Dana Ivey

Dana Ivey
Ivey in Professional Cuddler, 2018
Born (1941-08-12) August 12, 1941
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Alma materLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
OccupationActress
Years active1962–2019
MotherMary Nell Santacroce
Websitedanaivey.com

Dana Ivey (born August 12, 1941)[1] is an American retired actress. She is known for her work on Broadway, earning the 1997 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play for her work in both Sex and Longing and The Last Night of Ballyhoo. She originated the title role in Driving Miss Daisy and was nominated for a Drama Desk award for Best Actress in a Play. She received five Tony Award nominations for her roles in Sunday in the Park with George (1984), Heartbreak House (1984), The Last Night of Ballyhoo (1997), The Rivals (2005), and Butley (2007).

On film, she has acted in The Color Purple (1985), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988), The Addams Family (1991), Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), Addams Family Values (1993), Two Weeks Notice (2002), Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003), Rush Hour 3 (2007), and The Help (2011). On television, she has appeared on Frasier, Sex and the City, Boardwalk Empire and The Big C.

Early life and family

Ivey was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Her mother, Mary Nell Ivey Santacroce (née McKoin), was a teacher, speech therapist, and actress who appeared in productions of Driving Miss Daisy and taught at Georgia State University; Mary Nell was considered by John Huston to be "one of the three or four greatest actresses in the world."[2] Her parents divorced. She has a younger brother, John, and a half-brother, Eric Santacroce, and one nephew, Evan Santacroce from her mother's remarriage to Dante Santacroce.[3]

Dana Ivey earned her undergraduate degree at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. She was a member of Phi Mu women's fraternity, and earned a Fulbright grant to study drama at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.[4] Ivey received an honorary doctorate (humane letters) from Rollins College in February 2008.[5]

Career

1974–1989: Early Broadway work

Before making New York City her home in the late 1970s, Ivey appeared in numerous American and Canadian stage productions and served as director of DramaTech in Atlanta from 1974 to 1977, as had her mother before her from 1949 to 1966. In 1981, Ivey made her Broadway debut playing two small roles in a production of Macbeth; the following year, she was cast in a major supporting role in a revival of Noël Coward's Present Laughter, for which she received the Clarence Derwent Award as Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play. She was nominated for two Tony Awards in the same season (1984) – as Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George and Best Featured Actress in a Play for a revival of Heartbreak House – a feat repeated by only three other actresses, Amanda Plummer, Jan Maxwell, and Kate Burton.[6] Ivey's performances in Quartermaine's Terms and Driving Miss Daisy (creating the title role)[7] earned her Obie Awards,[8] as did that in Mrs. Warren's Profession (2005).[9] Ivey's first film appearance was in Joe Dante's 1985 science-fiction fantasy film Explorers with Ethan Hawke and River Phoenix.[10] In 1978, Ivey made her television debut in the daytime soap opera Search for Tomorrow. Her television credits include a starring role in the sitcom Easy Street opposite Loni Anderson and guest appearances on Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order. Her first major screen appearance was in Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Alice Walker's The Color Purple later that same year. She took a bit part in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988).

1990–2009: Character actor roles

Among her other film credits include the 1995 remake of Sabrina, Simon Birch, Postcards from the Edge, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, The Addams Family, Sleepless in Seattle, Addams Family Values, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde, The Adventures of Huck Finn, Orange County, Rush Hour 3, The Leisure Seeker, The Importance of Being Earnest, and as Sandra Bullock's character's mother, Mrs. Kelson, in Two Weeks Notice.

Ivey performed in the New York premiere in 2009 of The Savannah Disputation by Evan Smith at Playwrights Horizons. The comedy co-starred Marylouise Burke, Reed Birney, and Kellie Overbey.[11][12]

2010–present: Later work

In July 2010, she appeared as Winnie in Happy Days by Samuel Beckett at the Westport Playhouse.[13] She appeared as Miss Prism in the Roundabout Theatre Company Broadway production of The Importance of Being Earnest in 2011.[14] Ivey played Mrs Candour in the 2016 production of The School for Scandal at the Lucille Lortel Theatre.[15]

In 2011, she played the role of Grace Higginbotham in the critically acclaimed film, The Help, and starred in Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight. During this time she acted in Frasier, Oz, The Practice, Sex and the City, Ugly Betty, Boardwalk Empire, and Monk (episode "Mr. Monk and the Other Detective"). In December 2016, Ivey was invited by the Noël Coward Society to lay flowers on the statue of Sir Noël Coward at the Gershwin Theatre in Manhattan to celebrate the 117th birthday of "The Master".

Acting credits

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1985ExplorersMrs. Müller
The Color PurpleMiss Millie
1986HeartburnWedding Speaker
1988The Appointments of Dennis JenningsNewscasterShort film
Another WomanEngagement Party Guest
Dirty Rotten ScoundrelsMrs. Reed
1990Postcards from the EdgeWardrobe Mistress
1991The Addams FamilyMargaret Alford
1992Home Alone 2: Lost in New YorkHester Stone
1993The Adventures of Huck FinnWidow Douglas
Guilty as SinJudge D. Tompkins
Sleepless in SeattleClaire
Addams Family ValuesMargaret Addams
1995The Scarlet LetterMeredith Stonehall
SabrinaMack
1998The ImpostorsMrs. Essendine
Simon BirchGrandmother Wenteworth
1999MumfordMrs. Crisp
Walking Across EgyptBeatrice Vernon
2000The KidDr. Alexander
2002Orange CountyVera Gantner
Two Weeks NoticeRuth Kelson
2003Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & BlondeLibby Hauser
2006A Very Serious PersonBetty
2007Broken EnglishElinor Gregory
Rush Hour 3Sister Agnes
2008Ghost TownMarjorie Pickthall
ClaireBarbaraShort film
2009Did You Hear About the Morgans?Trish Pinger
2011The HelpGracie Higginbotham
2013Muhammad Ali's Greatest FightMrs. Paige
2014We'll Never Have ParisFrancoise
2017Professional CuddlerGloriaShort film
The Leisure SeekerLillian
2018Ocean's EightDiana
2019GeorgicaDorothyShort film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1962The BeachcomberKahlanaEpisode: "Tribal Law"
1981Another WorldClinic NurseEpisode: "#1.4336"
1982Little Gloria... Happy at LastTV mini-series, Episode: "Part I"
MacbethWitchTelevision Film
1986American PlayhouseYvonne / Naomi EisenEpisode: "Sunday in the Park with George"
1986–1987Easy StreetEleanor Standard22 episodes
1989B.L. StrykerGabrielle HarwoodEpisode: "Die Laughing"
1985–1990Great PerformancesGertrude / Ariadne2 episodes
1992A Child Lost ForeverLois JurgensTelevision film
1993Class of '61Mrs. Julia Peyton
Mama's BackMaureen
1995Homicide: Life on the StreetMargie Bolander3 episodes
1996Law & OrderMs. ShoreEpisode: "Girlfriends"
1997FrasierMs. LangerEpisode: "Three Days of the Condo"
1999A Lesson Before DyingEdna GuidryTelevision film
2000OzPatricia Nathan2 episodes
2001100 Centre StreetDr. Camille WilloughbyEpisode: "Bottlecaps"
2003The PracticeJudge Natalie BrownEpisode: "Cause of Action"
2004Sex and the CityTrudy StorkEpisode: "Out of the Frying Pan"
2005MonkMrs. EelsEpisode: "Mr. Monk and the Other Detective"
2008The Return of Jezebel JamesMolly2 episodes
2010American ExperienceQuaker WomanEpisode: "Dolley Madison"
Ugly BettyRobertaEpisode: "All the World's a Stage"
Boardwalk EmpireMrs. McGarry4 episodes
2011The Importance of Being EarnestMiss PrismTelevision film
2013The Big CNanEpisode: "Quality of Death"
2015Odd Mom OutMrs. HardwickEpisode: "Wheels Up"
2017Madam SecretaryNelly ConlonEpisode: "The Beautiful Game"

Theater

Year Title Role Venue Ref.
1981 Macbeth Gentlewoman / Witch Vivian Beaumont Theater, Broadway [16]
1983 Present Laughter Monica Reed Circle in the Square Theatre, Broadway [17]
1984 Heartbreak House Lady Utterwood [18]
Sunday in the Park with George Naomi Eisen / Yvonne Booth Theatre, Broadway [19]
1985 Pack of Lies Helen Kroger Royale Theater, Broadway [20]
The Marriage of Figaro Countess Circle in the Square Theatre, Broadway [21]
1987 Driving Miss Daisy Daisy Werthan Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway [22]
1988 Wenceslas Square The Women The Public Theater, Off-Broadway [23]
1989 Love Letters Melissa Gardner Promenade Theater, Off-Broadway [24]
When I Was a Girl, I Used to Scream and Shout Morag South Coast Repertory, California [25]
1990 Hamlet Gertrude The Public Theater, Off-Broadway [26]
1991 The Subject Was Roses Nettie Cleary Roundabout Theater Company, Off-Broadway [27]
Beggars in the House of Plenty Ma New York City Center, Off-Broadway [28]
1992 It's Only a Play Julia Budder Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles [29]
1994 Kindertransport Evelyn New York City Center, Off-Broadway [30]
1995 Indiscretions Leonie Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway [31]
1996 Sex and Longing Bridget McCrea Cort Theatre, Broadway [32]
1997 The Last Night of Ballyhoo Boo Levy Helen Hayes Theatre, Broadway [33]
1998 Li'l Abner Mammy Yokum New York City Center [34]
The Glass Menagerie Amanda Wingfield Williamstown Theatre Festival, Massachusetts [35]
The Rivals Mrs. Malaprop [36]
The Uneasy Chair Miss Amelia Pickett Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway [37]
1999 The Death of Papa Mary Vaughn Hartford Stage, Connecticut [38]
Tartuffe Madame Pernelle The Public Theater, Off-Broadway [39]
Waiting in the Wings Sylvia Archibald Walter Kerr Theatre, Broadway [40]
2001 Major Barbara Lady Britomart American Airlines Theater, Broadway [41]
2002 Blithe Spirit Madame Arcati Bay Street Theater, New York [42]
2003 A Day in the Death of Joe Egg Grace American Airlines Theater, Broadway [43]
Under Milk Wood Second Voice[44] Williamstown Theatre Festival, Massachusetts [45]
Henry IV Lady Northumberland / Mistress Quickly Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Broadway [46]
2004 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Big Mama Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C. [47]
2005 The Rivals Mrs. Malaprop Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Broadway [48]
Mrs. Warren's Profession Mrs. Kitty Warren Irish Repertory Theatre, Off-Broadway [49]
2006 Butley Edna Shaft Booth Theatre, Broadway [50]
2008 Home Marjorie[51] Williamstown Theatre Festival, Massachusetts [52]
2009 The Savannah Disputation Mary O’Brian Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway [53]
2010 Happy Days Winnie Westport Country Playhouse, Connecticut [54]
2011 The Importance of Being Earnest Miss Prism American Airlines Theater, Broadway [55]
2015 A Little Night Music Madame Armfeldt American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco [56]
2016 The School for Scandal Mrs. Candour Lucille Lortel Theater, Off-Broadway [57]

Awards and nominations

Organizations Year Category Work Result Ref.
American Theater Hall of Fame 2008 Induction Herself Honored [58]
Drama Desk Awards 1983 Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Quartermaine's Terms Nominated
Present Laughter Nominated
1987 Outstanding Actress in a Play Driving Miss Daisy Nominated
1997 Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play The Last Night of Ballyhoo / Sex and Longing Won
Tony Awards 1984 Best Featured Actress in a Musical Sunday in the Park with George Nominated [59]
Best Featured Actress in a Play Heartbreak House Nominated
1997 The Last Night of Ballyhoo Nominated [60]
2005 The Rivals Nominated [61]
2007 Butley Nominated [62]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Today in History: August 12, 520 die in Japan airlines crash". The Scranton Times-Tribune. August 12, 2023. ProQuest 2849362329. Today's Birthdays: Actor George Hamilton is 84. Actor Dana Ivey is 82. Actor Jennifer Warren is 82. Rock singer-musician Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits) is 74. Actor Jim Beaver is 73. Singer Kid Creole (of Kid Creole and the Coconuts) is 73. Jazz musician Pat Metheny is 69. See also:
    • "On This Day, August 12". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. August 12, 2009. p. A-2. ProQuest 390573707. Today's birthdays: Actor George Hamilton, 70. Actress Dana Ivey, 68. Actress Jennifer Warren, 68.
  2. ↑ NYT April 21, 1999
  3. ↑ "Dana Ivey Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on April 10, 2008. Retrieved December 5, 2008.
  4. ↑ ""phimuaglaia article, Winter/Spring 2008". Archived from the original on February 29, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  5. ↑ Orlando Sentinel article, February 15, 2008
  6. ↑ "Twice Blessed" Archived June 9, 2003, at the Wayback Machine tonyawards.com, accessed April 17, 2011
  7. ↑ Gussow, Mel, "The Stage: Driving Miss Daisy", The New York Times, April 16, 1987. Retrieved 2011-02-15.
  8. ↑ Dana Ivey, official website. Retrieved 2011-02-15.
  9. ↑ Staff."Winners of 51st Annual Village Voice Obie Awards Named", broadway.com, May 16, 2006
  10. ↑ Harnick, Chris (May 8, 2013). "Dana Ivey on "the Big C"". The Huffington Post. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Current Season at Playwrights Horizon". Archived from the original on December 16, 2008. Retrieved November 18, 2008.
  12. ↑ Isherwood, Charles, "Dodging Hellfire, Armed With Quips and the Obliging Father Murphy", The New York Times, March 4, 2009. Retrieved 2011-02-15
  13. ↑ Hetrick, Adam."Dana Ivey and Jack Wetherall Face Happy Days at Westport Playhouse, Beginning July 6", Playbill, July 6, 2010
  14. ↑ Isherwood, Charles."A Stylish Monster Conquers at a Glance" The New York Times, January 13, 2011
  15. ↑ "Dana Ivey on Loving Language, Social Media, and The School for Scandal" by David Gordon, TheaterMania.com, April 26, 2016
  16. ↑ "Macbeth – Broadway Play – 1981 Revival | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Present Laughter (Broadway, 1983)". Playbill. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Heartbreak House (Broadway, 1984)". Playbill. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Sunday in the Park with George (Broadway, 1984)". Playbill. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Pack of Lies (Broadway, 1985)". Playbill. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  21. ↑ "The Marriage of Figaro (Broadway, 1985)". Playbill. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  22. ↑ Gussow, Mel (April 16, 1987). "THE STAGE: 'DRIVING MISS DAISY'". New York Times. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  23. ↑ Cole, Gloria (March 7, 1988). "'Wenceslas Square' is old hat". UPI. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  24. ↑ Rothstein, Mervyn (April 21, 1989). "Pairs of Actors Play Spin the Bottle In 'Love Letters'". New York Times. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  25. ↑ Herman, Jan (November 7, 1989). "McGovern Books Passage on 'When I Was a Girl' : Versatile actress says her Scottish character's conflict-riddled journey is a familiar one to all women". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  26. ↑ Sterritt, David (May 21, 1990). "An Effective `Hamlet' from Director-Star Kevin Kline". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  27. ↑ Rich, Frank (June 6, 1991). "Review/Theater; A 1964 Success Story Returns, But How the World Has Changed". New York Times. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  28. ↑ Rich, Frank (October 24, 1991). "Review/Theater; Author and Actor Converge To Resolve Old Family Horror". New York Times. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  29. ↑ Drake, Sylvie (April 17, 1992). "STAGE REVIEW : Updated 'Play' Skewers a Life in the Theater". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  30. ↑ Gerard, Jeremy (May 31, 1994). "Kindertransport". Variety. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Indiscretions – Broadway Play – Original | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  32. ↑ "Sex and Longing – Broadway Play – Original | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  33. ↑ "The Last Night of Ballyhoo (Broadway, 1997)". Playbill. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  34. ↑ Tommasini, Anthony (March 28, 1998). "THEATER REVIEW; Those Backwater Folks, Happily Dispensable". New York Times. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  35. ↑ Lefkowitz, David (June 24, 1998). "Stoltz & Ivey's Menagerie Opens at 44th Williamstown Fest, June 24". Playbill. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  36. ↑ Burns, Gail M. (August 11, 1998). "REVIEW: "The Rivals" at the Williamstown Theatre Festival". Berkshire On Stage. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  37. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (October 12, 1998). "The Uneasy Chair". Variety. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  38. ↑ Taylor, Markland (June 7, 1999). "The Death of Papa". Variety. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  39. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (August 24, 1999). "Tartuffe". Variety. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  40. ↑ "Waiting in the Wings (Broadway, 1999)". Playbill. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  41. ↑ "Major Barbara (Broadway, 2001)". Playbill. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  42. ↑ Klein, Alvin (July 28, 2002). "THEATER REVIEWS; In Revival of 'Blithe Spirit,' Wit and Elegance Are Intact". New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  43. ↑ "A Day in the Death of Joe Egg (Broadway, 2003)". Playbill. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  44. ↑ "Under Milk Wood, 2003". Williamstown Theatre Festival. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  45. ↑ Simonson, Robert (July 23, 2003). "Ivey, Baker, Nielsen, Goede Reside Under Milk Wood at Williamstown, Beginning July 23". Playbill. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  46. ↑ "Henry IV (Broadway, 2003)". Playbill. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  47. ↑ Harris, Paul (June 22, 2004). "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". Variety. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  48. ↑ "The Rivals (Broadway, 2005)". Playbill. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  49. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (December 19, 2005). "Her Profession, Herself, Her Daughter Problem". New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  50. ↑ "Butley (Broadway, 2006)". Playbill. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  51. ↑ "Home, 2008". Williamstown Theatre Festival. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  52. ↑ Hetrick, Adam (February 12, 2008). "Easton, Ivey and White Set for 2008 Williamstown Season". Playbill. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  53. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (March 3, 2009). "Dodging Hellfire, Armed With Quips and the Obliging Father Murphy". New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  54. ↑ "Dana Ivey Spellbinding In Westport's 'Happy Days'". Hartford Courant. July 13, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  55. ↑ "The Importance of Being Earnest (Broadway, 2011)". Playbill. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  56. ↑ Jones, Chad (May 13, 2015). "ACT's 'Night Music' cast excited about Sondheim". SFGate. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  57. ↑ Collins-Hughes, Laura (April 27, 2016). "Review: 'The School for Scandal' Is Full-Throated Satire". New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  58. ↑ "Hall of Fame: theater veterans get a night in limelight". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  59. ↑ "1984 Tony Awards". American Theater Wing. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  60. ↑ "1997 Tony Awards". American Theater Wing. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  61. ↑ "2005 Tony Awards". American Theater Wing. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  62. ↑ "2007 Tony Awards". American Theater Wing. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
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