friend of Jack Dawson who shares in the ill-fated voyage; the epic disaster film became the highest-grossing movie ever at the time with over $2.2 billion worldwide and received 14 Academy Award nominations, winning 11 including Best Picture.
• 1999: Friends & Lovers – Dave, a friend navigating relationships in this romantic comedy ensemble.^[1]
• 1999: The Unknown Cyclist – Gaetano, in this independent drama about a man's quest to find his father.
• 2000: Shark in a Bottle – Guy Normal, lead role in this low-budget thriller about a man trapped in a surreal nightmare.
• 2002: Do It for Uncle Manny – Oscar, in this comedy about family and a wedding gone wrong.
• 2006: World Trade Center – Port Authority Police Officer Danny F., one of the first responders in the true-story drama of the 9/11 attacks.
• 2007: The Sandlot: Heading Home – Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez, the adult version of the baseball legend in this direct-to-video sequel.
• 2010: Sinatra Club – Vincent 'Vinny' Vino, a mobster in this crime drama inspired by real-life figures.
• 2011: Escapee – Harris, a prison guard in this thriller about a serial killer's escape.
• 2020: Stoker Hills – Dr. William Peterson, a doctor involved in a supernatural horror mystery.^[1]
• 2025: Gator Lake (aka Lake Jesup: Bonecrusher's Revenge) – Supporting role in this horror film about a genetically enhanced alligator terrorizing a Florida lake.^[9]

Television

Nucci began his television career in the mid-1980s with guest appearances on various series, transitioning to more prominent recurring roles in the 2000s and 2010s.

• 1984: Pryor's Place as Freddy (1 episode).^[42]
• 1984–1985: Call to Glory as Boy #1 (2 episodes).^[43]
• 1985: Hotel as Evan (1 episode: "Wins and Losses").
• 1985: Family Ties as Rick (1 episode: "Designated Hitter").
• 1985: Mr. Belvedere as Boy (1 episode: "Pin Money").
• 1985: The Twilight Zone as Mario (1 episode: "Cold Reading").
• 1985: Sara as Rocco (1 episode: "Meet Mr. Cooper").
• 1986: The Children of Times Square (TV movie) as Luis Sotavento.^[21]
• 1987: Growing Pains as Scooter Krassner (1 episode: "Employee of the Month").^[44]
• 1989: A Brand New Life as Dominick the DJ (1 episode: "Private School").
• 1989: A Peaceable Kingdom as Eddie Morano (1 episode: "Pilot").
• 1990: Tour of Duty as Pvt. Wozniak (1 episode: "Acceptable Losses").^[45]
• 1990: Equal Justice as Ramon Escobar (1 episode: "Goodbye, Judge Green").
• 1990: Quantum Leap as Tony Pronti (1 episode: "Rebel Moon").
• 1990: Ferris Bueller as Greg Knecht (1 episode: "Slumber Party").
• 1991: The Commish as Bobby (1 episode: "A Question of Morality").
• 1991: Out of This World as Moose (1 episode: "Heck's Angels").
• 1993: The Commish as Officer Randy Hollinger (1 episode: "There Goes the Neighborhood").
• 1995: JAG as Sgt. Bob Bussetti (1 episode: "Boot").
• 1996: NYPD Blue as P.O. Frankie MacBride (1 episode: "A Death in the Family").
• 1998: The Single Guy as Nick (1 episode: "Sister").
• 2000: Family Law as District Attorney (1 episode: "Telling Lies").
• 2001: Boston Public as Father (1 episode: "Chapter Twenty-Nine").
• 2001: Some of My Best Friends as Frankie Zito (13 episodes).
• 2002–2004: 10-8: Officers on Duty as Senior Deputy John Henry Barnes (15 episodes).
• 2003: Mafia Doctor (TV movie) as Mike Cappomarile.
• 2005: Without a Trace as Tommy Branson (1 episode: "Are You Now or Have You Ever Been?").
• 2006: Close to Home as Detective Chris Sawyer (1 episode: "Escape").
• 2007: Prison Break as Agent Livingston (1 episode: "V-Okey-Vokey").
• 2008: Criminal Minds as Burke Manning (1 episode: "Minimal Loss").
• 2009: Ghost Whisperer as Michael Clarkson (1 episode: "Old Sins Cast Long Shadows").
• 2010: The Mentalist as Tommy Olds (1 episode: "Red Sky in the Morning").
• 2011: CSI: NY as Greg Nolan (1 episode: "Damned If You Do").
• 2012: NCIS as Gordon Frampton (1 episode: "Nature of the Beast").
• 2012: Arrow as Fire Chief Raynes (1 episode: "Burned").
• 2013–2018: The Fosters as Mike Foster (seasons 1–5, 104 episodes); also directed 1 episode ("Rescue") in 2017.
• 2017: NCIS: Los Angeles as Dennis (1 episode: "Matryoshka: Part II").
• 2018–2025: 9-1-1 as Detective Rick Romero (recurring guest role, 10 episodes).^[46]
• 2020: Magnum P.I. as Gerard Hirsch (1 episode: "May the Best One Win").
• 2025: The Chosen Adventures as Abba (voice, 7 episodes).^[47]