Nicole Rio

Nicole Rio was born in Hollywood, CA to Manager, Producer and Vaudevillian performer Eddie Rio and ABC Executive of Financial Administration Toni Rio, who was 36 years his junior. Growing up in a family of industry professionals, Rio was inspired to be a part of the entertainment world very early on. Her older brother, Frank Rio, owned Regency Artists who later merged with Triad Talent Agency and eventually WME. Her two additional brothers, Edward Rio-Rotunno, Jr. (a successful cinematographer) and Tyrone Rio-Rotunno (a musician) along with her sister, Joanne Rio-Barr were all unique mentors who encouraged her artistic drive. Rio began pursuing the arts at the age of 11, enrolling in her first dance, acting and voice classes with Maybin Hewes-Sherman alongside her then childhood "bestie", Amy Sherman-Palladino. At the age of 15, Rio gained her first experience on set in National Lampoon's Vacation being cast as a day player. She landed her first starring role as Sue in The Zero Boys at age 19, followed by a starring role as Tracy with Honorary Academy Award winning film producer Roger Corman in the cult classic Sorority House Massacre, Ellen in The Visitants and Judy in Gang Justice. Shortly following, Rio decided to become a single mother at the age of 24 years old which led to her to pursue a career behind the camera. She was eventually hired in a VP of Development position for Superluminal Films. From here, once the company folded, she spent the next years aligned and working with such mentors as Paramount Executive David Madden (Cort/Madden Productions), Academy Award winning producer and co-founder of Imagine Entertainment Brian Grazer and Producer/Executive Benny Medina. Rio met Colombia born actor Andres Londono in 2007 paving way to a 7 year marriage commencing in 2008, in which time the couple produced and starred in the short film, VEDA. As well, her acting career enjoying a small resurgence as the lead role opposite Eric Roberts and Ricco Ross in the thriller entitled "Story of Eva". With producing always being her driving force, in 2019 she produced her first feature film through her current company, Salt & Light Films, entitled Natural Disasters. The film championed first time Director, Dakota Gorman, who also scripted the feature. Rio is in pre-production with one of her producing partners, Kelly Bumford, on a film entitled Of Age with actress Hana Mae Lee attached in the role of Allison and who is also set to direct. In addition, she has several film projects on her slate in various stages of development, all of which are driven by inclusion and a mission for truthful storytelling.