Leora Dana (April 1, 1923 – December 13, 1983) was an American film, stage and television actress.

Early life

Dana was born in New York City; her elder sister was Doris Dana. Dana graduated from

Barnard College Barnard College is a Private college, private Women's colleges in the United States, women's Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college affiliated with Columbia University in New York City. It was founded in 1889 by a grou ...

and the

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, also known by its abbreviation RADA (), is a drama school in London, England, which provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in Bloomsbury, Central London ...

Career

Stage

In 1947, Dana made her stage debut in London. In 1948, she debuted on Broadway in ''

The Madwoman of Chaillot ''The Madwoman of Chaillot'' (, ) is a play, a poetic satire, by French dramatist Jean Giraudoux, written in 1943 and first performed in 1945, after his death. The play is in two acts. The story concerns an eccentric woman who lives in Paris and ...

''.

Film

After appearing in the 1957 western '' 3:10 to Yuma'' with Van Heflin and

Glenn Ford Gwyllyn Samuel Newton Ford (May 1, 1916 – August 30, 2006), known as Glenn Ford, was a Canadian-born American actor. He was most prominent during Classical Hollywood cinema, Hollywood's Golden Age as one of the biggest box-office draws of th ...

, Dana had supporting roles in two 1958

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Honorific nicknames in popular music, Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and "Ol' Blue Eyes", he is regarded as one of the Time 100: The Most I ...

films; '' Kings Go Forth'' and '' Some Came Running''. Her other film credits included '' Pollyanna'' (1960), '' A Gathering of Eagles'' (1963), '' The Group'' (1966), '' The Boston Strangler'' (1968), '' Change of Habit'' (1969), '' Tora! Tora! Tora!'' (1970), ''

Wild Rovers ''Wild Rovers'' is a 1971 American Western film directed by Blake Edwards and starring William Holden and Ryan O'Neal. Originally intended as a three-hour epic, it was heavily edited by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer without Edwards' knowledge, including ...

'' (1971), ''

Shoot the Moon ''Shoot the Moon'' is a 1982 American drama film directed by Alan Parker, and written by Bo Goldman. It stars Albert Finney, Diane Keaton, Karen Allen, Peter Weller, and Dana Hill. Set in Marin County, California, the film follows George ...

'' (1982), ''

Baby It's You "Baby It's You" is a song written by Burt Bacharach (music), Luther Dixon (credited as Barney Williams), and Mack David (lyrics). It was recorded by the Shirelles and the Beatles and was a hit for both. The highest-charting version of "Baby It ...

'' (1983), and '' Amityville 3-D'' (1983). Dana also played Anne Fry, the wife of the patriot John Fry, played by Jack Lord in the 1957

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...

orientation film for

Colonial Williamsburg Colonial Williamsburg is a living-history museum and private foundation presenting a part of the historic district in Williamsburg, Virginia. Its historic area includes several hundred restored or recreated buildings from the 18th century, wh ...

, '' Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot''. The film has the distinction of being the longest-running motion picture in history, having been shown continually in the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center for over five decades.

Television

Dana guest-starred in three episodes of the television series ''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, airing on CBS and NBC, alternately, between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. Between 1962 ...

''. In 1961, Dana appeared in an episode ("The Scott Machine") of the television series '' The Asphalt Jungle'', and later appeared in the 1977 miniseries ''Seventh Avenue''. In 1978–1979, Dana played the role of alcoholic clothing designer Sylvie Kosloff, the biological mother of villainess Iris Cory ( Beverlee McKinsey) on the

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...

daytime soap opera '' Another World''.

Awards

In 1949, Dana won the Clarence Derwent Award for Most Promising Female, for ''

'' on Broadway. She won the 1973 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play, for '' The Last of Mrs. Lincoln''.

Death

Dana died of cancer, aged 60, December 13, 1983 in New York City.

Filmography

Film

Television

Radio appearances

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dana, Leora 1923 births 1983 deaths 20th-century American actresses Actors Studio alumni Actresses from New York City Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art American film actresses American stage actresses American television actresses Barnard College alumni Deaths from cancer in New York (state) Tony Award winners American expatriate actresses American expatriates in England