Diane Neal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Diane Neal
Neal at the 2012 Monte-Carlo Television Festival
Born	(1976-11-17) November 17, 1976 (age 48) Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.
Citizenship	Israel United States
Education	Harvard University (AA)
Occupation	Actress model podcaster
Years active	2001–present
Notable credit(s)	Casey Novak on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Abigail Borin on NCIS
Political party	Independent
Spouse(s)	Marcus O. Fitzgerald ​ ​ (m. 2005; div. 2014)​

Diane Neal (born November 17, 1976) is an American actress. She is famous for playing New York Assistant District Attorney Casey Novak on the TV show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She was on the show from 2003 to 2012. Diane Neal also played Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) Special Agent Abigail Borin in the NCIS TV series.

Early Life and Education

Neal in 2008

Diane Neal was born in Alexandria, Virginia. She is the youngest of three daughters. Her mother, Colleen Neal, was a math teacher. Her father, Christopher Neal, was a federal attorney. Diane grew up in Littleton, Colorado, with her older sisters, Leigh and Erin.

After finishing Heritage High School, Diane moved to Hawaii for college. She later left school to become a model. She modeled for companies like Shiseido and Pond's. In 2009, she decided to go back to school. She attended Harvard University's Extension School. She earned an associate degree in May 2018.

Acting Career Highlights

Starting on Law & Order: SVU

Diane Neal first appeared on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as a guest star. She played a different character in a Season 3 episode called "Ridicule". She then joined the show as Assistant District Attorney Casey Novak in its fifth season. She took over the role from Stephanie March.

Returning as Casey Novak

Neal played Casey Novak until the end of Season 9. Her character left the show for a while. In 2011, she came back as Novak in Season 12. She became a recurring character in Season 13. She was last seen in the episode "Valentine's Day".

Diane Neal said that her return, along with Stephanie March's, helped viewers. It provided a familiar feeling after original cast member Chris Meloni left the show.

Other TV and Film Roles

In 2021, Diane Neal starred in the Lifetime movie Circle of Deception. She played the character Peggy Sue Thomas.

She has also appeared in other popular TV shows. These include NCIS and NCIS: New Orleans. In these shows, she played CGIS Special Agent Abigail Borin. She also had roles in Suits and Blue Bloods.

Public Life and Activities

Running for Congress

On February 6, 2018, Diane Neal announced she would run for the U.S. House of Representatives. She ran as an independent candidate in New York's 19th congressional district. She described her political ideas as a mix of "libertarian" and "progressive." She finished with 1% of the votes.

Hosting a Podcast

On January 14, 2022, Diane Neal started hosting a new podcast. It is a comedy and talk show called "Hear Say with Diane Neal." The podcast aims to be both fun and informative.

Personal Life and Interests

Marriage and Divorce

On July 9, 2005, Diane Neal married Marcus O. Fitzgerald. He was a former model and engineer from Ireland. They got divorced in 2014.

Health and Recovery

In 2013, Diane Neal was in a car accident. She fractured her spine. She said that her long recovery from these injuries caused her to pause her acting career.

Moving to Israel

In 2023, Diane Neal moved to Israel. She became an Israeli citizen.

Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

See also

In Spanish: Diane Neal para niños