Biography

Born May 29, 1948 in Mammola, Calabria, Italy. Birthname: Nicodemo Antonio Massimo Mancuso. Immigrated with parents and sister to Canada in 1956. He was raised in the Italian section of Toronto. Oldest of five, he has two brothers, and two sisters.

Nick began acting in high school, after a teacher had him read from "Julius Caesar". Up to this time, Nick had never seen a play performed, and knew nothing about theatre. He soon became fascinated with acting, and auditioned for the high school production of "Hamlet", getting a major role.

He studied at Toronto's Bloor Collegiate Institute, then enrolled in the University of Toronto, and majored in psychology. He studied for a career in research, yet found himself going to the drama department and auditioning for their leading roles. He later transferred to the University of Guelph and graduated with a degree in psychology.

Although he planned to be a "research psychologist", he developed a strong interest in dramatic arts. An audition for a Studio Lab Theatre production marked the beginning of his professional acting career in the early 1970s with a number of Canadian theatre groups. He founded a theatre troupe in Toronto called "Teatru Streetcarru", which produced plays for Toronto's Italian community. The troupe toured Canada, playing at such places as Vancouver's Playhouse Theatre, where Nick acted as a performer and artistic director for one season.

Soon after he graduated, he distinguished himself at Canada's prestigious Stratford Festival in 1976, in the leading role of Bassanio in "The Merchant of Venice", as well as in "Antony and Cleopatra" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream", working with Maggie Smith, Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn.

In the mid-1970s, after years of working in live theatre, Nick was noticed by some executive producers from Universal and the ABC television network. Nick's first movie role was in "Dr. Scorpion", by Universal television's producer-writer, Stephen J. Cannell. His American stage debut was in Tennessee Williams' play, "Tiger Tail", where he worked directly with the playwright. Shortly afterwards, Arthur Hiller signed him to star in "Nightwing".

Nick won a Genie Award for Best Actor for the movie "Ticket to Heaven" in 1982. In addition, he has twice earned Best Actor honors from the Houston International Film and Television Festival, and another at the International Film Festival in Taomina, Italy.

The author of numerous plays and poetry, Nick continues to read his poetry and other writings at The Colloquy in Beverly Hills. Several of his poems have been composed into soundscapes (poetry with a soundtrack) and performed in Europe. Nick speaks four languages, and he has written a book ("The Line"), about his experience as a young immigrant. Nick also paints, mostly in oils, completing several paintings in a day.

Over the years, Nick has worked in live theatre, starred in many movies, movies-of-the-week for television, and in television mini-series. During his career, he has also been the star of two television series of his own, "Stingray" and "Matrix". His impressive career continues today, with new movies and projects being completed all the time.

Sources: D.O.M.E. Center; Hansom & Schwam, public relations; The Movie Store:

"Profile: Nick Mancuso"; Primetime Bio; Kelly Bush, public relations;

Columbia Pictures: Nick Mancuso "Biography"/Nick Mancuso "A Prophesy Coming True"