Now on HBO Max, CBS’ The Nanny was one of the most-watched sitcoms of the 1990s. Here’s a quick guide to The Nanny cast and their characters.
Led by Fran Drescher’s Fran Fine, The Nanny cast is composed of veteran actors from both television and film. The classic ’90s sitcom The Nanny aired for six seasons and over 140 episodes on CBS between 1993 and 1999. It was the show that made star Fran Drescher a household name. Co-created with her then-husband Peter Marc Jacobson, The Nanny was partly inspired by a trip Drescher took to London to visit her former Princesses co-star Twiggy. After spending a lot of time with the British model-actress’ kids, Drescher got the idea for a show riffing on The Sound Of Music but with her as a nanny instead of some Julie Andrews type.
And so The Nanny was born, with Drescher starring as Fran – the loud-mouthed nanny to the three children of a stuffy British widower and Broadway producer living in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. It was a role that scored Drescher two Golden Globe nominations while The Nanny ranked as one of the most-watched sitcoms of its time. Today, The Nanny is still considered one of the best sitcoms from the ’90s. Here’s a recap of The Nanny cast, the characters they played, and where else viewers might’ve seen them.
Fran Drescher as Fran Fine
Fran Drescher played Fran Fine who, after being dumped by her boyfriend and boss, stumbles into a job as nanny to three kids. An outgoing, working-class Jewish woman with a heart of gold and a heavy Queens accent, Fran is the polar opposite of her new employer Maxwell but soon becomes an indispensable part of the family. Much of the show also centers around the will-they-won’t-they romantic vibe between Fran and Maxwell. The writer, creator, and star of The Nanny cast, Fran Drescher also appears in Indebted, Happily Divorced, and Gravesend. Drescher has previously teased the potential of a modern The Nanny revival in the form of a movie, though the project hasn’t been set in stone.
Charles Shaughnessy as Maxwell Sheffield
Stuffy British Broadway producer Maxwell Sheffield is a widower whose busy schedule leads to him hire Fran to look after his three kids. In The Nanny cast, Maxwell plays the straight man to Fran’s over-the-top comedy. This raises the tension that lays the groundwork for the chemistry between Maxwell and Fran throughout the show’s six seasons. Maxwell is played by British actor Charles Shaughnessy, who is best known for his roles in Days Of Our Lives: Beyond Salem, The Magicians, and General Hospital.
Nicholle Tom as Maggie Sheffield
Nicholle Tom played Maxwell’s eldest child Margaret ‘Maggie’ Sheffield, an initially shy and awkward teen who came out of her shell under Fran’s guardianship. Maggie and Fran quickly develop a friendship, with Maggie seeing Fran more as an older sister. That said, Fran isn’t afraid of disciplining Maggie when she gets out of line. Apart from being part of The Nanny cast, Nicholle Tom is best known for her role as Ryce Newton in the first two Beethoven movies, and also appears in the movie Prisoner of Love and the series Walk The Prank.
Benjamin Salisbury as Brighton Sheffield
Mischievous middle child Brighton often felt left out as the only male sibling in the Sheffield brood, which caused a lot of squabbles with his sisters. While initially distrustful of Fran due to not liking his previous nannies, Brighton eventually warms up to Fran. Brighton is torn between becoming a Broadway producer, just like his father, or just waiting for his trust fund to kick in. Brighton was played by Benjamin Salisbury who largely left acting behind after The Nanny – bar bit roles on shows including Numb3rs or the short film On The Brink.
Madeline Zima as Grace Sheffield
Although Madeline Zima is best known for her roles on Californication and Heroes, it was The Nanny that gave the actress her first regular TV gig. She played Grace, the youngest of the Sheffield kids who forms a close bond with Fran. Among the Sheffield children, it is Grace who displays the most intelligence, as seen when she uses complex terms that confuse Fran and Maxwell. After this role in The Nanny cast, Madeline Zima went on to appear in Doom Patrol, Diary of a Spy, Hypochondriac, and Hacks.
Daniel Davis as Niles
American actor Daniel Davis played the Sheffield family’s loyal British butler and chauffeur Niles. His English accent was so convincing that many viewers thought it more authentic than his co-star Charles Shaughnessy – who actually was British. Daniel Davis also used his on-point British accent when he played Professor Moriarty on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Picard. Davis also has notable roles in movies like The Prestige and The Hunt For Red October, as well as shows like The Blacklist and Elementary.
Lauren Lane as C.C. Babcock
Rounding out the main cast of The Nanny was Lauren Lane who played C.C. Babcock, Maxwell’s long-time business partner who has a rivalry with butler Niles and sees Fran as a threat. In The Nanny cast, C.C. acts as Fran’s rival for Maxwell’s affections, even though Fran and Maxwell would only later admit to having feelings for one another. Lauren Lane has very few acting credits following The Nanny, including a small role in the ’90s series Partners and the short film Dress Code.
The Nanny’s Recurring Cast and Characters
Renée Taylor as Sylvia Fine: Also played by The Nanny cast lead star Fran Drescher in earlier season flashbacks, Sylvia Fine was Fran’s voracious, sometimes-overbearing mother. Taylor assumed the role for 94 episodes and also enjoyed multiple appearances on How I Met Your Mother. Taylor also voices Gloria in Bob’s Burgers.
Ann Morgan Guilbert as Yetta Rosenberg Jones: Yetta was Fran’s hilariously forgetful grandmother. With a long and storied career that continued right up until her passing, Guilbert was ultimately equally best known for playing Millie Helper on The Dick Van Dyke Show. Today, Guilbert may be best known for her appearances in Getting On and Life In Pieces.
Rachel Chagall as Valerie “Val” Toriello: Val was Fran’s often-dimwitted and loyal best friend. The character being unlucky in love served as one of The Nanny’s running gags. Despite a career that even included early awards recognition, Chagall retired from acting shortly after The Nanny concluded. That said, she continued to appear in small roles in the 2000s, such as in the series What I Like About You, Strong Medicine, and Just Shoot Me!
The Nanny’s Notable Guest-Stars
Giving even Friends a run for its money, the six seasons of The Nanny amassed a wide range of famous guest stars. Some played original characters. Meanwhile, others played versions of themselves associated with Maxwell Sheffield through his productions. Here’s a list of the most substantial among the cameo appearances in The Nanny cast:
Ray Charles: For four episodes, the legendary musician played Sammy – a love interest of Fran’s grandmother.
Pamela Anderson: The Baywatch star featured in multiple episodes as Heather Biblow-Imperiali, a foolish nemesis of Fran’s.
Dan Akroyd: The classic comedian and Ghostbusters star appeared in The Nanny season 1 as a ridiculous repairman called upon to fix the Sheffields’ broken fridge.
Elton John: The iconic musician played himself, serving as a hilariously bizarre obstacle on Fran and Maxwell’s first date in The Nanny season 5, episode 2, “First Date.”
Celine Dion: The acclaimed singer played herself in The Nanny season 4, episode 26, “Fran’s Gotta Have It.”
Hugh Grant: The acclaimed actor played himself in The Nanny season 4, episode 4, “The Rosie Show.”
James Marsden: Early in his career, the popular X-Men franchise actor played Eddie, a boyfriend of Maggie’s, for two episodes of The Nanny season 1.
Whoopi Goldberg: The Oscar-winning actress played a character named Edna in The Nanny season 5, episode 20, “The Pre-Nup” and then a version of herself in The Nanny season 6, episode 8, “Making Whoopi.”
Bette Midler: The veteran performer played herself hosting a charity auction in The Nanny season 4, episode 23, “You Bette Your Life.”
Chevy Chase: The Saturday Night Live and Community alum (as himself) bonded with Fran over a poker game in The Nanny season 5, episode 6, “A Decent Proposal.”
Roseanne Barr: The controversial actress and comedian played Fran’s cousin, Sheila, in The Nanny season 5, episode 1, “The Morning After.”
Jon Stewart: The actor and former host of The Daily Show played a love interest of Fran’s that turned out to be his cousin in The Nanny season 4, episode 13, “Kissing Cousins.”
Ray Romano: The comedic actor reprised his Everybody Loves Raymond character, revealed to be a former classmate of Fran’s and linking the two shows.
Donald Trump: The former President also played himself in The Nanny season 4, episode 4, “The Rosie Show.”
They weren’t alone, however, with dozens more – including every chatshow host from Jay Leno and David Letterman to Sally Jessy Raphael – making an appearance. Indeed, even without the main characters, The Nanny cast is a veritable who’s who of A-listers and showbiz icons from the ’90s and beyond.
