Last Updated on 2 months by Vijay Kumar
Diana Douglas (born Diana Love Dill; January 22, 1923 – July 3, 2015) was a Bermudian-American actress and model who appeared in numerous films and television shows over a career spanning more than six decades. She was known for her elegance, versatility, and notable performances in films like Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) and TV series such as The West Wing. She was also recognized as the first wife of legendary actor Kirk Douglas and the mother of actor Michael Douglas.
Early Life
Diana Love Dill was born on January 22, 1923, in Devonshire, Bermuda, to Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Melville Dill and Ruth Rapalje Neilson. She grew up in an influential Bermudian family, with her father serving as Bermuda’s Attorney General. Educated in Bermuda, Diana later moved to the United States to study acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, where she met Kirk Douglas.
Career
Diana Douglas made her film debut in the early 1940s and signed with Warner Bros. Her early credits included small roles in films before she transitioned to a career that spanned both cinema and television. She appeared in movies such as The Indian Fighter (1955), Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), It Runs in the Family (2003) in which she starred alongside Kirk and Michael Douglas and Ghosts of Mississippi (1996). On television, she appeared in The Waltons, Dynasty, Dallas, and The West Wing. Known for her refined screen presence, she often portrayed sophisticated and strong-willed women.
Personal Life
In 1943, Diana married Kirk Douglas, and the couple had two sons: Michael Douglas (born 1944) and Joel Douglas (born 1947). The marriage ended in divorce in 1951, but the two remained on friendly terms. She later married actor Bill Darrid, with whom she remained until his death in 1992. In 2002, she married Donald Webster, a former actor and retired U.S. Treasury official. Diana also worked as a model and was featured on the cover of Life magazine in May 1943.
Death
Diana Douglas died on July 3, 2015, in Woodland Hills, California, at the age of 92, after a battle with cancer. She was remembered for her grace, her contributions to film and television, and her enduring connection to one of Hollywood’s most famous families.
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