Diana Douglas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Diana Douglas
Douglas in 2003
Born	Diana Love Dill (1923-01-22)January 22, 1923 Devonshire, Bermuda
Died	July 3, 2015(2015-07-03) (aged 92) Woodland Hills, California, U.S.
Nationality	United Kingdom United States
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1942–2008
Spouse(s)	Kirk Douglas ​ ​ (m. 1943; div. 1951)​ Bill Darrid ​ ​ (m. 1956; died 1992)​ Donald Webster ​ (m. 2002)​
Children	Michael Douglas Joel Douglas
Parent(s)	Thomas Melville Dill (father)

Diana Douglas in 1950

Diana Douglas was an actress from Bermuda and the United States. She was born on January 22, 1923, and passed away on July 3, 2015. She was married to the famous actor Kirk Douglas and was the mother of actors Michael Douglas and Joel Douglas.

Diana Douglas started her acting career in 1942. She appeared in over 50 films and many TV shows. Some of her well-known movie roles include Susan Rogers in The Indian Fighter and Peg in Planes, Trains and Automobiles. On television, she was known for playing Martha Evans in Days of Our Lives. In 2003, she acted in the movie It Runs in the Family. In this film, she worked with her ex-husband Kirk, her son Michael, and her grandson Cameron. She stopped acting in 2008.

Early Life and Family

Diana Douglas was born Diana Love Dill in Devonshire, Bermuda. This was on January 22, 1923. Her father, Thomas Melville Dill, was an important person in Bermuda. He was a lawyer and a member of the local government. Her mother, Ruth Rapalje Neilson, had family roots in New Jersey, USA.

Diana came from a well-known Bermudian family. Her ancestors had lived on the island since the 1600s. Her family background included English, Irish, Welsh, Dutch, Scottish, Belgian, and French roots. She grew up following the traditions of the Church of England.

Acting Career

Diana Douglas began her acting journey in 1942. Her first small role was in the movie Keeper of the Flame. She appeared in many films during the 1950s and 1960s. One of her most famous movie roles was Susan Rogers in The Indian Fighter.

In the 1960s and 1970s, she acted in various television shows. These included General Electric Theater and Naked City. Her most recognized TV role was Lily Chernak Donnelly in Love Is a Many Splendored Thing. She also played Poco on Three Steps to Heaven and Martha Evans in Days of Our Lives.

After Love Is a Many Splendored Thing ended, she played Annie Andersen in The Cowboys. She also appeared in Roots: The Next Generations and The Waltons. In 2003, she starred in It Runs in the Family. This movie was special because she acted alongside her former husband, Kirk Douglas, her son Michael, and her grandson Cameron. Later, she appeared in an episode of Cold Case and in the TV show ER in 2008. This was her final acting role before she retired.

In 1999, Diana Douglas wrote a book about her life. It was called In the Wings: A Memoir.

Personal Life

Diana Dill met Kirk Douglas when they were both studying acting. This was before World War II. During the war, Kirk Douglas was in the U.S. Navy. He saw Diana's picture on the cover of Life magazine in May 1943. He told his shipmates that he would marry her.

They got married on November 2, 1943. They had two sons together: Michael and Joel. They later divorced in 1951.

After her divorce from Kirk, Diana married actor Bill Darrid. They lived on the East Coast of the United States with her sons. Bill Darrid passed away in 1992. In 2002, Diana married Donald Webster. Their wedding took place in an old church in Devonshire Parish, Bermuda.

Later Years and Passing

Diana Douglas was a survivor of breast cancer. She passed away on July 3, 2015, at the age of 92. She died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles. Her death was due to an undisclosed form of cancer.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

See also

In Spanish: Diana Douglas para niños