Who was Nancy Frangione's husband? Soap star known for villainous roles dies at 70
BARNSTABLE, MASSACHUSETTS: Nancy Frangione, famed for her various nefarious soap roles, died on August 18 at the age of 70.
The star was married to 'Reba' and 'Boston Legal' star Christopher Rich from 1982-1996 and was known for roles on 'Another World' and 'All My Children.'
The late actress leaves behind her adult daughter, Mariel, 30, who she shares with Rich. Nancy and Rich also starred together in 'Another World.'
The Massachusetts native returned in the late 80s with parts in the TV movies 'Sharing Richard' and 'In the Line of Duty: A Cop for the Killing,' but she would never marry again.
Rich later remarried in 2003 and currently resides in LA with his second wife, Eva Halina, a 56-year-old former Olympic gymnast and beauty queen from Poland.
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Nancy Frangione's remarkable acting career
Nancy had a stellar career that spanned several years during which she portrayed scheming villain Cecile DePoulignac on 'Another World', and teenage Tara Martin on ABC's iconic day drama.
The actress was born on July 10, 1953, in Barnstable, Cape Cod's largest community, both in land area and population. Daily Mail reports that the cause of Nancy's death has not yet been revealed.
She won the Soap Opera Digest Award for outstanding villainess in 1984. In 1985, the actress filled in for Andrea Evans as Tina Lord on ABC’s 'One Life to Live.'
She also played Fran Fine’s cousin Marsha on 'The Nanny' and guest-starred on 'Highway To Heaven,' 'Matlock' and 'Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.'
Nancy's final acting appearance, fittingly, was as a middle-aged Cecile in 1995 before a retirement that lasted until this past week.
Since she bid adieu to her profession, Nancy was rarely photographed and has spent most of her days in Massachusetts after leaving behind homes in New York and LA in the late 90s and early 2000s.
In 2000, the actress left behind a humble two-bedroom home in Hyannis and shifted to her hometown Barnstable the year before.
Fans pay tribute to Nancy Frangione
Friends and fans have paid respect to an Obituary page that announced her passing.
One fan wrote, "When I was in high school, I'd race home after school in the late afternoon to catch the last 15 minutes of 'Another World' and Ms Frangione's performance as the glamorous heiress, Cecile DePoulignac."
"Ms Frangione's performance was magnificent, ingenious, and subtly diabolical. Her portrayal as Cecile was so pivotal that it was the focal point that drove the storyline and was the reason we tuned in to 'Another World.' Rest in Peace...Heaven has gained the Brightest of Luminaries ✨", added the fan.
"May She Rest In Heaven. She was a wonderful actress. I remember watching her on All My Children. Nancy was a true professional", wrote another. "So very sorry to hear of her passing, she was a wonderful actress, I enjoyed her in 'Another World' May she rest in peace, paul pitre", penned a mourner.
One wrote, "Sending prayers to all who loved her. She was a brilliant actress and a very nice, thoughtful lady who will be missed by so many. RIP Nancy. Sending love to her beautiful daughter."