Nedenia Marjorie Hutton, better known as Dina Merrill, was a renowned actress and model born on December 29, 1923, in New York. She was the daughter of E.F. Hutton, a financier and founder of the Wall Street firm, and Marjorie Merriweather Post, heiress to the Post cereal fortune.
Initially, Dina did not intend to pursue an acting career. After studying at George Washington University, she dropped out after a year to explore her passion for performing. She then enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where she studied with Uta Hagen and others.
Dina's early acting career began with stage productions, including "The Man Who Came to Dinner" and "The Mermaids Singing" in 1945. She took a hiatus to focus on her personal life, marrying Stanley Rumbough, Jr., and raising three children.
Dina made her film debut in "Desk Set" (1957) alongside Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. She went on to appear in several notable films, including "Operation Petticoat" (1959),"BUtterfield 8" (1960),and "The Young Savages" (1961).
In the 1960s, Dina shifted her focus to television, making guest appearances on popular shows like "Dr. Kildare," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," and "Batman." She also appeared in numerous TV-movie dramas and miniseries, including "Roots: The Next Generations" (1979).
Dina returned to Broadway in the 1970s and 1980s, starring in productions like "Angel Street" and "On Your Toes." She married actor Cliff Robertson in 1966, and they had one daughter together. The couple divorced in 1989, and Dina married Ted Hartley, with whom she bought RKO Studios and renamed it RKO Pavilion.
Throughout her life, Dina was an avid philanthropist, supporting various causes, including women's health issues and the New York City Mission Society. She remained active in her later years, appearing in occasional productions until developing dementia. Dina Merrill passed away on May 22, 2017, at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy as a talented actress, devoted philanthropist, and elegant socialite.
