Michelle Nicastro
Encyclopedia
Michelle Nicastro was an American actress and singer.
Guarino) and Norman Joseph Nicastro, who was an ophthalmologist. She provided the voice of Princess Odette in The Swan Princess
and its sequels, The Swan Princess II: Escape from Castle Mountain
and The Swan Princess: The Mystery of the Enchanted Kingdom
, and the singing voice of Callisto
for the Xena: Warrior Princess
episode "The Bitter Suite". She also had guest starring roles in Airwolf
Knight Rider and Wings. She appeared, briefly, as the college sweetheart of Billy Crystal
in When Harry Met Sally. In 1996 she played Snow White in Coach
episode "Grimmworld" as the girlfriend of Michael "Dauber" Daubinski (Bill Fagerbakke
). Nicastro also had a minor role in Full House
as Roxanne. She also played Lois "Old Lady" Scranton on an episode of Who's The Boss?
. From September 1989 to May 1990 she appeared as singer Sasha Schmidt on Santa Barbara
during one of its Daytime-Emmy-award-winning years.
On the stage, she created the role of Ariadne in the 1983 Broadway musical Merlin
. She was the first Eponine
in the second US tour of Les Misérables
in 1988.
Nicastro recorded four albums released on the Varese Sarabande label. Two albums, Toonful and Toonful Too feature songs from animated musicals, Reel Imagination features songs from family musicals, and On My Own features songs from contemporary Broadway musicals, including her version of On My Own. They feature Paul Goldberg
on drums and percussion, Walt Fowler on trumpet, Jimmy Hoff on bass, and Lanny Meyers
piano/arranger.
) is named after her. Both series were executive produced by her husband Steve Stark
.
Life and career
Nicastro was born in Washington D.C., the daughter of Carole Rose (néeMarried and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Guarino) and Norman Joseph Nicastro, who was an ophthalmologist. She provided the voice of Princess Odette in The Swan Princess
The Swan Princess
The Swan Princess is a 1994 American animated film based on the ballet "Swan Lake". Starring the voice talents of Jack Palance, John Cleese, Steven Wright, and Sandy Duncan, the film is directed by a former Disney animation director, Richard Rich, with a music score by Lex de Azevedo...
and its sequels, The Swan Princess II: Escape from Castle Mountain
The Swan Princess II: Escape from Castle Mountain
The Swan Princess: Escape from Castle Mountain is the first sequel to the animated film The Swan Princess. It was directed by Richard Rich and released in 1997....
and The Swan Princess: The Mystery of the Enchanted Kingdom
The Swan Princess: The Mystery of the Enchanted Kingdom
The Swan Princess III and the Mystery of the Enchanted Treasure is the second and final sequel to the animated film The Swan Princess...
, and the singing voice of Callisto
Callisto (Xena)
Callisto is a fictional character in the fantasy TV series Xena: Warrior Princess. She features as the most frequently recurring villainess on that show. She also makes appearances on three episodes of the parent show Hercules: The Legendary Journeys...
for the Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess is an American–New Zealand supernatural fantasy adventure series that aired in syndication from September 4, 1995 until June 18, 2001....
episode "The Bitter Suite". She also had guest starring roles in Airwolf
Airwolf
Airwolf is an American television series that ran from 1984 until 1987. The program centers on a high-tech military helicopter, code named Airwolf, and its crew as they undertake various missions, many involving espionage, with a Cold War theme....
Knight Rider and Wings. She appeared, briefly, as the college sweetheart of Billy Crystal
Billy Crystal
William Edward "Billy" Crystal is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian and film director. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Jodie Dallas on the ABC sitcom Soap and became a Hollywood film star during the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the critical and box office successes...
in When Harry Met Sally. In 1996 she played Snow White in Coach
Coach (TV series)
Coach is an American television sitcom that aired for nine seasons on ABC from 1989 to 1997. The series starred Craig T. Nelson as Hayden Fox, head coach of the fictional Division I-A college football team, the Minnesota State University Screaming Eagles...
episode "Grimmworld" as the girlfriend of Michael "Dauber" Daubinski (Bill Fagerbakke
Bill Fagerbakke
William Mark "Bill" Fagerbakke is an American actor and voice actor. He is well-known for his long-running-roles as Patrick Star in the animated series SpongeBob SquarePants and "Dauber" Dybinski on the sitcom Coach....
). Nicastro also had a minor role in Full House
Full House
Full House is an American sitcom television series. Set in San Francisco, the show chronicles widowed father Danny Tanner, who, after the death of his wife, enlists his best friend Joey Gladstone and his brother-in-law Jesse Katsopolis to help raise his three daughters, D.J., Stephanie, and...
as Roxanne. She also played Lois "Old Lady" Scranton on an episode of Who's The Boss?
Who's the Boss?
Who's the Boss? is an American sitcom created by Martin Cohan and Blake Hunter, which aired on ABC from September 20, 1984 to April 25, 1992...
. From September 1989 to May 1990 she appeared as singer Sasha Schmidt on Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara (TV series)
Santa Barbara is an American television soap opera, first broadcast in the United States on NBC on July 30, 1984, and last aired on January 15, 1993. The show revolved around the eventful lives of the wealthy Capwell family of Santa Barbara, California...
during one of its Daytime-Emmy-award-winning years.
On the stage, she created the role of Ariadne in the 1983 Broadway musical Merlin
Merlin (musical)
Merlin was a musical based on a concept by popular illusionist Doug Henning and Barbara De Angelis, written by Richard Levinson and William Link, with music written by Elmer Bernstein and lyrics by Don Black....
. She was the first Eponine
Éponine
Éponine Thénardier is a fictional character in the 1862 novelLes Misérables by Victor Hugo.- Éponine in the novel :As children, Éponine and her younger sister Azelma are described as pretty, well-dressed, charming and a delight to see. They are pampered and spoiled by their parents the Thénardiers...
in the second US tour of Les Misérables
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
in 1988.
Nicastro recorded four albums released on the Varese Sarabande label. Two albums, Toonful and Toonful Too feature songs from animated musicals, Reel Imagination features songs from family musicals, and On My Own features songs from contemporary Broadway musicals, including her version of On My Own. They feature Paul Goldberg
Paul Goldberg
Paul Goldberg is an American jazz/rock/R&B drummer.Goldberg was born in Washington DC. At age seven, relocated to Atlantic City, New Jersey, where he began studying the drumset w/ jazz great Don Hirsh, and continued studying drumset through grade school...
on drums and percussion, Walt Fowler on trumpet, Jimmy Hoff on bass, and Lanny Meyers
Lanny Meyers
Lanny Meyers is an American composer, orchestrator and principal arranger. He has worked as a composer on Another World, Bar Girls , Warrior: The Life of Leonard Peltier , Beirut: The Last Home Movie , Deck the Halls with Wacky Walls , The First Time , The Berenstein Bears' Littlest Leaguer , The...
piano/arranger.
Death
Nicastro died of breast and brain cancer on November 4, 2010 at her home with her family. "For the Good of Our Country", an episode of The Event that originally aired November 15, 2010, is dedicated to her memory. The pilot episode of Fairly Legal, originally aired January 20, 2011, is also dedicated to her memory and a character in the series Judge David Nicastro (played by Gerald McRaneyGerald McRaney
Gerald Lee "Mac" McRaney is an American television and movie actor. McRaney is best known as one of the stars of the television shows Simon & Simon, Major Dad, and Promised Land. He was a series regular for the first season of Jericho.-Early life:McRaney was born in Collins, Mississippi, the son...
) is named after her. Both series were executive produced by her husband Steve Stark
Steve Stark
-Career:His credits include The New Lassie, Kelsey Grammer Presents: The Sketch Show, The Game, Medium, Fairly Legal and The Event. He began his behind-the-camera career as an acting/comedy casting director on Star Search in 1983...
.
External links
- Fan site with commentary on her roles