- First feat in show-biz got Elia Kazan to come see my work in "A Hatful of Rain" A decade later followed him to L.A.. I would wait for him outside the old Bronson Gate at Paramount daily, 'When are you going to call me?" Kazan would motion back with a downward hand wave. What patience and understanding with actors. Got my first role "The Last Tycoon." Got my SAG card--Gadg (Kazan) introduced me to an upcoming actor Robert De Niro? Nick lived down the street from Mae West. My Dad knew her well from the Latin Quarter in New York...Called back home "Hey Mom send me one of those pictures Mae West gave Dad over the years"...I posted the still with a letter to her. "Not sure you remember my Dad, but I know you're the kind of gal who knows what it's like to be an actor in this town would appreciate if I could read for a role in "Sextette." Got a call from director Irving Rapper landed a small role. I was in like Flynn... Two weeks later Rapper was replaced by Ken Hughes "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang." My follow up calls to Mr. Hughes went unanswered. A few years later I was on the East Coast. The producer of "Night School" brought me in to meet Mr. Hughes who was helming the horror film. "How about Nick for the role of Gus?" Hughes, "Sure...he'll be fine." Got feature billing too... That's Hollywood!.
- The casting people for "By the Gun" ("God Only Knows") said they couldn't find an actor to speak fluent Italian for the role of Victor Tortano.. I get the sides and got it down pat. I get a callback to meet the director James Mottern who says: "Do it in English...Maron! I'm thrown off completely. Later on they call me twice to be in the big don meeting sit next to Harvey Keitel offering screen credit too. I tell them 'no' twice.
- Elia Kazan writes a letter on my behalf to Cis Corman casting director "The Raging Bull" says he would consider it a personal favor if she called me in to read for a role. She told me she would but never did.
- Hollywood-the blind leading the blind....
- After being hired as Danny Aiello's stand-in on "Stiffs" The director Frank Ciota to the casting director: "How come I didn't hear about Nick before?" Working on the movie...."You see this guy...he's a Greek De Niro!.
- The first time Nick's agent Lou Irwin ever paid him an appraising eye was when he returned from a meeting with casting director Bob La Sanka over at Universal Studios. Bob La Sanka brought him in to meet the studios' head of casting, Bill Batliner. Nick was cast as a body guard with Telly Savalas who was to play the famous gambler Nick the Greek in a feature of the same title, but the project got shelved.
- After working together on a documentary "The Greek Connection" years earlier, Danish director Asger Leth is directing "Man on a Ledge" in New York. He tells Nick he's got this scene he wants to work him in, but not sure if they'll be time ...in fact it might just get cut out! How's your Sag status?" Nick replies: "All paid up." "Okay, just sit tight." "Okay"...a.......n......d--Fade to Black.
- May 1995 read for the role of Dr. Richardson in "Breaking the Waves" per the request of director Lars Von Trier for Danish casting director Rie Hedegaard Scottish accent and all......loved the accent told Nick he had the role. "When do I work?" "Around the third week of August." Then the British co-casting director gives the role to British actor Adrian Rawlins........sometimes that's the way the cookie crumbles.
- Met a fellow actor at the Horn & Hardarts Automat at Broadway and 46th street who introduced Nick to pioneering black director William Greaves "Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take one". Bill held acting and improvisation classes at the Luther James Theater in New York in the mid-sixties every other Sunday-$3.00 for each actor to pay for the rental...most actors never paid. The first time up on the stage seemed to go off without a hitch but after the scene ended the room went silent... Nick mused "I must have really fucked up! "Then Bill breaks the silence: "magnetism...what magnetism!" Some of the actors asked, "What did you work on?" "Who did you train with before?" Nick was at a loss for words but was a natural living in the moment. Bill and his wife invited Nick to lunch at the William Penn Hotel where they lived encouraged him to pursue his acting. This was the kind of acting Bill had been experimenting to bring out in actors a naturalism over the technique. That seed that Bill planted long ago has always kept Nick believing in himself....whether he got the part or not.
- After running into legendary producer Bob Evans on the Paramount lot in late 1975, Bob Evans arranged for Nick to read with famed casting director Lynn Stalmaster and assistant Toni Howard for the role of Fasil in "Black Sunday." Ultimately the role went to Bekim Fehmiu.
- Speaks Greek fluently; limited Italian, Spanish, and Danish.
- Also speaks some Turkish and is very good with foreign accents.
- Was friendly with Ahmet Ertegun founder of Atlantic Records. Helped Nick with contacts at Orion Pictures to solicit his script "Anatolian Affair", but exhorted: "Don't associate me with the project on the father of modern Turkey-too many fanatics out there!".
- Uncle of Eddie Cairis.
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