Diana Millay was a popular American actress who appeared in nearly 100 prime time shows and played recurring roles on two soap operas, Dark Shadows and The Secret Storm. She died on January 8, 2021, at the age of 86, in New York City. But what was the cause of her death and how did she live her life?
Early Life and Career
Diana Millay was born as Diana Claire Roberts on June 7, 1934, in Rye, New York. She started her career as a model, first as a child for the Montgomery Ward catalogue, and later as a top Conover model for John Robert Powers. She also acted in summer stock productions during her high school vacations, playing leading or featured roles in classic stage plays such as The Little Foxes, The Seven Year Itch, Bell, Book and Candle, and Life With Father.
She made her Broadway debut in 1957, starring opposite Sam Levene and Ellen Burstyn in Fair Game. She also appeared in other Broadway shows such as Drink to Me Only, Roger the Sixth, The Glass Rooster, and Boeing Boeing. She toured the United States and Canada with Eddie Bracken in The Seven Year Itch for a year.
Her first film role was in the 1957 United Artists movie Street of Sinners, opposite George Montgomery. Her television debut came on an episode of the anthology series Star Tonight. She continued to appear in other live productions such as Robert Montgomery Presents, Kraft Television Theatre, Studio One, Playhouse 90, and many others.
She made three guest appearances on the CBS courtroom drama series Perry Mason, starring Raymond Burr. She also guest starred on most of the major shows that were running during the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s, including Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Virginian, 77 Sunset Strip, Rawhide, Route 66, The Rifleman, Maverick, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and many more.
Dark Shadows and The Secret Storm
Diana Millay’s most memorable role was that of Laura Collins, an immortal Phoenix-like entity who tried to claim her son David as her own, in the cult supernatural soap opera Dark Shadows. She played this character in 62 episodes between 1966 and 1969, and also reprised it in the spin-off movie Night of Dark Shadows in 1971.
She also played Kitty Styles on another soap opera, The Secret Storm, from 1968 to 1970. She was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series for this role in 1970.
Personal Life and Death
Diana Millay was married to Broadway producer Geoffrey Jones from 1966 to 1968. They had a son named Kiley Christopher. She later moved back to New York where she became an author of several books, including The Power of Halloween (about witchcraft and supernatural themes), How to Create Good Luck (about positive thinking and self-help), and I’d Rather Eat Than Act (a cookbook).
She died on January 8, 2021, in New York City. The cause of her death was not disclosed by her family or representatives. She was buried at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.
Diana Millay was a talented and versatile actress who left a lasting impression on her fans and colleagues. She will be remembered for her roles in Dark Shadows and The Secret Storm, as well as her many other television appearances. She was also a successful model, author, and mother. She lived a full and rich life until she passed away at the age of 86.
