Jack Nance

Marvin John Nance was born in Boston to Hoyt and Agnes Nance; he grew up in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas. Hoyt Nance was a Neiman Marcus executive. In early childhood, Nance was struck by a car, injuring his back. He graduated from South Oak Cliff High School and attended the North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas) studying journalism. He took up acting at university and later left to concentrate on acting; he joined the Dallas Theater Center. He was a student of Paul Baker, the theater's founder.

In 1964, Nance headed for California and worked for some time with the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. He had success and landed the lead role in a play based on the life of Thomas Paine which was directed by David Lindemann. Nance was considered for the role of Benjamin in The Graduate (1967), a role which went to Dustin Hoffman, and for the role of Perry Smith in Richard Brooks' crime film In Cold Blood (1967), which went to Robert Blake. He played twin brothers Benny and Tony Rebozo in the Doo Dah Gang, a performance group that staged 1920s-style gang fights at nontraditional venues. When one of his characters died, Nance spent three days lying in a coffin at the staged wake.

Nance met David Lynch in 1972 after an introduction by Lindemann. Lynch was a fellow at the American Film Institute and creating a $10,000, 20 minute short film in Beverly Hills. Lindemann had recommended Nance for the role of Henry Spencer in Eraserhead (1977). Filming occurred sporadically over five years due to funding problems.

Eraserhead was initially unsuccessful. However, the film became a midnight movie, leading to its cult classic status. Nance's performance has since been praised for its theatrics. The New York Times wrote in 1980, "[Nance's] minimalist features, unchanging expression, tight dark suit, and short, almost crippled steps suggest many silent-film comedians." The film became a favorite of Stanley Kubrick, and he required the cast of The Shining to watch it before filming.

After Eraserhead, Lynch and Nance remained on good terms. The actor appeared in most of Lynch's subsequent projects during Nance's lifetime: Dune (1984), Blue Velvet (1986), The Cowboy and the Frenchman (1988), Wild at Heart (1990), Twin Peaks (1990–91), Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992), and Lost Highway (1997). While none of Nance's scenes in filmed for Fire Walk with Me appeared in the theatrical cut, they were later compiled in the feature-length Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces (2014).

Nance appeared with actress Mary Woronov as a married couple in the music video for the 1983 Suicidal Tendencies song “Institutionalized".

After gaining sobriety in 1986 and needing a steady salary, Nance took courses in hotel management. He began working as a clerk at Hotel Hollywood. While there, Nance refused a role in Miracle Mile (1988), due to it conflicting with his job schedule.

Dennis Hopper hired him to appear in Colors (1988), after they both performed in Blue Velvet. He also had a brief appearance as the doctor in Chuck Russell's 1988 sci-fi horror film, The Blob. In 1990, Nance was offered the role of Pete Martell in Lynch's Twin Peaks, appearing throughout the show's original run.

After an addiction relapse in 1993, Nance's life took another turn. He had smaller roles in films that did not perform as successfully. He lived in a hotel and was kicked out for firing a gun at the television. He guest-starred on a 1995 episode of My So-Called Life entitled "Weekend", in which he played an innkeeper. Nance continued in smaller roles until his death in 1996.

Nance appeared in Twin Peaks: The Return (2017) in footage featuring Pete Martell from the pilot episode of the original series. "Part 17" of The Return was dedicated in his memory.

His final film, Michael Moriarty's Of Things Past, was released in 2023. The original filming took place in 1985 and includes additional footage shot in 2022.