She was one of the most powerful publicists in Hollywood.

 

Nanci Rider’s client list included Courteney Cox, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Canada’s Michael J. Fox.

She also represented Renée Zellweger who honoured the publicist when she accepted her Academy Award for her work as the lead actor in “Judy,” based on the life of Judy Garland.

Rider died of Lou Gehrig’s disease in Los Angeles. That is the same disease that took Classical FM’s beloved Maestro, Kerry Stratton.

During her 30-year-plus career behind the scenes, Ryder facilitated thousands of interviews on behalf of her A-list clients. Edmonton-born Michael J. Fox was her first client in 1984

Nanci Rider was 67.