Dana Delany was born on March 13, 1956, in New York City to parents Mary and Jack Delany. Of British-Irish descent, she was raised in a Roman Catholic household and grew up in Stamford, Connecticut. From a young age, Dana was captivated by the world of performing arts, frequently attending Broadway shows with her family. Her early exposure to theater inspired her lifelong passion for acting.
She took a significant step toward that passion by attending Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. Dana described her time there as among the best of her life. In her final year, she was part of the academy's first coeducational class, which also included future notable figures such as Julian Hatton and Sara Nelson. During her time at Phillips, she played the lead female role in the school's production of South Pacific.
After graduating cum laude—an honor earned by just 80 out of 378 students—she pursued her passion further by majoring in Theatre Arts at Wesleyan University, graduating in 1978.
Delany began her professional acting career with daytime soap operas in New York City. She soon gained critical acclaim for her performance in the off-Broadway production of Blood, directed by Elia Kazan. Her work in theater opened doors to television, where she appeared in guest roles on shows like Magnum, P.I.
Her breakthrough came with the lead role of Colleen McMurphy in the television drama China Beach, which aired from 1988 to 1991. Her powerful portrayal of an Army nurse during the Vietnam War earned her two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. The role solidified her status in the entertainment industry.
As her career progressed, Delany expanded into films and other television projects. She starred in TV movies such as Fly Away Home, Housesitter, and Exit to Eden. In 1991, People magazine named her one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World." That same year, she portrayed birth control activist Margaret Sanger in the biopic Choices of the Heart: The Margaret Sanger Story.
In addition to her on-screen roles, Delany became well-known for her voice acting. She voiced Andrea Beaumont in the acclaimed animated film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and later took on the role of Lois Lane in Superman: The Animated Series. The character became a signature role for her, and she reprised it in the 2013 film Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox.
Her other film credits include Freelancers, A Beautiful Life, and The Right Temptation. She also lent her voice to the audiobook adaptation of Life on the Refrigerator Door.
In May 2007, Delany returned to Phillips Academy to collaborate with its theater students, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to the craft and to mentoring young talent. She continued acting in various TV movies such as True Women, Resurrection, and starred in the legal drama Family Law.
As of the most recent reports, Dana Delany is unmarried. Her sustained success in television and film has contributed to an estimated net worth of approximately $8 million.
| Birth Date: | 13 Mar, 1956 |
| Age: | 64 yrs |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | New York City |
| Education: | Wesleyan University Phillips Academy |
| Gender: | Female |
| Description: | Actress |
| Twitter Id: | DanaDelany |
| Net Worth 2021: | 10 million |
