Background
Champlin was born in Rochester, New York, to a technical writer mother and a scientist father.
Champlin was born in Rochester, New York, to a technical writer mother and a scientist father.
Champlin went on to study musical theatre at Carnegie Mellon University, graduating with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1993, and as a 1992 Advanced Acting Scholar in Shakespeare and Chekhov at the University of Oxford.
She participated in various lessons, theatre productions, and national, and international competitions throughout her childhood, in voice, piano, flute, theatre and dance. While still in college, she performed as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz with Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. Other credits include: Number, Number Nanette, Very Good Eddie, First Lady Suite, Harold and Maude, My Life With Albertine, Bloomer Girl, and Jolson.
She also performed with Len Cariou in the Simply Sondheim inaugural concert which celebrated the opening of the Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts.
Champlin"s film and television credits include The Dark Half, the 2000 and 2006 Annual Tony Awards, The View, Law & Order, The Rosie O"Donnell Show, and Live with Regis and Kelly. As of 2015, Donna has starred in the role of Paula Proctor in The CW comedy-drama series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
Champlin released a solo album entitled Old Friends, performs a one-woman show entitled Finishing the Hat, and teaches acting at the Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Hartford, and New York University.