Though he started as an extra late in life, Nico was able to break the Greek stereotype that would have pigeonholed him into ethnic setting settings which lead to a successful career that lasted over 40 years.

When he started in the late 1960s, Stevens typically played hoods and generic Italian character actor types during the era of the police dramas. Like many extras, Stevens' biggest issue was his well pronounced Greek accent. Stevens could frequently be seen working in movies and shows filmed at Universal Studios.

By the mid-1970s, the more mature Stevens grew a mustache and this changed his fortune entirely. He developed a character which was suitable to be work the upper scale dress extra scenes. The now distinctive looking Stevens was frequently cast as a maître d' and was a frequently utilized on shows like Hart to Hart and Murder, She Wrote. Never really growing tired of the entertainment business, Stevens continued to work commercials well into the 2000s with his usual mustache, and his dignified manner.