Dinah Manoff facts for kids

Dinah Manoff (born January 25, 1956) is an American actress and television director. She has worked in theater, movies, and TV shows. Many people know her as Marty Maraschino in the movie Grease. She also played Carol Weston on the TV show Empty Nest.

For her role in the play I Ought to Be in Pictures, she won a famous theater award called a Tony Award. She later starred in the movie version of the play.

Early Life and Family

Dinah Manoff was born in New York City. Her parents were also in the entertainment industry. Her mother, Lee Grant, is an actress and director. Her father, Arnold Manoff, was a screenwriter.

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

Acting Career

First Roles in the 1970s

Manoff started her career in 1975 with a voice role in the animated movie Everybody Rides the Carousel. Her first time on television was in 1976. She had guest roles on shows like Welcome Back, Kotter.

In 1978, Manoff became well-known for two big roles. She played Elaine on the comedy show Soap. That same year, she played Marty Maraschino, one of the "Pink Ladies," in the hit movie musical Grease.

Success in the 1980s

In 1980, Manoff starred in a Neil Simon play on Broadway called I Ought to Be in Pictures. Her performance was so good that she won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play. Two years later, she played the same character in the movie version.

Also in 1980, she appeared in the movie Ordinary People, which won several Academy Awards. In this film, she played the role of a troubled friend to the main character.

In 1988, she acted in the movie Child's Play. That same year, she began her most famous television role. She started playing Carol Weston on the show Empty Nest. This show was a spin-off of The Golden Girls. Manoff was on Empty Nest for seven years and appeared in every episode.

Television Work in the 1990s

During the 1990s, Manoff focused more on television. She acted in the movie Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael in 1990. She also continued her role on Empty Nest until the show ended in 1995.

Besides acting, Manoff also started directing. She directed two episodes of Empty Nest. She also directed an episode of the popular show Sabrina the Teenage Witch in 1999.

Career from 2000 to Today

In 2000, Manoff appeared in the TV movie The Lost Child. In 2001, she starred in the movie The Amati Girls. This was the only movie where she acted alongside her real-life mother, Lee Grant.

From 2001 to 2002, she was a main character in the TV series State of Grace. In 2003, she played Aunt Marla in A Carol Christmas, a modern version of the classic story A Christmas Carol.

After a break from acting, she appeared in the 2009 movie Bart Got a Room. In 2010, she attended the Seattle International Film Festival to celebrate a special sing-along version of Grease.

Personal Life

Manoff has been married to Arthur Mortell since 1997. The family lives in Bainbridge Island, Washington. They had three sons together: Dashiell, and twins named Desi and Oliver. Their son Dashiell passed away in 2017.

Selected Film and TV Roles

Here are some of the movies and television shows Dinah Manoff has appeared in.

See also

In Spanish: Dinah Manoff para niños