Raised in Texas

Began acting career at the Dallas Theater Center; toured doing childrens' theater

Moved to Los Angeles; relocated to San Francisco and performed with the American Conservatory Theater; met first wife Catherine Coulson while performing in a stage adaptation of Kafka's Amerika at SFSU; she was a student, he a guest artist

Starred in radical West Coast stage hit, "Tom Paine" in the late 1960s; director David Lindemann would actually introduce Nance to David Lynch when he was casting "Eraserhead"

Began associating with Francis Ford Coppola in San Francisco

Feature acting debut, "Jump", a racing pic

Met writer-director David Lynch; began work on Lynch's student film, "Eraserhead" (released 1977), their first collaboration

Moved back to Los Angeles

Returned to films with a supporting role in Wim Wenders' "Hammett", produced by Coppola

Played, in own words, a "doormat" in Lynch's "Dune"

Appeared in Lynch's "Blue Velvet"

TV-movie debut, "Tricks of the Trade" (CBS)

Was a regular on David Lynch's TV series "Twin Peaks"

Appeared in Lynch's "Wild at Heart"

Rare feature lead in "Meatballs 4"

Suffered a heart attack; friends reported a history of heart problems

Completed "Joyride", unreleased at time of death

Filmed final role, Phil the mechanic, in Lynch's "Lost Highway", released after his death

At time of death, working on autobiographical screenplay "A Derelict on All Fours"

Was subject of the film documentary "I Don't Know Jack"