Diana Van der Vlis

Diana Van der Vlis (June 9, 1935 - October 22, 2001) was a Canadian-American stage, screen and television actress best known for her characters Dr. Nell Beaulac (1975–76) on the ABC soap opera Ryan's Hope and Kate Hathaway Prescott on the soap opera Where the Heart Is. Two other roles on daytime dramas that she played were Sherry Rowan (1987–89) on Ryan's Hope and Susan Ames Carver on The Secret Storm, when she was a substitute for Judy Lewis in the role. Van der Vlis went to university in Winnipeg, studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in London and acted in Canada, living in both Clarkson, Mississauga and Vancouver, British Columbia, before booking a role in the Utah-filmed B-movie The Girl in Black Stockings (1957), and moving to New York City in 1956. On arrival, she auditioned for an NBC drama program; there, a page suggested that she try the . Within six weeks of arr...