CineScope
Diana Hyland picture

Diana Hyland

Acting
Known For

41 Years Old

Diana Hyland, a striking, knowing beauty with a confident air about her, was born Diane Gentner on January 25, 1936, in Ohio and appeared on stage in summer stock as a teen before graduating from Cleveland Heights High School. Moving to New York in 1955 to test her acting mettle, the slim-faced, honey-blonde actress began to find TV roles almost immediately (one of her first being a "Robert Montgomery Presents" episode) in between supplementing her income as a switchboard operator. Initially billed Diane Gentner, she changed it to Diana Hyland (taking her mother's maiden name). Following a tour of the play "Look Back in Anger," she broke through quite impressively on the Broadway boards as the neurotic ingénue in the acclaimed 1959 Tennessee Williams production of "Sweet Bird of Youth" starring Paul Newman and Geraldine Page. Her role of Heavenly Finley could have made her a film star had she been allowed to take it the big screen, but Shirley Knight was given that honor. In the early 60s, Diana focused on the small screen with strong, emotional roles on such soaps as "Young Dr. Malone" (1958) and "Peyton Place" (1964) (in a particularly showy role as a minister's alcoholic wife). She also scored well in a series of guest parts, notably "The Twilight Zone," "The Fugitive," "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" and "Alcoa Presents," the last for which she received an Emmy nomination. She was a particularly sought-after presence on medical shows as well, spicing up such popular tearjerkers as "Ben Casey," "Dr. Kildare," "The Doctors and the Nurses," "Medical Center" and "Marcus Welby, M.D.". Strangely, Diana made noticeably few films during her career, her best showcase being that of the unconventional minister's wife opposite Don Murray's Rev. Norman Vincent Peale in One Man's Way (1964). In addition to a small, downbeat supporting turn in The Chase (1966) starring Marlon Brando, Robert Redford and, Jane Fonda, she also co-starred with Fess Parker in the routine western yarn Smoky (1966). Remaining focused on TV, Diana continued to brightened up the TV medium into the 1970s with an emphasis on crime ("Kojak, "Harry O", "Cannon," "Mannix," etc.). IMDb Mini Biography By: Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net

Born

Cleveland Heights, Ohio, USA on 25th January 1936

Died

27th March 1977

All Credits

Ben Casey Image
Ben Casey
Dr. Kildare Image
Dr. Kildare
Marguerite Williams
Dr. Kildare Image
Dr. Kildare
Dr. Lilith McGraw
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Image
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Grace Renford
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Image
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Janet Nelson
Run for Your Life Image
Run for Your Life
Diana Hays
Run for Your Life Image
Run for Your Life
Eileen Henderson
Mannix Image
Mannix
Janice Graham
Medical Center Image
Medical Center
The F.B.I. Image
The F.B.I.
Pat Laner
The F.B.I. Image
The F.B.I.
Joanne Kinston
The F.B.I. Image
The F.B.I.
Virginia Lamberth
The F.B.I. Image
The F.B.I.
Marie-Luise Karn
Robert Montgomery Presents Image
Robert Montgomery Presents
Judy
Happy Days Image
Happy Days
The Twilight Zone Image
The Twilight Zone
Anne Henderson / Rider in Black
Alcoa Premiere Image
Alcoa Premiere
The Name of the Game Image
The Name of the Game
Lisa Adrian
The Invaders Image
The Invaders
Ellie Markham
The Invaders Image
The Invaders
Sherri Vikor
Cannon Image
Cannon
Sam Benedict Image
Sam Benedict
Stoney Burke Image
Stoney Burke
Tarzan Image
Tarzan
Diana Russell
Kojak Image
Kojak
Cleo Donatello
No Image
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Ironside Image
Ironside
The Fugitive Image
The Fugitive
Alison Priestley
The Fugitive Image
The Fugitive
Penny
The Fugitive Image
The Fugitive
Carol Hollister
The Fugitive Image
The Fugitive
Stella Savano
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Image
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Miranda Bryant / Irina
Harry O Image
Harry O
Felony Squad Image
Felony Squad
Banyon Image
Banyon
Gunsmoke Image
Gunsmoke
Dallas Fair
Naked City Image
Naked City
Vivian North
The Green Hornet Image
The Green Hornet
Claudia Bromley
Judd for the Defense Image
Judd for the Defense
Burke's Law Image
Burke's Law
Laurel Peachey
The Rogues Image
The Rogues
Celeste Martel
The Iron Horse Image
The Iron Horse
Marta Grenier
Kraft Suspense Theatre Image
Kraft Suspense Theatre
Laura DeLinda Stevenson / Laura Murdoch
Eight Is Enough Image
Eight Is Enough
Joan Bradford
S.W.A.T. Image
S.W.A.T.
Alias Smith and Jones Image
Alias Smith and Jones
No Image
Young Doctor Malone
Search Image
Search
The Chase Image
The Chase
Elizabeth Rogers
Hawkins Image
Hawkins
Jennifer Pearson
The Boy in the Plastic Bubble Image
The Boy in the Plastic Bubble
Mickey Lubitch
Peyton Place Image
Peyton Place
Susan Winter
Hercules and the Princess of Troy Image
Hercules and the Princess of Troy
Princess Diana
Jigsaw Image
Jigsaw
Sarah
Smoky Image
Smoky
Julie Richards
Scalplock Image
Scalplock
Martha Grenier
One Man's Way Image
One Man's Way
Ruth Stafford Peale
Ritual of Evil Image
Ritual of Evil
Leila Barton