Linda Dano
Linda Dano (born Linda Rae Wildermuth on May 12, 1943) is a well-known American soap opera actor. She was born in Long Beach, California. A long time performer in soap operas, a bestselling author and businesswoman, Dano was married for over twenty years to the late advertising executive Frank Attardi.
Career Overview
After years of being on contract to 20th Century Fox alongside such actors as Tom Selleck, her first well known role would be on the small screen, on As The World Turns playing the widowed Cynthia Haines from 1981 to 1982. She later would play the role of romance novelist Felicia Gallant on Another World from 1982 to 1999, and faux-psychiatrist Gretel (Rae) Cummings Faulkner Buchanan on One Life to Live from 1978 to 1980 and from June 28, 1999 to March 12, 2004. She also reprised her role as Rae concurrently on the other ABC soaps All My Children, General Hospital, and Port Charles.
In a shocking revelation, it was made known that Myrtle Fargate from All My Children (played by Eileen Herlie) was her character's mother, and her character was mother to General Hospital’s Skye Chandler-Quartermaine (ironic, since the actress, Robin Christopher, played Dano's daughter on Another World). In 2005, Dano appeared as Lena Kendall, the cellmate of Harley on CBS's Guiding Light.
From 1987 until 1992, she co-hosted the Lifetime talk show Attitudes, which was spoofed on Saturday Night Live.
In 1993, she won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for her role as Felicia on Another World. Currently, she writes a very popular style column for Soap Opera Digest.
In 2005 she made a guest appearance as the mother of psycopathic pharmacist George Williams on the hit prime time serial Desperate Housewives.
Finally, in 2006 Dano ended her fashion accessories line at QVC, focusing on developing a line of home furnishings for the network.
Since the early 1980s, Dano has run Strictly Personal, a wardrobe consulting service. Her client list includes actor Robert S. Woods, who plays Bo on One Life to Live.
Television Filmography
- Guiding Light as Lena Kendall (April 13th 2005-May 25th 2005)
- Lifetime Now! as Host (2001-2003)
- General Hospital as Rae Cummings (2000-2001, & 2003)
- Port Charles as Rae Cummings (2000)
- All My Children as Rae Cummings (1999-2000)
- Attitudes as Host (1987-1992)
- Another World as Felicia Gallant (1982-1999)
- As the World Turns as Cynthia Haines (1981-1982)
- One Life to Live as Rae Cummings (1978-1980, 1999-2004)
- The Montefuscos as Angela Montefusco Cooney (1975)
Awards (Won)
- (1993) Daytime Emmy – Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Another World
- (Soap Opera Update Awards) – Dano won the MVP Awards 5 times during the history of the awards (If you have more exact data on dano SOU awards please update)
- Accessories Coucil Awards [1]
- (1999) – ACE Award for outstanding contributions to consumer awareness
Awards (Nominated)
- (2004) Daytime Emmy Outstanding Special Class Special for the Another World Reunion
- (2003) Daytime Emmy Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for One Life to Live
- (1996) Daytime Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Another World
- (1994) Daytime Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Another World
- (1992) Daytime Emmy Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Another World
- (1999) Soap Opera Digest Award Favorite Veteran for Another World
- (1993) Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Supporting Actress for Another World
- (1989) Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Comic Performance by an Actress: Daytime for Another World
Books
In addition to being an actress, Dano is an accomplished writer and novelist.
Style Books
- Dano, Linda (1998). Living Great: Style Expert and Television Star Linda Dano Shows You How to Bring Style Home With Her Easy, Affordable Decorating Ideas and Techniques. Putnam Pub Group. ISBN 0399143920. (with Anne Kyle).
- Dano, Linda (1998). Looking Great: Fashion Authority and Television Star Linda Dano Shares Her Style and Beauty Secrets to Help You Look Your Best. Perigee Books. ISBN 0399523871. (with Anne Kyle).
Romance Novels
Linda Dano’s Another World character, Felicia Gallant, was a professional romance novelist. While playing the character Dano herself wrote romance novels. These were written under the pen name Felicia Gallant.
- Dano, Linda (1984). Dreamweaver. Harlequin. ISBN Unknown. (with Rebecca Flanders).