Nancy Simon is an American writer and former theater director. She is the daughter of Broadway playwright Neil Simon and his first wife, Joan Baim. She is also known for her brief marriage to actor Woody Harrelson from 1985 to 1986.
Her work includes Broadway productions, regional theater, short fiction, and filmmaking. She later married artist David Florimbi and built a family life in California, while writing and community work became important parts of her adult life.
In this article, you’ll discover her family background, education, theater career, published stories, marriages, and life beyond Hollywood headlines.
Who Is Nancy Simon?
Born in 1962, Nancy grew up during a period when her father’s plays were changing American stage comedy. Her older sister, Ellen, was born in 1957.
Her creative work took place largely behind the scenes. Rather than following a path as a television star, she worked with theater productions and later wrote short stories.
An early Broadway credit identifies her as an assistant to a director. By the late 1980s, she was directing productions herself, including a play written by her father.
Her ties to Broadway and Hollywood help explain why readers recognize her name. However, her own professional experience is an important part of her biography, particularly her work as a stage director and fiction writer.
Family Background and Early Education
Parents, Sister, and a Changing Household
Her father, Neil Simon, became famous for plays such as The Odd Couple, Barefoot in the Park, and The Sunshine Boys. His stories often explored the humor and struggles of ordinary family life.
Her mother, Joan Baim, was a dancer who married the playwright in 1953. The couple had two daughters, Ellen and Nancy, before Joan died of cancer in 1973.
Nancy was 10 when she lost her mother. Later that year, her father married actress Marsha Mason, who appeared in several stage and screen works connected to his writing.
Her wider family eventually included Bryn, whom Neil adopted during his marriage to Diane Lander. Ellen also pursued creative work and was described as a playwright in contemporary reporting.
These family connections placed Nancy among people with careers in writing, acting, and theater. She would eventually work in some of those same fields, although her professional path differed from her father’s.
School and Theater Studies
She attended high school in Los Angeles before studying theater at Williams College in Massachusetts. Her college major was documented in a later newspaper profile of her adult life.
The subject connected directly with her first professional jobs. She went on to earn production credits and take responsibility for staging plays.
Her early work also placed her alongside theater crews and performers. These roles involved the practical work of preparing a production, rather than simply appearing at events connected to her famous family.
Broadway Credits and Regional Directing Work
An Assistant Role in Little Me
In 1982, she served as assistant to the director of Little Me, a Broadway musical revival. The production ran from January 21 to February 21 at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in New York.
The Internet Broadway Database, maintained by the Broadway League, lists her in the production’s staff credits. This was a professional theater role, not a screen acting credit.
The musical had an established history by then. Neil Simon wrote its book, while Cy Coleman composed the music and Carolyn Leigh wrote the lyrics.
The 1982 revival featured performers including Victor Garber and Mary Gordon Murray, both of whom received Tony Award nominations for their work.
As an assistant to the director, Nancy worked on the production side of the show. Her responsibilities placed her within the process of preparing a Broadway musical rather than performing as a member of its cast.
Directing Biloxi Blues in the 1980s
She later worked as a production assistant on the original Broadway staging of Biloxi Blues, directed by Gene Saks.
The comedy follows a young Army recruit during World War II. It was part of Neil Simon’s trilogy of plays about growing up and finding one’s place in the world.
In July 1986, Peninsula Players in Fish Creek, Wisconsin, presented a regional production of the play. Producer Jim McKenzie gave her the opportunity to direct it.
The show opened on July 29, shortly after its Broadway run had ended. This marked a move from assisting another director to leading the staging of a full play.
She returned to the same material in 1987, directing Biloxi Blues for Westport Country Playhouse. A contemporary theater review also identified her as director of a San Francisco production that year.
By 1990, the Los Angeles Times was identifying her professionally as a director. Her career had taken her beyond Broadway to several regional theater communities.
Fiction Writing and the Short Film Two for Tijuana
Stage work was not her only creative field. In later years, she wrote fiction that appeared in literary journals, bringing her own stories to readers instead of working solely with existing plays.
One of her stories, Drinks at the Oak Room, appeared in The Threepenny Review. It received the Phoenix Award at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference in 1997.
She also wrote a story titled Two for Tijuana and directed a short film based on it. Woody Harrelson and Marisa Tomei starred in the production, while David Florimbi served as producer.
The film brought together her experience as a writer and director. She created the original story and then took responsibility for its screen adaptation.
A 2005 Los Angeles Times profile described her as a short-story writer and former theater director. She was also working on a novel at the time.
These projects show that her creative interests extended from stage productions into literary writing and film. They also provide specific examples of work completed under her own name.
The Brief Marriage to Woody Harrelson
Her first marriage attracted attention because her former husband went on to become one of Hollywood’s best-known actors.
She married Woody Harrelson in Tijuana, Mexico, in 1985. Their divorce followed in 1986.
Harrelson knew the Simon family through theater. He had been an understudy in Biloxi Blues, which was written by her father. That stage connection came before his long run as Woody Boyd on the sitcom Cheers.
In a September 2026 interview with The New York Times, Harrelson recalled that the wedding was a spur-of-the-moment decision. The couple had noticed signs advertising marriage and divorce services during a trip to Mexico.
They planned to end the marriage the following day. However, when they returned, the office was closed because it was Sunday. The marriage lasted much longer than they had intended.
Harrelson described the union as lasting about a year in legal terms. The Broadway League’s biographical records confirm the marriage years as 1985 to 1986.
The former couple did not have children together. Harrelson later married Laura Louie in 2008, and they have three daughters: Deni, Zoe, and Makani.
A New Marriage and Family With David Florimbi
Nancy met painter David Florimbi on a blind date in 1988, after moving from New York back to Los Angeles. Within two months, they were living together.
The couple married in 1992 in Assisi, Italy. The city’s mayor performed their wedding ceremony.
Florimbi had worked in television production before choosing to focus on painting. He became known for artwork that explored subjects such as nature, modern life, and the changing landscape.
His career also included work in the entertainment industry, where he had been involved in television production and music videos.
The couple have a daughter named Sophia. A November 2005 newspaper feature described her as a 12-year-old who took ballet lessons and joined her parents in making choices about their family home.
The family settled in the Santa Barbara area of California. Art, writing, home design, and family activities were all part of their life there.
Creative Life and Community Work in Santa Barbara
By 2005, the family was living in Montecito, near Santa Barbara, California. A newspaper profile focused on a ranch-style home they had redesigned together.
The couple opened up its interior by removing walls and using light surfaces. Nancy took a leading role in the decor and furnishings, while David brought his experience with visual art to the project.
They had also restored another property in Santa Barbara, a historic house called El Hogar. Their interest in older buildings influenced the homes they chose and renovated.
Her activities went beyond art and design. At the time of the profile, she volunteered as an adult literacy tutor, helping people strengthen their reading skills.
She also served as a mentor for children who had lost a parent through a program associated with Santa Barbara Hospice. This community work connected with a loss she had experienced during childhood.
The couple shared an interest in environmental issues. Their renovation work included preserving existing trees, and they even moved a large canary palm to another part of their property rather than removing it.
These details give a useful picture of her adult interests outside theater and publishing.
Nancy Simon’s Life in More Recent Years
When Neil Simon died in August 2018 at age 91, Nancy and Ellen were among his surviving daughters.
The Washington Post identified both sisters as residents of Santa Barbara at that time. Earlier reporting had also connected Nancy’s adult life with the area’s arts community.
She has maintained a relatively low public profile compared with her father and former husband. Her later career and present-day activities have not been covered through a steady series of major interviews.
Her professional history remains centered on directing, fiction writing, and filmmaking. Her Broadway credits and published stories give a clearer picture of that work than her brief appearance in Hollywood marriage headlines.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Old Is Nancy Simon?
She was born in 1962, according to the Library of Congress. She turns 64 during 2026, although her exact birth date is not established by that record.
Is Nancy Simon an Actress?
Her documented career focuses on theater directing, production assistance, writing, and filmmaking. Her Broadway credit for Little Me was a staff role rather than an acting role.
Did Nancy Simon and Woody Harrelson Have Children Together?
No. Their marriage ended in 1986. Harrelson’s three daughters are from his later relationship with Laura Louie.
Who Is Nancy Simon’s Daughter?
Sophia Florimbi is her daughter with painter David Florimbi. Their family appeared in a 2005 Los Angeles Times feature about their home in Montecito.
What Is Nancy Simon Best Known for Professionally?
Her professional work includes assisting on the Broadway revival of Little Me, directing Biloxi Blues, writing short fiction, and directing the short film Two for Tijuana.
Final Thoughts
Nancy Simon’s life includes more than her relationships with famous entertainers. She developed professional experience in theater, wrote fiction, directed a short film, and took part in community work while raising a family.
Her Broadway credits, literary achievements, and creative projects are meaningful parts of her story. Together, they show a woman whose work reached across several areas of the arts without requiring the same level of public attention as her father or former husband.
Her biography is a reminder that a person’s achievements can deserve recognition even when much of their life takes place beyond the celebrity spotlight.
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