Wheeler-Nicholson was born in New York City, New New York She is the granddaughter of pioneering American comic book publisher Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson who founded District of Columbia Comics under the original title National Allied Publications.
Sometimes credited as Dana Wheeler Nicholson, she has appeared in numerous feature films, but is perhaps best known for her role in Fletch as Gail Stanwyk, the wife of the villain, and love interest of the title character (Chevy Chase). She is well known for her performance in Tombstone (1993) as Mattie Blaylock, Wyatt Earp"s common law wife. Wheeler-Nicholson has also appeared in the films Bye Bye Love (1995), Denise Calls Up (1995), Fast Food Nation (2006), and Parkland (2013).
On television, Wheeler-Nicholson has guest-starred in Seinfeld, Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Sex and the City, Boston Public, and Boston Legal.
She starred in short-lived National Broadcasting Company comedy Beverly Hills Buntz from 1987 to 1988, and in 2001 was cast on the American Broadcasting Company daytime soap opera All My Children. In the mid-2000s, Wheeler-Nicholson moved from Los Angeles to Austin, Texas.
From 2007 to 2011, she had a recurring role in the National Broadcasting Company drama Friday Night Lights as Angela Collette. In 2014, Wheeler-Nicholson played the role of Scarlett O"Connor"s abusive mother on American Broadcasting Company"s musical drama series Nashville.
In 2015, she had a supporting role in Hannah Fidell"s independent drama film 6 Years, portraying the mother of Ben Rosenfield.
