Diana Hyland Biography

Diana Hyland was an American TV, film, and stage actor. She was mostly known for her roles in TV productions. Diana initially used her birth name for her acting credits but later changed it on her agent’s insistence. She chose her mother’s maiden name as her stage moniker. The slim-faced, honey-blonde beauty had appeared in a sizable number of TV series, among which two of the most notable were 'Peyton Place' and 'Young Doctor Malone.' Diana is also remembered for her remarkable performance in the TV movie 'The Boy in the Plastic Bubble,' for which she was honored with an 'Emmy,' posthumously. Diana was moderately popular in the theater circuit and had been part of a few acclaimed plays, too. Her film career, however, was short-lived. In her entire career, Diana had done only five films, all of which released in the 1960s. After divorcing her first husband, Diana had a passionate affair with her much younger co-star John Travolta. The two remained together until Diana died of cancer at the age of 41. Her unfortunate death was not only a loss to the entertainment industry but also left John devastated for life. Diana is regarded as John’s first and only real-life love interest and remained irreplaceable throughout his life. As an actor, too, she was bold and vibrant and continued working till her last breath.