You’ve seen the name in the credits, but you probably missed her on the screen. Growing up as the only child of Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon—basically the king and queen of Broadway—Nicole Fosse was never going to have a "normal" relationship with the camera. Most people looking for Nicole Fosse movies and tv shows are actually looking for her father’s work, or perhaps they’ve just finished bingeing Fosse/Verdon on Hulu and want to know if the "real" Nicole actually danced.
She did. But honestly? Her career is a weird, fascinating mix of brief 80s stardom and a long, protective pivot into producing. She wasn't just a bystander in her parents' chaotic, cigarette-smoke-filled world; she was right there in the frame, often playing versions of herself or the people she knew.
The 80s Acting Spark: More Than Just a Cameo
Most casual fans realize Nicole Fosse was in A Chorus Line, but they usually forget she was actually in her father’s most famous movie first.
All That Jazz (1979)
This is where it gets meta. If you watch the 1979 masterpiece All That Jazz, there is a character named Michelle, played by Erzsebet Foldi. Michelle is the daughter of the protagonist, Joe Gideon (a thin veil for Bob Fosse). The "real" Nicole Fosse is actually in the movie too, just not playing the daughter.
Look for the scene where Joe Gideon is introducing the "Air-otica" number. Nicole is a young dancer stretching in front of a vending machine. Her own father, directing the film, tells her, "Would you mind doing that somewhere else?" It’s a tiny, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, but it’s haunting when you realize she’s a background extra in a movie about her own life.
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A Chorus Line (1985)
This was her big breakout. In the film adaptation of the legendary musical, Nicole Fosse played Kristine Evelyn Erlich-DeLuca. Kristine is the character who "can't sing," famously performing the number "Sing!" with her husband Al.
It’s a charming, slightly frantic performance. Watching it now, you can see the technical precision she inherited from her parents, but there’s a vulnerability there that feels very "un-Fosse." She wasn't trying to be a jazz-hand-twirling clone of Gwen Verdon; she was finding her own lane in a very crowded industry.
Nicole Fosse Movies and TV Shows: The Television Years
Television in the mid-80s was a playground for theater kids with "look," and Nicole fit right in.
She popped up in Miami Vice in 1986. Specifically, the episode "Trust Fund Pirates" (Season 2, Episode 22). She played Lani Mueller. If you’ve seen the episode, it’s peak 80s—neon lights, pastel suits, and that specific brand of Florida grit. It was a far cry from the Broadway stage, but it proved she had the range to work in procedural drama.
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She also appeared in:
- Bob Fosse: Steam Heat (1990): This was a PBS Great Performances special. She appeared as herself, helping to contextualize her father's work after his death in 1987.
- Move TV: A less-discussed project involving dance and fitness.
- Raquel: Total Beauty and Fitness: She appeared in this video with Raquel Welch, again leaning into that 80s/90s fitness craze where professional dancers were the primary influencers.
The Shift to the "Verdon Fosse Legacy"
Somewhere along the way, Nicole realized that her most important role wasn't in front of the lens, but behind it. She basically stopped seeking acting roles to protect her parents' intellectual property.
If you look at modern Nicole Fosse movies and tv shows, her name appears as a producer. The 2019 FX limited series Fosse/Verdon is the crown jewel here. She didn't just sign over the rights; she was a Co-Executive Producer. She was on set. She consulted on the scripts. She made sure that the portrayal of her mother, Gwen Verdon (played by Michelle Williams), wasn't just a caricature of a "long-suffering wife" but showed her as the creative engine she actually was.
Working on that show was clearly a cathartic experience for her. She has been vocal about how "historical fiction" the series is, acknowledging that while some details were changed for drama, the emotional truth of her childhood was captured.
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What’s Next for the Fosse Name?
Nicole now runs The Verdon Fosse Legacy. Her goal is simple: make sure people do the choreography correctly.
You can't just do "jazz hands" and call it Fosse. It's about the "internal burn," the specific angles of the wrists, and the stillness. Through her work, she has influenced modern shows like Dancing with the Stars and America's Got Talent, ensuring that when a contestant does a Fosse-style routine, it actually respects the technique.
Her son, Noah Fosse, has also joined the family business as an Executive Director, meaning the legacy is moving into a third generation. They recently helped produce the Broadway revival of Bob Fosse’s Dancin’, proving that the Fosse brand is far from dead.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to actually see Nicole Fosse’s work, don’t just Google her name—look for these specific versions:
- Watch "A Chorus Line" (1985): It’s the best way to see her dance and act in a primary role.
- Stream "Fosse/Verdon" (Hulu): Watch it with the knowledge that Nicole was behind the scenes. Look for the character of "Nicole" in the show to see how she views her younger self.
- Check out the Verdon Fosse Legacy YouTube channel: This is where the real work happens now. You can see archival footage and modern dancers learning the "real" way to move.
Nicole Fosse might have started as a background dancer in her father’s fever-dream movie, but she ended up as the gatekeeper of the most influential style in dance history. She traded the spotlight for the lightboard, and honestly, the dance world is better for it.