Dana Delany

dana-delany-2017-450x600.jpg

Dana Delany

Dana Delany

Photo credit: 
Invision for the Television Academy

Dana Delany

Birthday: March 13
Birthplace: New York City, New York

Dana Delany is an American television and film actress.

Growing up in Stamford, Connecticut, she attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, for her senior year and was a member of the school's first co-educational class.

After college, she found acting work in New York City in daytime soap operas. Delany moved to Hollywood and during the next few years found work guest starring in TV shows like Moonlighting, Magnum, P.I., and thirtysomething.

Dana Delany is an American television and film actress.

Growing up in Stamford, Connecticut, she attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, for her senior year and was a member of the school's first co-educational class.

After college, she found acting work in New York City in daytime soap operas. Delany moved to Hollywood and during the next few years found work guest starring in TV shows like Moonlighting, Magnum, P.I., and thirtysomething.

Delany won two Primetime Emmy Awards (in 1989 and 1992) for her lead role as nurse Colleen McMurphy on ABC’s critically acclaimed drama series China Beach, which aired from 1988 to 1991. After China Beach ended, she worked steadily in television, including roles on episodes of Cheers, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Boston Legal, and The L Word.

In 2007, Delany joined the cast of ABC’s Desperate Housewives, playing housewife Katherine Mayfair. She remained with the show until 2010, returning for a guest star appearance in 2012.

She has served as host of the Television Academy Honors ten times since its inception.

Delany continues to do film, television, and voice-over work.

Show more

Awards & Nominations

5 Nominations | 2 Emmys
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series - 2001
  • Nominee
  • Dana Delany, as Mary Sullivan
  • Family Law
  • CBS
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series - 1992
  • Winner
  • Dana Delany, as Colleen McMurphy
  • CHINA BEACH
  • ABC
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series - 1991
  • Nominee
  • Dana Delany, as Colleen McMurphy
  • CHINA BEACH
  • ABC
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series - 1990
  • Nominee
  • Dana Delany, as Colleen McMurphy
  • CHINA BEACH
  • ABC
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series - 1989
  • Winner
  • Dana Delany, as Colleen McMurphy
  • CHINA BEACH
  • ABC

The Television Academy database lists prime-time Emmy information. Click here to learn more

Brett Ratner and Dana Delany at the 2017 Television Academy Honors at the Montage Hotel on Thursday, June 8, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California.
Dana Delany speaks at the 2017 Television Academy Honors at the Montage Hotel on Thursday, June 8, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California.
Dana Delany, Television Academy Chairman & CEO, Hayma Washington, and Lucia Gervino,Television Academy Honors Chair at the 2017 Television Academy Honors at the Montage Hotel on Thursday, June 8, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California.
Dana Delany poses with the cast of Born This Way at the 2016 Academy Honors on Wednesday, June 8 at the Montage Hotel in Los Angeles, California.
Television Academy president and CEO Bruce Rosenblum, Dana Delany, and Lynn Roth at the 2016 Academy Honors on Wednesday, June 8 at the Montage Hotel in Los Angeles, California.
Dana Delaney, actress and returning Television Academy Honors host, arrives for the seventh annual Honors ceremony in Beverly Hills, California.
Dana Delaney, actress and returning Television Academy Honors host, at the seventh annual Honors ceremony in Beverly Hills, California.
Actress Dana Delany
Actors Neal McDonough and Dana Delany
g-tv-honors-2013-0053
Dana Delany arrives at the 61st Primetime Emmy® Awards
Neal McDonough & Dana Delany at the 61st Primetime Emmy® Awards
Dana Delany (center) and Sharon Lawrence at the 2nd Annual Television Academy Honors
Dana Delany hosts the 2nd Annual Television Academy Honors
Dana Delany at the 3rd Annual Television Academy Honors
Dana Delany hosts the 3rd Annual Television Academy Honors
Felicity Huffman & Dana Delany at the 60th Primetime Emmy® Awards
Dana Delany at the 60th Primetime Emmy® Awards
Dana Delany at the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Dana Delany, John Shaffner and Lynn Roth at the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Dana Delany at the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Dana Delany at the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Denis Leary, Dana Delany and Ray Romano attend the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Denis Leary, Dana Delany, Ray Romano and Peter Tolan attend the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Dana Delany onstage at the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Dana Delany and Abigail Disney attend the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Dana Delany, John Shaffner and Lynn Roth arrive at the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Dana Delany, John Shaffner and Lynn Roth arrive at the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Dana Delany arrives at the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Dana Delany and Bruce Rosenblum arrive at the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Dana Delany & John Shaffner at the Fourth Annual Television Academy Honors
Dana Delany at the Fourth Annual Television Academy Honors
Dana Delany & Florence Henderson at the Fourth Annual Television Academy Honors
Dana Delany, John Shaffner and Lynn Roth at the Fourth Annual Television Academy Honors
Host Dana Delany arrives at the Fourth Annual Television Academy Honors
The cast & co-creators of Glee with Maria Shriver and Dana Delany at the 3rd Television Academy Honors
Desperate Housewives co-stars Dana Delany, Marcia Cross, Teri Hatcher, Eva Longoria Parker, Felicity Huffman and Nicollette
Dana Delany
Red Carpet & Greenroom - Felicity Huffman & Dana Delany
Dana Delany - Charles Bush Photo Gallery 2
Fill 1
Fill 1
Brett Ratner and Dana Delany at the 2017 Television Academy Honors at the Montage Hotel on Thursday, June 8, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California.
Camera

Brett Ratner and Dana Delany at the 2017 Television Academy Honors at the Montage Hotel on Thursday, June 8, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California.

Invision/AP
Dana Delany speaks at the 2017 Television Academy Honors at the Montage Hotel on Thursday, June 8, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California.
Camera

Dana Delany speaks at the 2017 Television Academy Honors at the Montage Hotel on Thursday, June 8, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California.

Invision/AP
Dana Delany, Television Academy Chairman & CEO, Hayma Washington, and Lucia Gervino,Television Academy Honors Chair at the 2017 Television Academy Honors at the Montage Hotel on Thursday, June 8, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California.
Camera

Dana Delany, Hayma Washington, Television Academy Chairman & CEO, and Lucia Gervino,Television Academy Honors Chair at the 2017 Television Academy Honors at the Montage Hotel on Thursday, June 8, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California.

Invision/AP
Camera

Host Dana Delany and Honors Selection Committee Chair Lucia Gervino on the red carpet before the Ninth Television Academy Honors.

Invision/AP
Camera

Dana Delany with Homeland's Miranda Otto

invision/AP
Dana Delany poses with the cast of Born This Way at the 2016 Academy Honors on Wednesday, June 8 at the Montage Hotel in Los Angeles, California.
Camera

Dana Delany poses with the cast of Born This Way at the 2016 Academy Honors on Wednesday, June 8 at the Montage in Beverly Hills, California. 

invision/AP
Television Academy president and CEO Bruce Rosenblum, Dana Delany, and Lynn Roth at the 2016 Academy Honors on Wednesday, June 8 at the Montage Hotel in Los Angeles, California.
Camera

Television Academy Chairman and CEO Bruce Rosenblum, Dana Delany, and Lynn Roth at the 2016 Academy Honors on Wednesday, June 8 at the Montage in Los Angeles, California. 

invision/AP
Dana Delaney, actress and returning Television Academy Honors host, arrives for the seventh annual Honors ceremony in Beverly Hills, California.
Camera
Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
Dana Delaney, actress and returning Television Academy Honors host, at the seventh annual Honors ceremony in Beverly Hills, California.
Camera
Frank Micelotta/Invision/AP
Actress Dana Delany
Actors Neal McDonough and Dana Delany
g-tv-honors-2013-0053
Dana Delany arrives at the 61st Primetime Emmy® Awards
Camera
Mathew Imaging
Neal McDonough & Dana Delany at the 61st Primetime Emmy® Awards
Camera
Mathew Imaging
Dana Delany (center) and Sharon Lawrence at the 2nd Annual Television Academy Honors
Camera
Mathew Imaging
Dana Delany hosts the 2nd Annual Television Academy Honors
Camera
Mathew Imaging
Dana Delany at the 3rd Annual Television Academy Honors
Camera
Mathew Imaging
Dana Delany hosts the 3rd Annual Television Academy Honors
Camera
Mathew Imaging
Felicity Huffman & Dana Delany at the 60th Primetime Emmy® Awards
Camera
Mathew Imaging
Dana Delany at the 60th Primetime Emmy® Awards
Camera
Mathew Imaging
Dana Delany at the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Camera
PictureGroup
Dana Delany, John Shaffner and Lynn Roth at the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Camera
PictureGroup
Dana Delany at the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Camera
PictureGroup
Dana Delany at the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Camera
PictureGroup
Denis Leary, Dana Delany and Ray Romano attend the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Camera
PictureGroup
Denis Leary, Dana Delany, Ray Romano and Peter Tolan attend the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Camera
PictureGroup
Dana Delany onstage at the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Camera
PictureGroup
Dana Delany and Abigail Disney attend the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Camera
PictureGroup
Dana Delany, John Shaffner and Lynn Roth arrive at the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Camera
PictureGroup
Dana Delany, John Shaffner and Lynn Roth arrive at the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Camera
PictureGroup
Dana Delany arrives at the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Camera
PictureGroup
Dana Delany and Bruce Rosenblum arrive at the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors
Camera
PictureGroup
Dana Delany & John Shaffner at the Fourth Annual Television Academy Honors
Camera
PictureGroup
Dana Delany at the Fourth Annual Television Academy Honors
Camera
PictureGroup
Dana Delany & Florence Henderson at the Fourth Annual Television Academy Honors
Camera
PictureGroup
Dana Delany, John Shaffner and Lynn Roth at the Fourth Annual Television Academy Honors
Camera
PictureGroup
Host Dana Delany arrives at the Fourth Annual Television Academy Honors
Camera
PictureGroup
The cast & co-creators of Glee with Maria Shriver and Dana Delany at the 3rd Television Academy Honors
Camera
Mathew Imaging
Desperate Housewives co-stars Dana Delany, Marcia Cross, Teri Hatcher, Eva Longoria Parker, Felicity Huffman and Nicollette
Camera
Mathew Imaging
Dana Delany
Camera
Charles Bush
Red Carpet & Greenroom - Felicity Huffman & Dana Delany
Camera
Mathew Imaging
Dana Delany - Charles Bush Photo Gallery 2
Camera
Charles Willliam Bush Photography
Browser Requirements
The TelevisionAcademy.com sites look and perform best when using a modern browser.

We suggest you use the latest version of any of these browsers:

Chrome
Firefox
Safari


Visiting the site with Internet Explorer or other browsers may not provide the best viewing experience.

Close Window