Nikki Tyler-Flynn is Back in the Ring in Peter Farrelly’s I Play Rocky
From The King of Queens to the making of one of Hollywood’s greatest underdog stories, the veteran comedy actress is back in the spotlight.
LOS ANGELES, CA — November 2026 — Actress Nikki Tyler-Flynn is back on the big screen in I Play Rocky, the new film from Academy Award-winning director Peter Farrelly, with its major theatrical release November 20. And for an actress who took time away from Hollywood to raise her two daughters, returning to the screen in a story about perseverance and following your dreams couldn’t be more fitting.
In I Play Rocky, Nikki portrays Linda, the assistant to legendary Hollywood producers Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler, played by Toby Kebbell and P.J. Byrne. The film stars Anthony Ippolito as a young Sylvester Stallone, whose determination to write and star in his own screenplay would ultimately lead to one of the most iconic films in movie history.
For Nikki, landing the role was a dream come true. She calls I Play Rocky the best script she’s ever read and says she’s still pinching herself that she gets to be part of it.
One piece of direction from Farrelly helped bring her character into focus. Linda wasn’t simply an assistant — she was the gatekeeper of the producers’ office, the woman who knew everything that was happening and made sure nothing slipped past her. No one got to Chartoff or Winkler without going through Linda first.
“Peter gave me such a wonderful insight into Linda,” Nikki recalls. “Once I understood that nothing got by her, I knew exactly who she was. I wasn’t just answering phones — I was running that office!”
Nikki is especially grateful to Farrelly for the opportunity, which also marks a reunion with the director. She previously appeared in several of the Farrelly brothers’ popular comedies, including Me, Myself & Irene, Stuck on You, and Osmosis Jones.
Comedy has long been Nikki’s specialty. Television audiences may recognize her from her recurring appearances on the hit CBS sitcom The King of Queens, starring Kevin James and Leah Remini. She went on to share the screen with James in the feature films Here Comes the Boom and Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.
Her extensive television career includes appearances on Weeds, Desperate Housewives, Malcolm in the Middle, Murphy Brown, 3rd Rock from the Sun, and The Wayans Bros., along with the Emma Stone comedy Easy A.
And for Star Trek fans, Nikki has another memorable credit: she portrayed Annika Hansen’s mother — the mother of the iconic Seven of Nine — in two episodes of Star Trek: Voyager.
After years of working steadily in film and television, Nikki stepped away from the business to focus on raising her two daughters, Riley Flynn Herta and Gracie Flynn, with her husband, actor and comedian Jackie Flynn. Hollywood has always been something of a family affair for the Flynns, with Jackie enjoying a successful career in stand-up comedy and film. He also appears in I Play Rocky.
Now, with her daughters grown, Nikki is returning to the career she loves, bringing years of experience, a natural gift for comedy, and a renewed enthusiasm for the business.
There’s something especially appropriate about her latest project. I Play Rocky celebrates the courage to keep pursuing a dream, even when life takes unexpected turns.
For Nikki Tyler-Flynn, the next chapter is just getting started — and sometimes the best second acts are worth waiting for.
About Nikki Tyler-Flynn
Nikki Tyler-Flynn is an American film and television actress with an extensive career in comedy and drama. Her credits include recurring appearances on The King of Queens, roles in Here Comes the Boom, Easy A, and Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, and numerous network television series. She also portrayed Annika Hansen’s mother in Star Trek: Voyager. After taking time away from Hollywood to raise her family, Nikki returns to the big screen in Peter Farrelly’s I Play Rocky, with its major theatrical release November 20.
IMDb: Nikki Tyler-Flynn
Instagram: @nikkitylerflynn
Email: ntylerflynn@gmail.com
