Actress Diane Baker is renowned for her extensive and distinguished career in both film and television. Born and raised in the heart of Hollywood, she made the bold decision to move to New York at the age of 18 to hone her acting skills under the tutelage of renowned instructors Charles Conrad and Nina Fonaroff. Subsequently, she continued her training in Los Angeles at the esteemed Estelle Harman Workshop, which ultimately led to her securing a contract with Twentieth Century Fox.
Baker's impressive filmography began with a critically acclaimed role as Margot Frank, the older sister of Anne, in the 1959 cinematic masterpiece "The Diary of Anne Frank" directed by the legendary George Stevens. She went on to appear in a string of notable films, including "Journey to the Center of the Earth" (1959),"The Best of Everything" (1959),and "Nine Hours to Rama" (1963),all while remaining under contract with Fox.
Upon the expiration of her contract, Baker transitioned to Universal Studios, where she had the privilege of working on two highly acclaimed projects: "Mirage" (1965) alongside Gregory Peck and "Marnie" (1964) under the direction of the incomparable Alfred Hitchcock.
In addition to her impressive filmography, Baker has also made a lasting impact in the world of episodic television. Her performances in "They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's Bar/The Last Laurel" (1971) and "Last Salute to the Commodore" (1976) are particularly noteworthy for their sensitivity and emotional depth.
As Baker continued to excel in her craft, she began to explore the realm of producing, taking on smaller, independent projects such as "Portrait of Grandpa Doc" (1977) and "Never Never Land" (1980),as well as larger-scale productions like the Emmy-nominated television miniseries adaptation of Barbara Taylor Bradford's "A Woman of Substance" (1984).
In recent years, Baker has demonstrated her versatility by taking on a wide range of roles, including her portrayal of clan matriarch Rose Kennedy in the CBS miniseries "Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis" (2000) and her memorable performances alongside Anthony Hopkins in "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991) and Jim Carrey and Matthew Broderick in "The Cable Guy" (1996).
Baker's most recent endeavors include acting in the HBO series "Unscripted" (2005) alongside Frank Langella, directed by George Clooney, and teaching acting courses at the Academy of Art University, San Francisco.
