Fran Drescher, best known as the star and executive producer of 1990s sitcom “The Nanny,” was elected on Thursday to a two-year term as president of SAG-AFTRA — the union representing more than 160,000 television and film performers, broadcasters, stuntpeople and, as of this year, social media creators and influencers — besting her opponent Matthew Modine by just shy of 1,600 votes.
Drescher won with 52.5% of the ballots, or 16,958 votes, vs. Modine’s 15,371 votes. She ran on the Unite for Strength ticket, as part of the party that has led the guild for the last 12 years, with Anthony Rapp as her running mate. The votes resulted in a split-party win: Joely Fisher, Modine’s running mate from the Membership First faction, was elected secretary-treasurer.
Among other challenges, the newly elected officials will have to gear up to bargain with the major studios over television and film contracts in 2023, as well as contend with member concerns over last year’s changes to the union’s healthcare plan, run by the financially beleaguered SAG-AFTRA Health Plan, a separate organization that in 2020 reduced coverage for thousands of members and their dependents amid the pandemic. Modine and the Membership First party have been critical of the way current leadership has negotiated streaming residuals in contract talks.
Drescher succeeds “Beverly Hills 90210” star Gabrielle Carteris, who has served as president since 2016. Fisher will step into the role occupied by Camryn Manheim.
“I am honored to serve my union in this capacity,” said Drescher in a statement following her win. “Together we will navigate through these troubled times of global health crisis and together we will rise up out of the melee to do what we do best, entertain and inform. We must never forget the important contribution we make to many millions of people each and every day when they buy a ticket to sit in a dark theater or turn on their TVs or streaming devices.
“Our chosen professions within the SAG-AFTRA membership have literally gotten Americans to laugh, to learn, to momentarily escape that we are all in a pandemic,” she added. “We members serve an invaluable purpose in the grand scheme of things. We must never forget who we are and what unites us as one union.”
Calling the election “a fresh start,” Drescher promised to “fight like hell” for members and called for unity from the guild’s highly divided membership as they seek “more benefits, stronger contracts and better protections.”
Fisher, meanwhile, called her win “bittersweet,” given Modine’s loss, but said she looks forward to “getting us back to solid financial footing and to be a part of strong negotiations moving forward.” Fisher’s mother, Connie Stevens, held the same post of secretary-treasurer for what was then the Screen Actors Guild in the mid- to late aughts.
“I will hold Fran Drescher to her promise to us to protect the members and put more money in our pockets through stronger contract negotiations,” said Fisher. “Again, I want to thank you for entrusting me with the stewardship of this union. Let’s get to work to bridge the divide and make the lives of our sisters and brothers in our SAG-AFTRA union family better.”
