Posted on by bdamage1
Brian Damage
We are all well aware of the tragic death of Nancy Benoit and her son Daniel at the hands of her husband Chris Benoit back in 2007. The murder/suicide sent shockwaves through the world of professional wrestling and beyond. Long before that horrific incident happened, Nancy Toffoloni met and married her high school sweetheart….a man named Jim Daus. Today on the blog, we chat with her ex husband Jim and get to know who Nancy was before her wrestling career took off and all things leading up to her murder.
Ring the Damn Bell: Jim, how did you and Nancy first meet?
Jim Daus: We were in High School in DeLand , Florida. DeLand High School. I was a Senior and Nancy was a Junior when we started dating.
RTDB: So you two got married at an early age?
JD: Yes I was 19 and Nancy was 18.
RTDB: Is it true that you were a pro wrestling fan and it was you that introduced her to the industry at first?
JD: Correct. I had front row seats in Orlando, 1st at The Jai Lai fronton then at The Eddie Graham Sports Stadium.
RTDB: Who did you enjoy watching in wrestling?
JD: Terry Funk was our Favorite. He was the 1st one we met.
RTDB: Can you tell us how Nancy first got involved in wrestling?
JD: She was “discovered” by Bill Otten. He took a picture of Terry Funk throwing my chair in the ring as Nancy was still in her chair. Bill had sent the film to a Japanese wrestling magazine and they used it as a 3 page center fold. One page Nancy , one page Funk and one page the chair in the Air! When Bill got a copy of the magazine , he introduced himself to us and we became friends. He showed us the magazine, and we went from there.
Bill was only the wrestling photographer that’s all he had ever done for a living. He had just purchased some studio equipment for modeling. So after he introduced himself to us, he asked if he could take some pictures of Nancy and give her all the free pictures she wants for the shoots. It was experimental with all his new equipment. We did about a half dozen shoots and Nancy got hundreds of pictures and then we started helping Bill at wrestling shows as his assistants.
After touring around the state with Bill Otten for about three or four months, we started meeting many of the wrestlers. We met Terry Funk first of course because of the picture then we met Billy Jack Haynes and did a series of pictures with Billy Jack, and they were also sent to the Japanese wrestling magazines. They ended up being the centerfolds.
After a couple more photo shoots in different wrestling areas with Billy Jack, Kevin Sullivan came in and introduced himself to us and Nancy and Kevin and I hit it off pretty quickly. Then we started with the photo shoot with Kevin first. It was all fun and games and just a joke…but then we got the chains and snakes out and sent those pictures to the Japanese wrestling magazines. At that point the star was born. Everybody wanted Nancy everywhere.
RTDB: How did you feel about Nancy transitioning into the business?
JD: We knew Nancy had a lot of talent. We just didn’t know where should end up. She won many bikini contest all over the state of Florida. Miss Hawaiian Tropic, Miss JJ Whispers, etc.. While we were married for the five years, Nancy and I were always together during all the photo shoots all the Wrestling shows and everything else. I was part of the entourage for Kevin Sullivan. Kevin Sullivan and I were pretty close friends. Many times Kevin will have Nancy and I drive his brand new Cadillac to and from the arenas so people would not know it’s his.
RTDB: So you and Nancy were living the life in pro wrestling. Were you and her at any time involved in the drug scene in that time? I know it was huge in the 80’s.
JD: The drugs were there and they were everywhere. And I stayed away from all the drugs. Superstar Billy Graham was very close to us and Kevin. He made sure I stayed out of trouble, as he was not in the drugs or anything like that anymore. I owe a lot to superstar Billy Graham, taking care of Nancy and I when we were both in it together.
RTDB: Did you ever meet Eddie Graham? If so, what was he like?
JD: Oh yes. We met and worked with everyone. Eddie and Kevin Sullivan were very close.
RTDB: How was Eddie Graham personality wise? I have heard he was a great promoter, but very intense and mood swings.
JD: Always very nice and respectful to Nancy and I. We never saw any problems. He was just a very nice person. Nancy called me the day that Mike Graham committed suicide. She told me how hard it hit her and Kevin. She was very very upset that day.
RTDB: When did things begin to change with you and Nancy?
JD: January of 1985. She went away for the 1st time away without me. She was in Texas with Kevin Sullivan and The Sheepherders. Four nights away without me and things started changing.
He came back with contracts from all over the world, including movie roles, etc. We both decided at that time for her career would be best for me to step aside and for her to continue her career just as we always planned.
RTDB: At any time did you suspect there might be something going on between Kevin and Nancy?
JD: At the end yes. It was obvious. But still to this day, I don’t blame Kevin for anything. I have been married now for almost 36 years to an amazing woman. I have an amazing career. It worked out for the best and had a great five years. She was an amazing wife and we just grew apart.
RTDB: Did you remain in contact with her after divorcing and remain friends or drifted apart?
JD: Always were in contact until she married Benoit…Then very little.
RTDB: What were your thoughts on her relationship with Chris and how that relationship came to be?
JD: I was never sure how her and Chris really got along. Others in wrestling would tell me that they weren’t really a great couple together. That being said, I do not know for sure. I just always wanted Nancy to be very successful and very happy, that was our goal. Our goal was to retire at 40 years old. We never thought we’d ever ever have kids or that she would never have children.
RTDB: Tell me your thoughts finding out the news about her murder.
JD: It was a horrible day. The paparazzi would not leave me alone. I had 75 calls the first day from CNN ESPN Magazine, Life magazine, the New York Daily News, etc.. They stalked my house, my poor wife and son were home. I was on the road working and we had reporters all over our driveway trying to get the story. They wouldn’t leave my house or my wife alone. It was a horrible couple weeks. I finally did an interview with Liz Merrill of ESPN. After I did the interview, the paparazzi left my family alone. You can search Jim Daus ESPN and find the interview. She did a great job.
RTDB: Did you find out in the news like everyone or did someone tell you?
JD: Someone in wrestling called me to tell me what it happened.
RTDB: May I ask who?
JD: Bill Otten was the first.
RTDB: I’m sure you went through a rollercoaster of emotions? What was your initial reaction to the news?
JD: Nancy and I were so close in so many ways. It hurt me seriously that day and it still does today. My wife Sue, along with myself and my sister and brother in law all went to Daytona Beach for Nancy’s funeral.
RTDB: Were you still in contact with Kevin Sullivan?
JD: Since the murder, I’ve only seen Kevin Sullivan in person twice both times were in the Florida Keys when he owned the gym in Islamorada. I cannot believe that wrestling would let this happen and not have her in the Hall of Fame yet.
RTDB: It does seem that Nancy has been cancelled, as has Chris Benoit has due to the connection in the murder/suicide. Like the WWE wants to completely erase all of it.
JD: They have. Horrible that they are doing that. Nancy was the first woman of wrestling. She was the first valet ever. We were the first to do so many things.
RTDB: If you could speak with WWE management about Nancy, what would you tell them about her legacy?
JD: Like I said, she was the first woman of wrestling. She was the first valet and started the whole trend of all wrestlers having valets. She is an original and was one of the best.
RTDB: Do you remember your very last conversation with Nancy and what did she say?
JD: We talked about both of us having children. Neither of us ever thought of having them. We both had sons. That was the last correspondence we ever had. Right after the birth of Daniel. We had no communication after Daniel was born. So the last 7 years or so of her life.
RTDB: Did many wrestlers show up to her funeral?
JD: Very few. Horrible. JR from WWE, Mark Mero, Bill Otten. A few others.
RTDB: That is horrible, but not uncommon in wrestling sadly.
JD: They wanted no part of the murders. They wanted it all to “Go away“…be erased… cancelled. As they still do!
RTDB: I’m sure you spoke with Kevin about Nancy’s death. How was he in all of this?
JD: Very sad and very sad for her family. He loved Nancy’s family.
RTDB: What are your thoughts on some fans believing that Kevin Sullivan actually was involved in Nancy’s murder?
JD: No way on earth was Kevin involved in any of the murders . I know a lot of things that the public does not know. I even know the next-door neighbors. Kevin had absolutely nothing to do with it.
RTDB: Anything you willing to share?
JD: Just thought there was no way Kevin had anything to do with it. There’s so many crazy things out there about it and Kevin didn’t do it.
RTDB: If you could speak to Nancy one more time….is there anything in particular you would like to tell her?
JD: That I still and will always love her as part of my life.
RTDB: How was Nancy behind the scenes? Was she shy or what you saw on camera was really her?
JD: Nancy was always the life of the party. She enjoyed the spotlight and enjoyed life in general. She always laughed and had a great time. She was very lovable and caring. Anytime anybody met Nancy they would enjoy her company immediately.
RTDB: Jim, you have been a delight to speak with. Thank you.
JD: Thank you. You also sir.