Diana Sands

Diana Sands was an American actress who is best known for her roles in A Raisin in the Sun, The Landlord, and East Side/West Side.

Personal and Family Life

Diana Sands was born on August 22, 1934, in New York City. Her father was a carpenter, and her mother worked as a milliner. She graduated from the Manhattan High School of the Performing Arts and later married Lucien Jean Happersberger in 1964, but they divorced in 1970.

Career

Diana Sands had a successful acting career, highlighted by her performance as Beneatha Younger in the play A Raisin in the Sun. She received several accolades, including an Outer Critics Circle Award and two Tony nominations. In 1964, she was cast in The Owl and the Pussycat, a role that was originally meant for a white actress, showcasing her talent without any adjustments made for her race.

Death and Legacy

Diana Sands passed away on September 21, 1973, from leiomyosarcoma in New York City at the age of 39. Despite her short career, she left a lasting impact on the theatre and film industries. In her honor, a theatre in Wisconsin was named the Hansberry-Sands Theatre as a tribute to both her and playwright Lorraine Hansberry.

Filmography

Title Release Date Character
A Raisin in the Sun 1961-05-28 Beneatha Younger
The Landlord 1970-05-20 Francine “Fanny” Johnson
Doctors’ Wives 1971-02-03 Helen Straughn
Honeybaby, Honeybaby 1974-10-01 Laura Lewis
Willie Dynamite 1974-01-23 Cora
Georgia, Georgia 1972-03-10 Georgia Martin
Carib Gold 1957-09-30 Bar Girl
An Affair of the Skin 1963-11-20 Janice
Poitier’s Walter Lee 2018-09-25 Self (archive footage)
Four Boys and a Gun 1957-01-11 (uncredited)
Caribbean 1952-09-01 Native Woman (uncredited)
Odds Against Tomorrow 1959-10-15 Club Hostess (uncredited)
Ensign Pulver 1964-07-31 Mila
Free to Be… You and Me 1974-03-11 Self (uncredited)
A Face in the Crowd 1957-05-29 Homeless Woman (uncredited)
The Fugitive 1963-09-17 Davala Unawa
The Flip Wilson Show 1970-09-17 Self
Medical Center 1969-09-24 Dr. Marylou Neeley
ABC Stage 67 1966-09-14 Self – Wife
Breaking Point 1963-09-16
Dr. Kildare 1961-09-27 Irene Rush
The Outer Limits 1963-09-16 Dr. Julia Harrison