Dana Hill
| Dana Hill | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Dana Lynne Goetz May 6, 1964 Encino, Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Died |
July 15, 1996 (aged 32) Burbank, California, USA |
| Cause of death | Diabetic stroke brought on by complications from Type 1 diabetes |
| Other names | Dana Hill-Goetz |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1978–1996 |
| Known for | Audrey Griswald in National Lampoon’s European Vacation |
| Height | 4'11 |
| Television | See below |
| Parent(s) |
Ted Goetz Sandy Hill |
| Awards |
|
Dana Hill (born Dana Lynne Goetz; May 6, 1964 – July 15, 1996) was an American actress. Hill is best known for having played Audrey Griswald in National Lampoon’s European Vacation, and roles in Shoot the Moon and Cross Creek.
Early life and health issues
Dana Lynne Goetz was born in 1964 in Encino, Los Angeles, California, to Sandy Hill and Theodore Arthur "Ted" Goetz, a director of commercials.[1] A diagnosis of Type I diabetes at an early age ended a promising athletic future. A 1982 article in People magazine[2] reported that Hill, at age 10, had placed third nationwide in the 880-yard run and fourth in the mile run. A few weeks later, she collapsed on the track, which resulted in her medical diagnosis. The diabetes affected her growth and caused lifelong health complications.[3]
Teen years
Despite her father's strong discouragement, Hill’s initial work was in commercials (her first job was a 1973 commercial for the YMCA, spinning a basketball on her finger with Boston Celtics center Dave Cowens). However, to avoid the appearance of nepotism, she used her mother's maiden name and devoted herself to acting as a career. She appeared in guest roles on such programs as Family before landing a major role on the 1981–1982 CBS series The Two Of Us as Gabrielle "Gabby" Gallagher. While filming this series, the 17-year-old Hill would sometimes be pulled over by the police while driving to the studio, because she looked too young to drive.[4]
Her breakthrough role was in the 1981 made-for-TV movie Fallen Angel. The 17-year-old Hill played 12-year-old molestation victim Jennifer Phillips, a role which earned her a Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress in a Television Special.[5]
In 1982, Hill played Sherry Dunlap, the daughter of Albert Finney and Diane Keaton in Shoot the Moon That same year, she played Frankie Addams, the lead character in the made-for-TV adaptation of The Member of the Wedding, co-starring with Pearl Bailey. In 1983, she starred with Rip Torn and Mary Steenburgen in the film Cross Creek, a semi-biographical story about Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, author of The Yearling; in real life, her character was a young boy.
In 1982 and 1983, Hill made two guest appearances in the TV series The Fall Guy. In season 1, episode 18 "Child's Play", she played a young girl called Libby. In Season 2, episode 20 "P.S. I Love You" she had the role of 21-year-old stuntwoman Cassie Farraday. In 1983, she made a guest appearance on Magnum, P.I., in the episode "Basket Case". She played a 13-year-old foster child, Willie, who joined Magnum's youth basketball team.
At age 19, she starred in a 1984 CBS Schoolbreak Special called Welcome Home, Jellybean, playing Geraldine "Jellybean" Oxley, a 12-year-old developmentally disabled girl whose parents take her out of an institution so she can experience a normal home life. The same year, she appeared in Shelley Duvall's 1980s children's TV series Faerie Tale Theatre, playing the Princess in an episode called "The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers".
In 1986, she had another role in the TV series The Fall Guy. She appeared in the episode "Tag Team" as "Loser."
Film roles
In 1985, the producers of the 1983 movie National Lampoon's Vacation were planning a sequel, but Anthony Michael Hall declined to reprise his role as son Rusty Griswold, choosing instead to do the film Weird Science. The producers decided to recast the roles of both Griswold children, and so for National Lampoon's European Vacation, Hill was chosen to replace the original actress who portrayed Audrey, Dana Barron.
Hill appeared as Sergeant Andrea Pritchett alongside George Clooney in Combat Academy (also known as Combat High), a 1986 film from the producers of Police Academy.
Voice acting
Beginning in 1987, she provided the voice for Scrappy, the orphan mouse, on eight episodes of Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures.[6] She also provided the voice of Toots in the Pound Puppies episode, "The Bright Eyes Mob". She was Teddy-2 in Jetsons: The Movie (1990);[7] from 1989-1991 she voiced Buddy on the animated children's television show Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears,[8] and in 1992-1993 was the voice of Max on Goof Troop. She was also the speaking voice of Tim (Tom's proclaimed twin brother) in Tom and Jerry Kids.[9] Her voice was featured as Jerry Mouse in Tom and Jerry: The Movie,[10] Norton in the DIC cartoon What-a-Mess, Charles Duckman in Duckman until her death in 1996. Following Hill's demise, Pat Musick replaced her as Charles.[11] and numerous characters in the Nickelodeon show Rugrats. She was also a semi-regular panelist on the 1990s version of To Tell the Truth.
Death
Hill slipped into a diabetic coma in May 1996 and suffered a massive paralytic stroke the following month. On July 15, 1996, Hill died at age 32.[12]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Fallen Angel | Jennifer Phillips | |
| 1982 | Shoot the Moon | Sherry Dunlap | |
| 1983 | Cross Creek | Ellie Turner | |
| 1985 | Waiting to Act | Dana | |
| National Lampoon's European Vacation | Audrey Griswold | ||
| 1990 | Jetsons: The Movie | Teddy 2 (voice) | |
| 1991 | Rover Dangerfield | Danny (voice) | |
| 1992 | Tom and Jerry: The Movie | Jerry (voice) |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Mork & Mindy | Girl Scout | Episode: "Mork the Gullible" |
| 1979 | The Paul Williams Show | Debbie | TV film |
| Featherstone's Nest | Courtney Featherstone | ||
| The French Atlantic Affair | Maggie Joy | TV miniseries | |
| 1980 | The $5.20 an Hour Dream | Kim Lissick | TV film |
| The Kids Who Knew Too Much | Foxy Cooper | ||
| ABC Afterschool Special | Michelle Mudd | Episode: "What Are Friends For?" | |
| Family | Martha | Episode: "Smarts" | |
| 1981 | Fallen Angel | Jennifer Phillips | TV film |
| 1981–1982 | The Two of Us | Gabrielle 'Gabby' Gallagher | Main role (20 episodes) |
| 1982 | The Member of the Wedding | Frankie Addams | TV film |
| 1982, 1983, 1986 | The Fall Guy | Libby, Cassie Farraday, Loser | Episode: "Child's Play", "P.S. I Love You", "Tag Team" |
| 1983 | Magnum, P.I. | Willie | Episode: "Basket Case" |
| Branagan and Mapes | Gussie Mapes | TV short | |
| 1984 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Geraldine 'Jellybean' Oxley | Episode: "Welcome Home, Jellybean" |
| Silence of the Heart | Cindy Lewis | TV film | |
| 1984, 1985 | Faerie Tale Theatre | Princess Amanda, Guest Interviewee | Episode: "The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers", "Grimm Party" |
| 1986 | Picnic | Millie Owens | TV film |
| Combat Academy | Sgt. Andrea Pritchett | ||
| 1987 | Pound Puppies | Toots / Colin (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 1987–1988 | Mighty Mouse the New Adventures | Orphan Scrappy / Kid Mouse (voice) | Regular role (19 episodes) |
| 1988 | The Flintstone Kids' Just Say No Special | Stoney (voice) | TV film |
| The Adventures of Raggedy Ann & Andy | Raggedy Dog (voice) | TV series | |
| Fantastic Max | XS (voice) | Episode: "Cooking Mother's Goose" | |
| 1989 | Marvin, Baby of the Year | Marvin Miller (voice) | TV short |
| 1990 | Sugar and Spice | Ginger | Regular role (7 episodes) |
| 1990, 1991 | Adventures of the Gummi Bears | Buddy Gummi (voice) | Episode: "Return to Ursalia", "The Rite Stuff" |
| 1990–1991 | Widget, the World Watcher | Kevin (voice) | Regular role (14 episodes) |
| 1991 | Final Verdict | Francy | TV film |
| Darkwing Duck | Tank Muddlefoot (voice) | Regular role (11 episodes) | |
| The Legend of Prince Valiant | Young Valiant (voice) | Episode: "The Gift" | |
| 1991–1994 | Rugrats | Various (voice) | Recurring role (8 episodes) |
| 1992 | P. J. Sparkles | Sparks (voice) | TV film |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Foster Fenwick (voice) | Episode: "Too Hot to Handle" | |
| Goof Troop Christmas | Max Goof (voice) | TV film | |
| 1992–1993 | Goof Troop | Main role (70 episodes) | |
| 1993 | Bonkers | Timmy (voice) | Episodes: "Fistful of Anvils", "I Oughta Be in Toons" |
| 1994 | Sonic the Hedgehog | Princess Sally child (voice) | Episodes: "Blast to the Past" part 1 & 2 |
| 1994 | Beethoven | Timmy / Bully (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 1994–1997 | Duckman | Charles (voice) | Main role (46 episodes) |
| 1995–1996 | What-a-Mess | Norton / Archbishop of Canterbury | TV series |
| 1996 | The Hot Rod Dogs and Cool Car Cats | Hot Rod (voice) | Regular role (7 episodes) |
| Adventures from the Book of Virtues | Joe Harper (voice) | Episode: "Work" | |
| The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper | Wee Willie Winkle (voice) | 1 episode |
References
- ↑ http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary.aspx?pid=158727170
- ↑ Bacon, Doris Klein. "Diabetes Has Slowed Her Growth but Not Her Talent — Dana Hill Is Big Enough to Shoot the Moon" People. March 8, 1982.
- ↑ Lipton, Michael A. "Fighting Spirit" People. August 12, 1996.
- ↑ "Diabetes Has Slowed Her Growth but Not Her Talent — Dana Hill Is Big Enough to Shoot the Moon"
- ↑ Young Artist Award website
- ↑ Mighty Mouse, the New Adventures (TV Series 1987–1988) - IMDb
- ↑ Jetsons: The Movie (1990) - IMDb
- ↑ Adventures of the Gummi Bears (TV Series 1985–1991) - IMDb
- ↑ Goof Troop (TV Series 1992–1993) - IMDb
- ↑ Tom and Jerry: The Movie (1992) - IMDb
- ↑ "Magnum, P.I." Basket Case (TV episode 1983) - IMDb
- ↑ "Dana Hill Biography". dLife. December 30, 2013. Retrieved Dec 29, 2014.