Dana Delany facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dana Delany
Delany at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards in 2009
Born	(1956-03-13) March 13, 1956 (age 69) New York City, U.S.
Alma mater	Wesleyan University
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1974–present
Known for	China Beach Desperate Housewives Body of Proof

Dana Delany (born March 13, 1956) is an American actress. She is well-known for her roles in popular TV shows. She played Colleen McMurphy in the ABC drama China Beach from 1988 to 1991. For this role, she won two Primetime Emmy Awards.

Later, she became famous for playing Katherine Mayfair in the ABC series Desperate Housewives (2007–2010). She also starred as Megan Hunt in the medical drama Body of Proof (2011–2013). Besides TV, Dana Delany has appeared in many movies. She also lent her voice to the character of Lois Lane in several Superman cartoons.

Early Life and Education

Dana Delany was born in New York City. Her mother was an interior designer, and her father was a business CEO. She has a sister named Corey and a brother named Sean. Dana grew up in Stamford, Connecticut. She always dreamed of becoming an actress, even when she was a little girl. She loved going to Broadway shows and watching movies with her family.

For her last year of high school, Dana went to Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. She was part of the first class that included both boys and girls. Dana said that Andover was "the best time of my life." She played the main role of Nellie Forbush in the school's musical South Pacific. She graduated in 1974 with high academic honors.

After high school, Dana studied theater at Wesleyan University. She performed in many plays there, including an early show of María Irene Fornés's play Fefu and Her Friends. During her summer breaks, she also worked in theater productions. She graduated from college in 1978.

Acting Career

Early Roles and China Beach

After college, Dana Delany started her acting career in New York City. She appeared in daytime soap operas like Love of Life and As the World Turns. She also acted in TV commercials to support herself. She performed in a Broadway play called A Life. In 1983, she received good reviews for her off-Broadway play Blood Moon.

Later, Dana moved to Hollywood. She got guest roles in popular TV shows. These included Moonlighting, Magnum, P.I., and Thirtysomething.

Her big break came with the TV show China Beach. At first, the producers thought she wasn't right for the lead role of nurse Colleen McMurphy. But she tried again after cutting her hair short. She got the part, and China Beach aired from 1988 to 1991. This role brought her a lot of attention. She won two Primetime Emmy Awards for her performance. She also received two more Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe Award nominations.

Movies, Voice Acting, and TV Shows

Delany at 44th Primetime Emmy Awards, holding the award she won in 1992.

In 1991, People magazine named Dana Delany one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. After China Beach, she continued to work in TV, movies, and theater. She also became a well-known voice actress.

She starred in movies like A Promise to Keep, Light Sleeper, Housesitter, and Fly Away Home. In 1992, she played Josephine Marcus in the movie Tombstone. She acted alongside Kurt Russell in this film. In 1993, she starred with Charles Bronson in the TV movie Donato and Daughter. She also played Margaret Sanger in the TV movie Choices of the Heart: The Margaret Sanger Story (1995).

In 1995, Dana was in the Broadway play Translations. In 1997, she returned to her old high school, Phillips Academy, to work with theater students. She appeared in TV movies like True Women (1997) and Resurrection (1999). In 1998, she was offered the role of Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City but turned it down. The role later made Sarah Jessica Parker very famous.

Dana Delany also did a lot of voice work. Her first voice role was Andrea Beaumont in the 1993 animated movie Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. She then became the voice of Lois Lane in Superman: The Animated Series. She continued to voice Lois Lane in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. She also voiced the character in The Batman. She returned as Lois Lane in the 2013 animated movie Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox.

Desperate Housewives and Beyond

Delany, Teri Hatcher, Brenda Strong, and Andrea Bowen at the 20th GLAAD Media Awards in 2009.

In the 2000s, Dana Delany continued to work on many projects. She appeared in TV series like Good Guys/Bad Guys (2000) and Pasadena (2001). She was also an actress and producer for the film Final Jeopardy (2001). She played a doctor in the TV series Presidio Med (2002). She also appeared in TV movies such as A Time to Remember (2003) and Baby for Sale (2004).

She returned to theater, performing in the play Dinner With Friends (2000). She also played Beatrice in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing (2003). From 2004 to 2006, she had guest roles on many TV shows. These included Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Boston Legal, and Battlestar Galactica. She also starred in the TV series Kidnapped (2006).

In 2007, Dana Delany joined the cast of Desperate Housewives. She played Katherine Mayfair, a new housewife on the show. Critics praised her ability to handle both funny and serious scenes. She said that understanding the show's unique style was the hardest part. She remained a main character until 2010.

In 2010, Dana appeared as FBI agent Jordan Shaw in the TV series Castle. She also voiced a character in the animated film Firebreather. Dana left Desperate Housewives to star in the new ABC series Body of Proof. In this show, she played Dr. Megan Hunt, a brilliant brain surgeon who becomes a medical examiner. In 2011, People magazine included her in their 100 Most Beautiful list.

In 2012, she appeared in the crime drama Freelancers with Robert De Niro and Forest Whitaker. In 2016, she was a guest host on Turner Classic Movies. In 2018, she was cast in the CBS drama The Code. Since 2022, she has a main role in the series Tulsa King.

Filmography

Delany at 43rd Primetime Emmy Awards in 1991

Delany in 2010

Movies

TV Shows

Other Work

Awards and Achievements

Delany at 41st Primetime Emmy Awards, holding the award she won in 1989.

Dana Delany has won several awards for her acting. Here are some of her main achievements:

See also

In Spanish: Dana Delany para niños