Dana Delany - Delightfully Diverse Quiz

Answer: New York, New York

Dana was born in Manhattan, and spent most of her childhood living in Stamford. Her parents divorced when Dana was 16, after which she moved to Charlottesville with her father and siblings. Dana has one sister (an interior designer) and one brother (an attorney).

Answer: Toilet flush valves

The Delany Flush Valve is a diaphragm valve used on commercial toilets not equipped with water tanks. This type of valve and plumbing mechanism is used almost universally in commercial and public restroom facilities. The Coyne & Delany Company was founded in 1879 by John J. Delany and Thomas Coyne, and is located in Charlottesville, Virginia; they have a web site at www.coynedelany.com.

Answer: Wesleyan University

Dana was a member of Andover's first coeducational class, during the 1973-74 school year (after Phillips Academy merged with Abbot Academy, then New England's oldest incorporated school for girls). Following her attendance at Andover, Dana went on to earn a theatrical degree from Wesleyan University, Class of 1978. Twenty years later in 1998, Wesleyan presented Dana with a Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition for her professional accomplishments.

Other notable Wesleyan alumni include author Robert Ludlum ("The Bourne Identity", "Trevayne"), film director Jon Turteltaub ("Cool Runnings", "While You Were Sleeping"), and writer/producer Joss Whedon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Angel").

Answer: "As the World Turns" and "Love of Life"

Dana portrayed Amy Russell on "Love of Life" during 1979 and 1980. "Love of Life" was a CBS soap opera that aired for 29 years, from 1951 through 1980. Dana wasn't the only mainstream actress who had a role on "Love of Life" early in her career; others included Barbara Barrie ("Barney Miller", "Suddenly Susan"), Bonnie Bedelia ("Heart Like a Wheel", "Die Hard"), Julia Duffy ("Newhart", "Designing Women") and Marsha Mason ("Cinderella Liberty", "The Goodbye Girl").

In 1981 Dana joined the cast of "As the World Turns", playing Hayley Wilson Hollister for one season. "As the World Turns" is the second-longest running daytime soap opera in US television history; it debuted on CBS on April 2, 1956. On its 48th anniversary in 2004, "ATWT" had filmed a staggering 12,231 episodes, with no end in sight. Only the CBS soap "Guiding Light" has been on the air longer, having made its television premiere on June 30, 1952; the show was originally titled "The Guiding Light", and initially began as a 15-minute radio serial in 1937.

Answer: Magnum, P.I.

Dana guest starred as Cynthia Farrell in the episode "L.A.", the season seven premiere of "Magnum, P.I." The episode was originally broadcast on October 1, 1986 as a two-hour special. It has since been split into two parts for syndication.

In the episode, Magnum visited Los Angeles to serve legal papers on Cynthia, an attorney in the film industry who had stolen one of Robin Masters' stories. Despite such an unlikely beginning, there was instant chemistry between them. Their romance developed as they teamed-up to investigate a drug smuggling ring and a murder mystery, and culminated when Magnum proposed marriage during a high speed car chase. Cynthia initially accepted but then developed cold feet, leaving Magnum to return home alone. Dana reprised her role as Cynthia Farrell later in the seventh season, paying a visit to Hawaii in the episode "Out of Synch".

Answer: 2

While starring on "China Beach", Dana received four straight Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, from 1989-92. She won twice, in 1989 and 1992. Dana's portrayal of Lt. Colleen McMurphy also earned her two Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series - Drama (1990 and 1991).

Following a guest appearance on the CBS legal drama "Family Law", Dana received her fifth Emmy nomination in 2001 (Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series) for her role as Mary Sullivan during the episode "Safe At Home".

Answer: "Pasadena" and "Presidio Med"

Dana starred as Catherine McAllister on the Fox prime time drama "Pasadena". Fox made the standard 13-episode committment for a new series, but only four episodes of "Pasadena" ever aired, between September and November of 2001.

On "Presidio Med", Dana played the role of Dr. Rae Brennan. This 2002 NBC medical drama developed a small, loyal following, but suffered from the network's tendency to juggle program time slots. Sixteen episodes were produced, but only eleven were actually broadcast.

Answer: Lois Lane from "Superman"

Dana was the voice of Lois Lane dozens of times between 1996 and 2003. She also provided voice talent as Gwen "Archer" Bowman on the USA network animated series "Wing Commander Academy", and as Andrea "Andi" Beaumont in the 1993 animated film "Batman: Mask of the Phantasm" (also known by several other titles).

Answer: Steve Martin

Dana portrayed the role of Becky Metcalf in the 1992 film "HouseSitter", directed by Frank Oz. Steve Martin's character, architect Newton Davis, built a dream house for Becky, his high school sweetheart. Unfortunately, when Newton surprised Becky with the house (and a marriage proposal) she rejected his overtures.

The situation quickly became even more complicated after Gwen (a ditsy flake played splendidly by Goldie Hawn) moved into the house pretending to be Newton's wife.

Answer: Tombstone

"Tombstone" - a modern retelling of the Earps, the Clantons, and the gunfight at the O.K. Corral - was directed by George P. Cosmatos. It featured an all-star cast including Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliott, Powers Boothe, Charlton Heston, and of course, Dana Delany. Val Kilmer received considerable popular praise for his portrayal of Doc Holliday.

Answer: Lisa Emerson

Lisa Emerson was the operator of "Eden". Rosie O'Donnell portrayed the character Sheila Kingston, and the role of Nina Blackstone was played by Somalian model/actress Iman. Although not a character in the film, author Anne Rice wrote the novel "Exit to Eden" upon which the film's screenplay was based. The screenplay was written by Deborah Amelon and Bob Brunner.

Answer: Bathe her

Although Elliot also shaved Lisa's legs, her exact instructions to him were "bathe me", repeated twice. Anxious to curry Lisa's favor, Elliot dutifully did exactly as he was told. As their relationship developed, Lisa gradually became less the operator of "Eden", and more of a traditional girlfriend to Elliot.

Answer: Masquerade

In the 1988 romance thriller "Masquerade", Dana played the role of Anne Briscoe, and Kim portrayed Brooke Morrison. Both were supporting characters; the lead roles were played by Rob Lowe and Meg Tilly.

Answer: 2

Dana shared the screen twice with Charles Durning before "Mother Ghost". They appeared together in the 1986 adventure film "Where the River Runs Black", and in the 1994 television short film "Texan". The latter was directed by Treat Williams, with whom Dana once had a brief romantic relationship.

Answer: Scleroderma

"For Hope" was produced and directed by Bob Saget, and was based on the true story of his sister Gay, who died from scleroderma in 1994. Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease with no known cause or cure, and some forms of the disease are fatal. The disease can strike both men and women, but 80% of scleroderma victims are female. Dana Delany has been a vocal advocate for scleroderma research since the early 1990s. Both Dana and Bob Saget are members of the Board of Directors for the Scleroderma Research Foundation (www.srfcure.org).

In addition to her work for scleroderma research, Dana is also an active supporter of women's birth control rights, and a nursing advocate. She has appeared in public service announcements for the American Red Cross, and starred in a nurse's recruiting video for the Texas Hospital Association.