Diane Venora is an accomplished actress from America who gained recognition for her portrayal of ‘Chan Parker’ in the biopic ‘Bird’ after beginning her career in Shakespearean productions. She was honored with the ‘New York Film Critics Circle Award’ for her role.
She was also one of the pioneering females to play the lead in ‘Hamlet’ at the ‘New York Shakespeare Festival,’ breaking gender barriers. Venora’s television credits consist of recurring parts in the well-known series ‘Thunder Alley’ and ‘Chicago Hope.’
Early Life & Education
Diane Venora was born on August 10, 1952, in East Hartford Connecticut, USA. She was raised by her parents Marie Brooks Venora and Robert P. Venora.
Her father, who was of Italian heritage, owned a dry-cleaning business. She was one of six siblings in her family. While she initially aspired to be a hairdresser, her parents pushed her to pursue a career in acting.
From a young age, Diane had a passion for singing and acting. She was heavily involved in her school’s drama club and other cultural events. In 1970, she completed her education at ‘East Hartford High School’ and continued to pursue her love for music at the ‘Boston Conservatory of Music’ for two years.
Afterward, she was awarded a scholarship to attend the renowned Juilliard School in New York City, and she completed her studies there in 1977.
At the school, she was part of a drama group that included some of America’s future celebrities, including Harriet Sansom Harris, Kelsey Grammer, and Robin Williams.
Diane Venora’s Acting Career
In 1981, Diane Venora embarked on her theatrical journey by landing a part in the Off-Broadway production of ‘Penguin Touquet.’ She gained extensive experience in performing Shakespearean works and was amongst the pioneering women to portray the protagonist in ‘Hamlet’ at the ‘New York Shakespeare Festival’ in 1983.
Following that, she performed as the lead character in ‘Hamlet’ multiple times at different locations. She gained recognition for breaking barriers in Shakespearean plays and demonstrated her versatility as an actress.
In 1981, she first appeared in the crime-horror film ‘Wolfen,’ alongside Gregory Hines and Albert Finney. Following that, she went on to star in ‘The Cotton Club’ (1984), ‘Terminal Choice’ (1985), and ‘Ironweed’ (1987).
In 1988, Diane Venora’s acting career took off when she played the role of ‘Chan Parker’ in the biographical movie ‘Bird,’ which was directed and produced by Clint Eastwood. Her exceptional performance earned her a ‘New York Film Critics Circle’ award and a ‘Golden Globe’ nomination.
Her portrayal of ‘Justine Hanna’ in the 1995 crime thriller ‘Heat,’ alongside Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, received praise from both critics and audiences.
Since then, she has been featured in various films, such as ‘Self Medicated,’ in which she portrayed ‘Louise Eriksen.’ This movie was honored with the best ensemble cast award at the ‘Phoenix Film Festival.’
In addition to her roles in theater and film, she also experienced success on television during the 1980s. She appeared on ‘Getting There’ (1980), ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ (1982), ‘Great Performances’ (1990), and ‘Law & Order’ (1993).
Diane Venora reached the peak of her television career when she landed recurring roles on ‘Thunder Alley’ (1994) and the critically acclaimed series ‘Chicago Hope’ (1994-1995). In these shows, she portrayed Ed Asner’s daughter and a plastic surgeon, respectively, earning an Emmy award for her performance.
She continued to have success on television until 2016, appearing in well-known prime-time shows like ‘Criminal Minds’ (2006), ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ (2010), ‘The Wish List’ (2010), and ‘The Victorians’ (2016).
Personal Life
Diane Venora and Andrzej Bartkowiak’s relationship blossomed during their time working on a ‘Head & Shoulders’ shampoo commercial. They tied the knot in 1980 after dating for a year, and their daughter, Madzia, was born.
The couple ultimately chose to get divorced in 1989, as their relationship was not successful. Diane took a break from her career in the entertainment industry to focus on her eight-year-old daughter. The young girl had a hearing impairment and a deteriorating nerve condition, which required her to rely on her mother.
