Barbara Dana: The Actress, Playwright, and Author Who Loved Emily Dickinson

Barbara Dana is a woman of many talents. An actress, a playwright, and an award-winning author of children’s and young adult literature, her career has spanned stage, screen, and the written page. She performed on Broadway, acted alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest names, and then spent over a decade of her life immersed in the world of a reclusive 19th-century poet.

For many, she is known as the first wife of the late actor Alan Arkin, with whom she raised a family of three sons. But her own story is one of quiet but profound accomplishment. From her early days as a young actress making her Off-Broadway debut at 17 to her late-career transformation into a celebrated author, Barbara Dana has lived a life dedicated to the arts. This biography explores her journey, her work, and the legacy she has built over more than six decades.

Quick Bio Table

Who Is Barbara Dana?

Barbara Dana is an American actress, playwright, and author. Born on December 28, 1940, in New York City, she grew up in a theatrical family. Her father was a writer and actor, and her mother was an actress.

Dana made her Off-Broadway debut at the age of 17. She went on to appear in numerous Broadway productions, films, and television shows. However, her creative pursuits extended far beyond acting. She later became an award-winning author of children’s books and young adult novels, and a playwright whose works have been produced Off-Broadway.

She is also known for her long marriage to actor Alan Arkin, which lasted from 1964 to 1999. They had one son together, Anthony Arkin, and Dana was stepmother to Arkin’s two sons from a previous marriage, Adam and Matthew.

Early Life and Childhood

Barbara Dana was born on December 28, 1940, in New York City. She grew up in a home deeply immersed in the performing arts. Her father, Richard Dana, was a writer and actor, and her mother, Mildred Ferry Dana, was an actress.

Her theatrical upbringing clearly shaped her future. At the age of 17, she made her Off-Broadway debut in Arthur Laurents’ play A Clearing in the Woods (1959).

As a child, Dana also developed a love for writing. She began writing stories at a young age, and in third grade, she penned a series of stories about a group of animal friends for her school newspaper, titled “Fatso and his Friends”. This early passion for storytelling would eventually lead her to a successful career as an author.

Education

Barbara Dana attended Quintano’s School for Young Professionals in New York City. This school was known for training young performers, providing a practical education that allowed Dana to pursue her acting ambitions while balancing her studies.

The Acting Career: Broadway, Film, and Television

Barbara Dana’s acting career was diverse and spanned several decades. She performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in major Hollywood films, and on television.

Broadway and Off-Broadway

Dana’s stage career began early. After her Off-Broadway debut, she continued to work steadily in the theater. Her Broadway credits include Enter Laughing (1963), the national tour of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1964), and Where’s Daddy? (1966).

Her Off-Broadway work includes performances in Second City: A View from Under the Bridge (1964), Eh? (1966), Room Service (1970, 1986), and Joan of Lorraine (1974).

Film Career

Dana appeared in a number of films, often in supporting roles. Her filmography includes:

• P.J. (1968)

• Inspector Clouseau (1968), where she played a nun

• Popi (1969)

• The Monitors (1969)

• Fire Sale (1977), playing Virginia

• The In-Laws (1979), playing Theresa the bank teller

• Chu Chu and the Philly Flash (1981), playing Betty

• Our National Parks (2005)

• Raising Flagg (2006), playing Ada Purdy

Television

Dana also worked extensively on television, appearing in numerous series and TV movies. Her credits include appearances on The United States Steel Hour, Bus Stop, Naked City, The Fugitive, Medical Center, Sesame Street, and Law & Order. She also appeared in television movies such as An Enemy of the People (1966), Daughter of the Mind (1969), and The Other Side of Hell (1978).

Marriage to Alan Arkin

Barbara Dana was married to actor Alan Arkin from 1964 to 1999. They married on June 16, 1964. At the time, Arkin was already a rising star, and the couple went on to build a life together in the entertainment industry.

They had one son together, Anthony Arkin, who also became an actor. Dana was stepmother to Arkin’s two sons from a previous marriage, Adam and Matthew. The couple divorced in 1999 after 35 years of marriage.

Transition to Playwright and Author

In the 1980s, Dana began to focus more on writing. She wrote the screenplay for the film Chu Chu and the Philly Flash (1981), in which she also appeared. She also wrote the television movie Necessary Parties (1988).

Her playwriting credits include War in Paramus (2005) and What Keeps Us Going (2008). War in Paramus was produced by the Abingdon Theatre Company in 2005 and was published in the anthology “New Playwrights: The Best Plays of 2006”.

The Author: A Voice for Young Readers

Barbara Dana became a celebrated author of children’s and young adult literature. Her books have won numerous awards and have been recognized by the American Library Association.

Some of her notable works include:

• Zucchini: A book about a shy boy who befriends a homeless baby ferret. It won the Washington Irving Children’s Book Choice Award, the Maude Hart Lovelace Award, and the Land of Enchantment Children’s Book Choice Award.

• Zucchini Out West: A sequel to Zucchini.

• Necessary Parties: An American Library Association Best Book.

• Young Joan: A historical novel based on the girlhood of Joan of Arc.

• Crazy Eights: A young adult novel about a teenager struggling with her identity.

• Rutgers and the Water-Snouts

• Spencer and His Friends

The Emily Dickinson Obsession

Perhaps Dana’s most ambitious literary project was her deep dive into the life and work of Emily Dickinson. She spent over a decade researching the reclusive 19th-century American poet.

The result was A Voice of Her Own: Becoming Emily Dickinson (2009), a fictionalized first-person account of Dickinson’s girlhood. The book imagines the young poet’s voice and captures the cadences of her unique perspective.

She also coedited Wider Than the Sky: Essays and Meditations on the Healing Power of Emily Dickinson (2007), a collection for adult readers exploring the poet’s work.

Personal Life and Current Status

Barbara Dana has three grown sons: Anthony, Matthew, and Adam. She lives in South Salem, New York, with her yellow Labrador retriever, Riley.

She has largely stayed out of the public eye in recent years.

Why People Search for Barbara Dana

People search for Barbara Dana for several reasons:

1. Her role in The In-Laws: The 1979 comedy is a cult classic, and fans of the film look up its cast.

2. Her marriage to Alan Arkin: As the first wife of the beloved actor, she is a figure of interest to fans of Arkin’s work.

3. Her books: Her award-winning children’s books and her Emily Dickinson novel have a dedicated readership.

4. Her family connections: Her son Anthony is also an actor, and Adam and Matthew Arkin are well-known performers.

5. Her diverse career: She is a rare example of an artist who succeeded as an actress, playwright, and author.

Common Misconceptions

She is Alan Arkin’s only wife. Dana was Arkin’s first wife. He later married Joy, his second wife, who was his partner until his death.

She is best known as an actress. While she had a successful acting career, she is also a highly regarded author and playwright.

She is no longer working. Dana is still alive and living in New York.

Final Thoughts

Barbara Dana has led a rich and varied life in the arts. She performed on Broadway, appeared in classic films, wrote award-winning books, and spent over a decade bringing Emily Dickinson to life on the page. While she may be best known as the first wife of Alan Arkin, her own accomplishments stand on their own. She is a reminder that a life in the arts can take many forms, and that creativity is a lifelong pursuit.

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