Dinah Lenney
Encyclopedia
Dinah Lenney (born November 18, 1956) is an American
actress and writer. She is the author of Bigger than Life: A Murder, a Memoir, a 2007 book about the murder of her father, Republican Party
politician
and businessman Nelson G. Gross
.
. Her parents divorced in 1958, after which time she lived with her mother, who remarried Ron Lenney. Her surname was legally changed from Gross to Lenney around her sixteenth birthday. She attended Yale University
, graduating with a B.A.
degree in American Studies in 1978. She received a Certificate of Acting from the Neighborhood Playhouse
, where she studied with Sanford Meisner
. She also holds a Master of Fine Arts
in creative nonfiction from the Bennington
Writing Seminars.
In her acting career, Lenney has had a variety of stage, film, and television roles. On television she has appeared on shows such as Married with Children (1991), Murphy Brown
, Judging Amy
, and South of Nowhere
. Beginning in 1995 she played a recurring role on ER
as Nurse Shirley. In 2006 she coauthored the book Acting for Young Actors with Mary Lou Belli
.
In 2007 University of Nebraska Press
published her memoir, Bigger than Life: A Murder, a Memoir, which recounts her experience of learning that her father, Nelson G. Gross
, was kidnapped and murdered in September 1997.
Lenney is married to screenwriter Fred Mills. Her married name is Dinah Lenney Mills, though she usually uses the name Dinah Lenney for professional purposes. They live in Los Angeles
with their children, Eliza and Jake.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress and writer. She is the author of Bigger than Life: A Murder, a Memoir, a 2007 book about the murder of her father, Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and businessman Nelson G. Gross
Nelson G. Gross
Nelson Gerard Gross was an American Republican Party politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly and as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee. His political career ended in 1974 when he was convicted on federal charges involving the 1969 campaign of Governor William T....
.
Biography
Lenney was born to Nelson Gerard and Leah (Binger) Gross in 1956 in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Her parents divorced in 1958, after which time she lived with her mother, who remarried Ron Lenney. Her surname was legally changed from Gross to Lenney around her sixteenth birthday. She attended Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, graduating with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in American Studies in 1978. She received a Certificate of Acting from the Neighborhood Playhouse
Neighborhood Playhouse
The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre is an actor training school at 340 East 54th Street in New York City, generally associated with the Meisner technique of Sanford Meisner.-History:...
, where she studied with Sanford Meisner
Sanford Meisner
Sanford Meisner , also known as Sandy, was an American actor and acting teacher who developed a form of Method acting that is now known as the Meisner technique....
. She also holds a Master of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
in creative nonfiction from the Bennington
Bennington College
Bennington College is a liberal arts college located in Bennington, Vermont, USA. The college was founded in 1932 as a women's college and became co-educational in 1969.-History:-Early years:...
Writing Seminars.
In her acting career, Lenney has had a variety of stage, film, and television roles. On television she has appeared on shows such as Married with Children (1991), Murphy Brown
Murphy Brown
Murphy Brown is an American situation comedy which aired on CBS from November 14, 1988, to May 18, 1998, for a total of 247 episodes. The program starred Candice Bergen as the eponymous Murphy Brown, a famous investigative journalist and news anchor for FYI, a fictional CBS television...
, Judging Amy
Judging Amy
Judging Amy is an American television drama that was telecast from September 19, 1999, through May 3, 2005, on CBS-TV. This TV series starred Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly...
, and South of Nowhere
South of Nowhere
South of Nowhere is an American teen drama television series created by Thomas W. Lynch. Aimed primarily at teenagers, it first aired on November 4, 2005 and was one of six original series on The N. The second half of the third and final season aired October 10, 2008 and the final episode aired on...
. Beginning in 1995 she played a recurring role on ER
ER (TV series)
ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
as Nurse Shirley. In 2006 she coauthored the book Acting for Young Actors with Mary Lou Belli
Mary Lou Belli
-Career:Belli attended Penn State where she received a Bachelor's degree. For many years she acted in musical theatre and soap operas in New York City, followed by a Los Angeles career producing and directing theatre with over 75 play productions to her name....
.
In 2007 University of Nebraska Press
University of Nebraska Press
The University of Nebraska Press, founded in 1941, is a publisher of scholarly and popular-press books. It is the second-largest state university press in the United States and, including private institutions, ranks among the 10 largest university presses in the United States...
published her memoir, Bigger than Life: A Murder, a Memoir, which recounts her experience of learning that her father, Nelson G. Gross
Nelson G. Gross
Nelson Gerard Gross was an American Republican Party politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly and as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee. His political career ended in 1974 when he was convicted on federal charges involving the 1969 campaign of Governor William T....
, was kidnapped and murdered in September 1997.
Lenney is married to screenwriter Fred Mills. Her married name is Dinah Lenney Mills, though she usually uses the name Dinah Lenney for professional purposes. They live in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
with their children, Eliza and Jake.
External links
- Dinah Lenney at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
. - DinahLenney.com Official homepage.