Barbara Dana Wiki (Alan Arkin’s Ex-Wife), Age, Children, Family, Biography & More

Barbara Dana is a talented and versatile actress, writer, and producer who has been active in the entertainment industry for over six decades. She is also known as the ex-wife of Alan Arkin, a famous actor, director, and singer.

Age, Birthday & Education

Barbara Dana was born on December 28, 1940, in New York City, United States. She grew up in a Jewish family and attended the High School of Performing Arts in Manhattan. She developed an interest in acting and writing at a young age and participated in various school plays and literary magazines.

Barbara Dana BIO/WIKI

Career and Achievements

Barbara Dana started her professional career as an actress in the late 1950s. She appeared in several television shows, such as The Phil Silvers Show, The Defenders, The Patty Duke Show, and The Fugitive. She also starred in some movies, such as The Night They Raided Minsky’s (1968), Popi (1969), and Simon’s (1980).

In addition to acting, Barbara Dana also pursued her passion for writing and producing. She wrote several books for children and young adults, such as Zucchini (1978), Crazy Eights (1982), A Voice of Her Own: Becoming Emily Dickinson (1993), and Young Joan (1995). She also co-wrote and co-produced the Emmy-nominated television movie The Laundromat (1985), which starred her ex-husband Alan Arkin.

Barbara Dana has received many accolades for her work in both fields. She won the Christopher Award for Zucchini, the Parents’ Choice Award for A Voice of Her Own, and the American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults for Young Joan. She was also nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award for The Laundromat.

Filmography

Marriage & Divorce with Alan Arkin

Barbara Dana married Alan Arkin on June 16, 1964. They met while working on the Broadway play Enter Laughing (1963), which was based on Arkin’s autobiographical novel. They had a son together, Anthony Arkin, who is also an actor and filmmaker. They also raised Arkin’s two sons from his previous marriage, Adam Arkin and Matthew Arkin, who are both actors as well.

Barbara Dana and Alan Arkin divorced in 1999 after 35 years of marriage. They remained friends and collaborators after their separation. Barbara Dana has not remarried since then and lives in New York City.

Cause of Death & Obituary

Alan Arkin was a talented and versatile actor who made us laugh and cry with his performances. As of now, the precise cause of his death has not been officially revealed. However, it is reported that he had a long history of heart problems, which may have contributed to his passing. 

He died on Thursday, June 29, 2023, in San Marcos, California, at the age of 89. He is survived by his wife Suzanne Newlander Arkin and his three sons Adam, Matthew, and Anthony. May he rest in peace.🙏

Net Worth/Income

Barbara Dana has an estimated net worth of $1 million as of 2023. She earned most of her wealth from her acting and writing career. She lives a modest and comfortable lifestyle and enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She is active on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. She also has a website where she shares her latest news and projects.

Facts about Barbara Dana

• She is the former stepmother of Adam Arkin and Matthew Arkin, Alan Arkin’s sons from his first marriage.
• Barbara is the mother-in-law of actress Amelia Campbell, who is married to Anthony Arkin.

• Dana was the step-grandmother of Molly Arkin, Adam Arkin’s daughter from his first marriage.
• She co-wrote the screenplay for Chu Chu and the Philly Flash (1981), a comedy film starring Alan Arkin and Carol Burnett.
• Barbara also wrote the novel and the screenplay for Necessary Parties (1988), a TV movie starring Alan Arkin and Dianne Wiest.
• Barbara appeared in several films with Alan Arkin, such as Inspector Clouseau (1968), Popi (1969), Fire Sale (1977), and The In-Laws (1979).
• She won an Emmy Award for her performance in the TV movie The Defection of Simas Kudirka (1978), in which she played a Lithuanian sailor’s wife.
• Dana wrote a children’s book called A Voice of Her Own: Becoming Emily Dickinson (2009), which is a fictional account of the poet’s early life.

• She wrote and produced a short film called Samuel Beckett Is Coming Soon (1993), which starred Austin Pendleton as a theater director waiting for the playwright to arrive.
• She is a friend of Austin Pendleton, who also co-starred with her in the Broadway play Luv (1964), directed by Mike Nichols.
• Dana made her Broadway debut in Enter Laughing (1963), a comedy based on Carl Reiner’s novel, for which she won a Tony Award.
• Barbara is a vegetarian and loves animals.
• She is a fan of Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen.
• Barbara is fluent in French and Spanish.
• She is involved in several charitable causes, such as UNICEF and Amnesty International.