Background

Diana Lynn was born Delores Loehr on October 7, 1926 to Louis Loehr, an oil company executive, and his wife, Martha Loehr, a pianist, in Los Angeles, California, United States.

Education

Lynn began taking piano instructions from her mother at age 6. Meanwhile, she attended Miss Grace’s Private School in Los Angeles.

Career

At eleven, Lynn played with the Los Angeles Junior Symphony Orchestra; she was the accompanist for a young violinist auditioning for a movie role. Dolly was signed instead of the violinist and began her screen career at thirteen, appearing in There's Magic in Music (1939), a film tribute to the Interlochen Music Camp in Michigan. She was signed to a long contract by Paramount. Although roles for the adolescent actress were scarce, she finally won a supporting part in The Major and the Minor (1942).

Her height of five feet, six inches made her a good foil for Ginger Rogers, the star of the film, since the role required Rogers to pass for a teenager. Her name was changed at this point, since her surname was considered too hard to pronounce and "Dolly" seemed childish. Lynn's performance won her similar roles in other films, often as an annoying younger sister. She appeared as Betty Hutton's sister in The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944) and was praised for her "saucy charm. " She was cast in several Henry Aldrich features with Jimmy Lydon in the title role, notably Henry Aldrich Plays Cupid (1944). In And the Angels Sing (1944), she was one of a quartet of sisters called "Angel, " with Betty Hutton, Dorothy Lamour, and Mimi Chandler. She finally escaped "teenage" casting when she played the leader of an all-girl band in Out of This World (1945) with Eddie Bracken; she was also featured in Duffy's Tavern (1945). But Lynn emerged as a star in the film adaptation of the Cornelia Otis Skinner-Emily Kimbrough recollection of a European tour made by two unchaperoned young ladies, Our Hearts Were Young and Gay (1944). Her madcap performance in the role of Emily contributed to the lighthearted charm of the film--which, unfortunately, did not transfer to the sequel Our Hearts Were Growing Up (1946). Lynn established herself as a light comedienne in The Bride Wore Boots (1946) with Barbara Stanwyck and others. However, she began to win dramatic roles in such films as Ruthless (1948), in which she played dual roles; Paid In Full (1950); and The People vs. O'Hara (1951) with Spencer Tracy.

While maintaining her movie career, Lynn also resumed her music career with a concert debut as an adult performer in Los Angeles in 1943. During World War II, she performed in benefit concerts nationwide. In 1946, Capitol Records released a three-record album of Lynn's piano renditions of such light classics as "Laura, " "Body and Soul, " "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, " and Mozart's "Rondo. " During the early 1950's, she began to concentrate on stage performances. Her summer stock performance in Dear Ruth and her work with the La Jolla (Calif. ) Players in The Voice of the Turtle, Ring Around the Moon, and The Moon Is Blue prepared her for her 1953 performance in the London production of The Moon Is Blue, which received rave reviews.

In 1952 she made her New York City debut as Hedwig in Ibsen's The Wild Duck, with Maurice Evans and Mildred Dunnock, at the City Center. She also appeared opposite Sir Cedric Hardwicke in Horses in Midstream (1953) and was praised for her "radiance. " In 1963 she returned to Broadway to star in the title role of Jean Kerr's Mary, Mary.

Later she was able to secure roles on such acclaimed dramatic television series as "Playhouse 90" (five appearances), "Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, " "Stage 7, " "G. E. Theatre, " and "U. S. Steel Hour. " She also appeared in a musical version of Junior Miss with David Wayne (1957) and in a ninety-minute adaptation of The Philadelphia Story, (the Katharine Hepburn--Grace Kelly role) with Gig Young and Christopher Plummer.

Lynn also appeared in many movies, notably in Track of the Cat (1954) with Robert Mitchum, An Annapolis Story (1955) with John Derek and Kevin McCarthy, and The Kentuckian with Burt Lancaster (1955). She again revealed her penchant for comedy in a remake of The Major and the Minor entitled You're Never Too Young (1955) with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis; in a role reversal, Lynn played Ray Milland's schoolteacher role.

In February 1970 Lynn attempted to balance her private domestic life with a business career when she accepted a position as director of GO! , Bonwit Teller's travel agency, operated by Diners Fugazy Travel. Supported by a staff of agents, she planned to give advice on such problems as traveling with children and selecting a wardrobe. She gained her expertise from experience--thirty-one years of coast-to-coast travel to keep up with her career commitments. She died suddenly from a stroke in New York City. She was planning a film comeback in Didion's Play It As It Lays at the time of her death.

Achievements

• Diana Lynn became famous stage and movie actress acting in popular films in the 1940s and 1950s. She played in about 30 movies. With her wit, charm, and ever-exuding warmth, she was a welcome screen presence in each and every film she undertook. Lynn was best remembered for the three films she made with the comedy team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis: "In My Friend Irma" (1949), "My Friend Irma Goes West" (1950), "You’re Never Too Young" (1955). In 1942, Parents magazine named Lynn "the most talented juvenile actress. " She has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for motion pictures and one for television.

Works

More photos

• book

  • They Shall Have Music DVD-R

    (Samuel Goldwyn brings the classics to the masses in this ...)

  • Rogues of Sherwood Forest

    (John Derek (The Ten Commandments) plays the role of Robin...)

  • Every Girl Should Be Married

    (Sales clerk Anabel Sims believes Every Girl Should be Mar...)

  • Bedtime for Bonzo

    (The theory of evolution has never been so zanily tested. ...)

  • My Friend Irma / My Friend Irma Goes West

    (My Friend Irma One croons. The other cavorts. Fans could...)

  • Plunder of the Sun (Special Collector's Edition)
  • Track of the Cat (Special Collector's Editon)
  • The Kentuckian
  • Texas, Brooklyn and Heaven
  • The People Against O'Hara

Connections

Lynn married architect John Lindsay on December 18, 1948. The marriage lasted only until 1953. In December 1956 she married Mortimer Hall, son of New York Post publisher Dorothy Schiff; he was then manager of radio station KLAC in California. They had four children--a son and three daughters.

Father:

Delores Loehr

Mother:

Martha Loehr

Spouse:

John Lindsay

Spouse:

Mortimer Hall