Fran Drescher

Thursday, January 25, 2024

Fran Drescher has a reputation for passion and commitment. She received two Emmy and two Golden Globe nominations for her portrayal as the lovable "Miss Fine" on CBS’s hit series, The Nanny, which she both created and executive produced. She also created, executive produced and starred in the groundbreaking TV Land sitcom, Happily Divorced, which was inspired by her real-life relationship with her gay ex-husband, Peter Marc Jacobson.

An accomplished author, Fran received the prestigious NCCS writer’s award for Cancer Schmancer, which, along with Enter Whining, were New York Times Best Sellers. She also penned the celebrated children's book, Being Wendy. Furthermore, Fran made her Broadway debut as “Madame” in Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Tony-Award winning, Cinderella. Her famous voice is currently featured in the top-grossing SONY animated feature franchise film, Hotel Transylvania; In her role as Eunice, the wife of Frank Stein.

Fran has co-starred and starred in many iconic films, such as This is Spinal Tap, to which Fran won Esquire Magazine’s One Minute Oscar, directed by Rob Reiner; Ragtime, directed by Milos Forman; Jack, directed by Francis Ford Coppola; She also starred in Paramount’s Beautician and the Beast, opposite Timothy Dalton, a film she also developed and produced. In 2019, Fran returned to the big screen starring in two indie films: The Creatress and After Class.

A 20-year uterine cancer survivor, Fran turns lemons into lemonade and pain into purpose through her leadership as a cancer advocate. She is the Founder, President, and Visionary of the non-profit, Cancer Schmancer Movement. Her mission is to shift America’s focus toward proactive health care and toxic-free living. She believes that the best cure for cancer is not getting it in the first place. The movement focuses on three prongs: Early Detection, Prevention, and Advocacy.

Annually, Fran hosts a Master Class Health Summit at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, where she gathers together the most renowned and cutting-edge doctors as part of an all-day seminar which is also live-streamed for the whole world to tune in. Supporters are transformed from patient into medical consumer and leave with a game plan.

Additional efforts and accomplishments of Cancer Schmancer’s include the prevention campaign, Detox Your Home, and the most recent teen-targeted education video, “Be The Change,” starring Jamie Foxx. The prevention campaign educates people of all ages to reduce risk of dis-eases through healthy living. “Be The Change” furthers this education in a fun, unique, attention-grasping, and informative manner.

Fran also uses her unique voice on Capitol Hill to advocate for a range of health issues. She was instrumental in passing the bi partisan” Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act” by unanimous consent, earning her two commendations in the Congressional Record. She is a U.S. State Department Public Diplomacy Envoy for Women’s Health, traveling globally to meet with heads of state, cancer patients, and local NGOs in addition to visiting military bases and hospitals. Furthermore, the Washingtonian named her one of the most effective celebrity lobbyists in D.C.

Fran has won countless awards for her leadership in the health space, including the John Wayne Institute Woman of Achievement Award, the Gilda Award, City of Hope Woman of the Year Award, The Albert Einstein Medical School Lifetime Achievement Award, Queens College Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Citizen Artist Award. Furthermore, the Knesset in Israel also honored Fran for being the first female, Jewish actress to play a lead role on primetime TV since Molly Goldberg in 1948 in her role as Miss Fine on The Nanny. The series and Miss Fine were ovingly embraced by not only Israel but by most of the world including many nations in the Arab world. Fran was also honored with the Human Rights Campaign’s Ally for Equality Award for her efforts to defend civil liberties and, most recently, the Stonewall and Liberty Bell Awards for her advocacy of Gay Civil Liberties.

Fran's other passions are arts in education, protecting the environment, and raising awareness about organically grown foods in order for the general public to effectively conduct a healthy, preventative, toxic-free lifestyle.

She is also the current President of SAG-AFTRA which recently negotiated a landmark contract with the studios for their members.

The talk will take place at the Richards Center for the Arts (the Palm Springs High School Auditorium) located at 2248 Ramon Road, Palm Springs, on January 25, 2024. A VIP Reception, in which attendees will be able to have a photo opportunity, begins at 6 PM and the talk starts at 7:30 p.m. The VIP reception will be catered by LULU California Bistro. As the reception will take place on school grounds, no alcohol will be served. The talk is expected to run for an hour and will be followed by a short Q&A session. Tickets are $35 rear reserved, $65 general admission, $95 premium reserved, and $175 VIP with a reception on the stage with Fran Drescher before the show. More information may be found at palmspringsspeaks.org.

SPEAKER SELECTION COMMITTEE

Jeannie Kays, Director of Library Services, Palm Springs Public Library

Julie Warren, Public Relations & Library Services Manager, Palm Springs Public Library

Ron Willison, Library Foundation Board Member, Event Producer