Nicole Picard(I)

Nicole Picard is best known for her comical turn as Karen in "The Parent Project" in 2010, though it was in her film debut in 1986 that she memorably played the role Rachel aka Little Red Riding Hood and was the highlight of the cult horror movie 'Deadtime Stories'.

Starting at the very tender age of 6, Nicole performed in many ballets such as 'Coppelia' and 'Les Sylphides' with a ballet troupe in Rhode Island. It was in a dance piece that Nicole choreographed that she won the talent show in high school. She completed her time as a ballerina, (having grown curves) performing in the Opera 'Aida' at the age of 16. Attending Sarah Lawrence College, Nicole was a featured actress in a Charlie Lowenthal film and in her Junior year abroad in Paris, France she was the star of many Eram shoe commercials speaking french on France National Television. She returned to New York and appeared in commercials for Zest Soap, Chic Jeans, HBO, Whitney's Yogurt, RC Cola, Bacardi Rum for Puerto Rico TV (Clio Winner), Jordache Jeans, Serruchi Jeans and Suntory Brandy, Japan. Nicole had her film debut in the cult horror pic 'Deadtime Stories', was the national poster girl for Miller Lite 'Party Zone' and choreographed underground club shows at the Cat Club, Zipper and Area. She worked with Andy Warhol in a video for 'Pillow' and performed opposite Miguel Boze with Jennifer Grey in his videos for Spain MTV. Nicole performed with Michael Jackson, Paula Abdul and appeared in music videos with BonJovi and other MTV stars of the 80s.

In 1986 her dream came true and she was hired to be in a Broadway show, 'Starlight Express' where she worked with Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber, Trevor Nunn, Arlene Philips and an amazing team of actor/singer/dancer/roller-skaters. Nicole was in the show for a year and then decided it was time to move to Hollywood where Nicole co-starred in the TV pilot 'Spies' played opposite George Hamilton, the TV movie 'Revenge of the Nerds III' opposite Ted McGinley, 'Burke's Law' opposite Gavin McLeod and was featured on the Fox show Malibu Dance Party. The national tour of 'Starlight Express' took her on the road where she performed throughout the US and Canada performing at the Kennedy Center with President Bush Sr. in attendance.

In 1993 Nicole performed in the Mogul Theater production 'At Home' opposite her then husband, John Zarchen, during which time Nicole also appeared in the local production of 'The Glass Menagerie' as Laura to rave reviews. From 2000-2008 she taught theater in the Santa Monica and South Bay schools and was PTA president as well as the legislation chair at her children's school. In 2004 Nicole gave a deeply emotional performance as Ruth in the Santa Monica Playhouse production of 'Backstreet'. She was in a Lifetime Channel show, Operation Style and recorded music with VoodooGroove. In 2010-11 Nicole played a crazed Mom in the film "The Parent Project" in which the episode she starred in was the highest rated show at the Channel 101 screening. Nicole is appearing in productions of the Living History event at Woodlawn and the USC film 'Golden Boy'.

Now in 2021, Nicole has completed 2 film projects. 'Lineage Tribe' a musical short film that she plans to turn into a streaming limited series and 'SURPRISE!' A TV pilot for a dark comedy Series. She is prepping a comic character sketch piece for late night talk show bit.

Nicole loves being creative and her greatest productions are her 2 children Nicky and Matt who are all grown up, living on both coasts which gives her a good reason to be bi-coastal. She is happily married to Patrick Murray, and she is 100% focused on acting and producing.