Dinah Manoff facts for kids

Dinah Manoff (born January 25, 1956) is an American actress and television director. She is famous for playing Carol Weston on the TV show Empty Nest. She also played Elaine Lefkowitz on Soap and Marty Maraschino in the movie Grease. Dinah won a Tony Award for her role as Libby Tucker in the play I Ought to Be in Pictures, and she also starred in the movie version.

Who is Dinah Manoff?

Dinah Manoff is a talented actress and director. She has worked in plays, movies, and TV shows. She is known for her funny and memorable characters.

Her Early Life

Dinah Manoff was born in New York City on January 25, 1956. Her mother, Lee Grant, was a famous actress, director, and writer. Her father, Arnold Manoff, was a screenwriter. Dinah also has a half-brother, Tom Manoff, who is a music critic. Her stepfather is a producer named Joseph Feury.

Dinah grew up in New York City and Malibu, California. She went to the New Lincoln School and Santa Monica High School. Later, she studied acting at the Actors Studio. Dinah is Jewish.

Starting Her Acting Journey

Dinah Manoff began her career in the 1970s. Her very first project was lending her voice to the animated film Everybody Rides the Carousel in 1975. In 1976, she appeared on TV for the first time in a show called The Stronger. She also had guest roles on popular shows like Welcome Back, Kotter and Visions. In 1977, she was in the TV movie Raid on Entebbe.

A big break came in 1978 when Dinah joined the cast of the TV comedy Soap. She played Elaine Lefkowitz. That same year, she made her movie debut in the hit musical Grease. She played Marty Maraschino, one of the "Pink Ladies."

Big Roles in the 1980s

The 1980s were a very important time for Dinah's career. In 1980, she starred in the Broadway play I Ought to Be in Pictures. She won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play. This is a huge award for actors on stage! She also won the Theatre World Award. Dinah then played the same role in the movie version of I Ought to Be in Pictures in 1982. She acted alongside famous stars like Walter Matthau and Ann-Margret.

Also in 1980, Dinah appeared in the movie Ordinary People, which won several Academy Awards. In 1985, she was in the Broadway musical Leader of the Pack. In 1988, she played Maggie Peterson in the horror film Child's Play.

Later in 1988, Dinah started her most famous TV role. She played Carol Weston on the NBC comedy show Empty Nest. This show was a spin-off from The Golden Girls. Dinah was in every episode of Empty Nest until it ended in 1995. In 1989, she also appeared in two movies, Bloodhounds of Broadway and Staying Together.

Acting and Directing in the 1990s

In the 1990s, Dinah continued to act and also started directing. In 1990, she was in the movie Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael with Winona Ryder. After that, she mainly focused on TV. She had a small role in an episode of Blossom. She also appeared in TV movies like Babies and Maid for Each Other.

While on Empty Nest, Dinah also directed two episodes of the show. She even appeared on The Golden Girls twice as her character, Carol Weston. After Empty Nest ended, she made guest appearances on other TV shows like Touched by an Angel, Cybill, and George and Leo. In 1999, Dinah directed an episode of the popular show Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

What She's Doing Now (2000s-Present)

In the 2000s, Dinah continued her acting work. In 2000, she was in the TV movie The Lost Child. In 2001, she starred in the movie The Amati Girls. This film was special because it was the only movie where she acted alongside her mother. She also appeared in another 2001 movie called Zigs.

From 2001 to 2002, Dinah co-starred in the TV series State of Grace. In 2003, she played Aunt Marla in A Carol Christmas, a TV movie based on the classic story A Christmas Carol. In 2004, Dinah read some works by the poet Oscar Wilde for a documentary called Happy Birthday Oscar Wilde.

After a short break, Dinah appeared in the movie Bart Got a Room in 2009. In 2010, the movie Grease was re-released as a sing-along. Dinah attended the Seattle International Film Festival to celebrate its release.

Her Family Life

Since 1997, Dinah Manoff has been married to Arthur Mortell. They live in Bainbridge Island, Washington. They have three sons: Dashiell, Desi, and Oliver. Sadly, Dashiell passed away in 2017.

Movies and TV Shows

Films

Television

See also

In Spanish: Dinah Manoff para niños