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 |