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Diana Van der Vlis

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Diana Van der Vlis
Born
Diana Mae Van Der Vlis

(1935-06-09)June 9, 1935
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
DiedOctober 22, 2001(2001-10-22) (aged 66)
Missoula, Montana, U.S.
Other namesDiana Vandervlis
Diana van der Vlis
Diana Van Der Vlis
Years active1954-1989
SpouseRoger Donald (19??-2001; 2 children)

Diana Van der Vlis (June 9, 1935 – October 22, 2001) was a Canadian-American stage, screen and television actress best known for her characters Dr. Nell Beaulac (1975–76) on the ABC soap opera Ryan's Hope and Kate Hathaway Prescott on the soap opera Where the Heart Is. Two other roles on daytime dramas that she played were Sherry Rowan (1987–89) on Ryan's Hope and Susan Ames Carver on The Secret Storm, when she was a substitute for Judy Lewis in the role.

Van der Vlis went to university in Winnipeg,[1] studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in London and acted in Canada, living in both Clarkson, Mississauga, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia,[2] before booking a role in the Utah-filmed B-movie The Girl in Black Stockings (1957),[3] and moving to New York City in 1956. On arrival, she auditioned for an NBC drama program; there, a page suggested that she try the Baum-Newborn Theatrical Agency.[4]

Within six weeks of arriving in New York City, she was cast in the Broadway show The Happiest Millionaire.[4] While in rehearsals, she reportedly was offered a three-picture non-exclusive film deal with an independent studio and a lead role in a weekly half-hour NBC program filmed in Paris.[4] Her debut, opposite Walter Pidgeon, proved to be a hit. She toured with the show, including to Toronto.[5]

Her subsequent Broadway productions include leading or featured roles in Comes a Day, A Mighty Man Is He, A Shot in the Dark, On an Open Road and The Waltz of the Toreadors.[6]

Diana can be seen in the movies X: The Man with the X-ray Eyes (1963), The Incident (1967), The Swimmer (1968) and Lovespell (1981). She also appears in a 1967 TV film Ghostbreakers.

Van der Vlis guest-starred on numerous primetime TV shows, including Kraft Theatre, Naked City, Tactic, U.S. Steel Hour, DuPont Show of the Month, The DuPont Show of the Week, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Great Ghost Tales, Brenner, Checkmate, East Side/West Side, Route 66, Dr. Kildare, Flipper, Mr. Broadway, The Defenders, Twelve O'Clock High (as the "commander's pretty wife"),[7] The Invaders, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., T.H.E. Cat, The F.B.I., and The Fugitive.

She was a naturalized U.S. citizen and mother of actor Matthew Powers.

On October 22, 2001, she died in Montana due to a cardiac arrest caused by a pulmonary embolism, following a brief illness.

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1957 The Girl in Black Stockings Louise Miles
1961 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Elise Taylor Season 6 Episode 37: "Make My Death Bed"
1963 X: The Man with the X-ray Eyes Dr. Diane Fairfax
1967 The Incident Helen Wilks
1968 The Swimmer Helen Westerhazy
1981 Lovespell Alix

References

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  1. ^ Glasgow, Helen (January 23, 1957). "Immigrants bring new ideas with them that find a place in Canadian homes". The Vancouver News-Herald. Canadian Press. p. 11. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  2. ^ Mather, Winnifred (January 11, 1957). "Click of castanets creates mood". The Province. Vancouver BC. p. 26. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  3. ^ "Clarkson's Diana has feature role in Utah picture", Port Credit Weekly, 2 August 1956.
  4. ^ a b c "Gaver on Broadway" (Newspapers.com). The Sandusky Register. Sandusky, Ohio. September 10, 1956. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  5. ^ "Vancouver girl makes hit in New York show". Vancouver BC. March 21, 1957. p. 57. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  6. ^ "Ticket sale for 'Waltz of Toreadors'". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. March 17, 1974. p. 96. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  7. ^ "TV Scout". The Ithaca Journal. Ithaca, New York. January 22, 1965. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
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