Editing Dana Delany

{{Cast Data
| image = bsg-dd-2.jpg
| character = [[Sesha Abinell]]
| series = RDM
| born_day = 13
| born_month = 3
| born_year = 1956
| nationality = US
| site = http://www.danadelany.com/
| imdb = 0001127
| sortkey = Delany, Dana
|image2=Sesha.jpg}}
'''Dana Welles Delany''' (born March 13, 1956) is an American film, stage, and television actress who played [[Sesha Abinell]], a widowed civilian who leads an armed seizure of the Cloud Nine lounge, in the ''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' episode "[[Sacrifice]]" (2006). Born in New York City and raised in [[w:Stamford, Connecticut|Stamford, Connecticut]],<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_delany_born_raised">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/dana-delany#:~:text=Growing%20up%20in%20Stamford%2C%20Connecticut|title=Dana Delany|publisher=Television Academy|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> she earned two [[w:Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series|Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series]] for her starring role as Army nurse [[w:Colleen McMurphy|Colleen McMurphy]] on ''[[w:China Beach|China Beach]]'' (ABC, 1988–1991),<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_delany_china_beach_emmy_wins">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/dana-delany#:~:text=Delany%20won%20two%20Primetime%20Emmy%20Awards%20(in%201989%20and%201992)%20for%20her%20lead%20role%20as%20nurse%20Colleen%20McMurphy|title=Dana Delany – Emmy Awards and Nominations|publisher=Television Academy|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> and is recognized as the voice of [[w:Lois Lane|Lois Lane]] across multiple animated DC productions.
 
== Career ==
 
Delany attended [[w:Phillips Academy|Phillips Academy]] in Andover, Massachusetts for her senior year of secondary school, where she was a member of the institution's first co-educational class.<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_delany_phillips_academy_coed">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/dana-delany#:~:text=attended%20Phillips%20Academy%20in%20Andover%2C%20Massachusetts%2C%20for%20her%20senior%20year%20and%20was%20a%20member%20of%20the%20school%27s%20first%20co-educational%20class|title=Dana Delany|publisher=Television Academy|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> She then majored in theater at [[w:Wesleyan University|Wesleyan University]], working summer stock productions during vacations before graduating in 1978.<ref group="external" name="parade_delany_wesleyan_1978_graduation">{{cite web|url=https://parade.com/entertainment/beloved-90s-actress-whose-career-spans-6-decades-turns-70#:~:text=graduating%20from%20Wesleyan%20University%20in%201978|title=Beloved '90s Actress, Whose Career Spans 6 Decades, Turns 70|author=Lindain, Liz|publisher=Parade|date=13 March 2026|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>
 
After graduating, Delany returned to New York City, where she took roles in the daytime soap operas ''[[w:Love of Life|Love of Life]]'' and ''[[w:As the World Turns|As the World Turns]]'' and appeared in television commercials.<ref group="external" name="parade_delany_soap_operas_commercials">{{cite web|url=https://parade.com/entertainment/beloved-90s-actress-whose-career-spans-6-decades-turns-70#:~:text=daytime%20soap%20operas%20like%20Love%20of%20Life%20and%20As%20the%20World%20Turns%2C%20as%20well%20as%20starred%20in%20commercials%20for%20Wisk%20laundry%20detergent|title=Beloved '90s Actress, Whose Career Spans 6 Decades, Turns 70|author=Lindain, Liz|publisher=Parade|date=13 March 2026|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> On stage, she made her Broadway debut in [[w:Hugh Leonard|Hugh Leonard]]'s ''[[w:A Life (play)|A Life]]''<ref group="external" name="parade_delany_broadway_a_life">{{cite web|url=https://parade.com/entertainment/beloved-90s-actress-whose-career-spans-6-decades-turns-70#:~:text=starred%20in%20the%20Broadway%20show%20A%20Life|title=Beloved '90s Actress, Whose Career Spans 6 Decades, Turns 70|author=Lindain, Liz|publisher=Parade|date=13 March 2026|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> and received notice for off-Broadway productions, including [[w:Nicholas Kazan|Nicholas Kazan]]'s ''Blood Moon'' (1983), which led her to relocate to Los Angeles.<ref group="external" name="imdb_delany_bio_blood_moon_la">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001127/bio/#:~:text=Nicholas%20Kazan%27s%20controversial%20%22Bloodmoon%22%20in%20New%20York%20led%20her%20to%20Hollywood|title=Dana Delany – Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> In Hollywood, she accumulated guest-starring credits on ''[[w:Moonlighting (TV series)|Moonlighting]]'', ''[[w:Magnum, P.I.|Magnum, P.I.]]'', and ''[[w:thirtysomething|thirtysomething]]''.<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_delany_guest_credits_la">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/dana-delany#:~:text=guest%20starring%20in%20TV%20shows%20like%20Moonlighting%2C%20Magnum%2C%20P.I.%2C%20and%20thirtysomething|title=Dana Delany|publisher=Television Academy|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>
 
In 1988, Delany was cast as Army nurse [[w:Colleen McMurphy|Colleen McMurphy]] on ABC's Vietnam War drama ''[[w:China Beach|China Beach]]'', a role she played through the series' 1991 finale. The Television Academy nominated her for [[w:Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series]] in each of the show's four seasons, with wins in 1989 and 1992.<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_delany_china_beach_four_seasons_nominations">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/dana-delany#:~:text=Outstanding%20Lead%20Actress%20In%20A%20Drama%20Series%20-%201989|title=Dana Delany – Emmy Awards and Nominations|publisher=Television Academy|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>
 
Following ''China Beach'', Delany worked in feature films through the 1990s, with roles in ''[[w:Light Sleeper|Light Sleeper]]'' (1992), ''[[w:Tombstone (film)|Tombstone]]'' (1993), ''[[w:Exit to Eden (film)|Exit to Eden]]'' (1994), and ''[[w:Fly Away Home|Fly Away Home]]'' (1996),<ref group="external" name="imdb_delany_1990s_film_credits">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001127/#:~:text=Light%20Sleeper|title=Dana Delany|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> along with television films including ''The Margaret Sanger Story'' (1995) and ''[[w:True Women (film)|True Women]]'' (1997).
 
In 2001, the Television Academy nominated Delany for [[w:Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series]] for her performance as Mary Sullivan in CBS's ''[[w:Family Law (TV series)|Family Law]]''—her fifth career Emmy nomination.<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_delany_family_law_2001_nomination">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/dana-delany#:~:text=Outstanding%20Guest%20Actress%20In%20A%20Drama%20Series%20-%202001|title=Dana Delany – Emmy Awards and Nominations|publisher=Television Academy|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref><ref group="external" name="variety_delany_five_emmy_nominee_tally">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/taylor-sheridan-tulsa-king-paramount-plus-cast-dana-delany-1235298854#:~:text=five-time%20Emmy%20Award%20nominee%20and%20a%20two-time%20Emmy%20winner|title=Taylor Sheridan's 'Tulsa King' Adds Dana Delany to Cast|publisher=Variety|date=22 September 2022|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> She also took lead roles in the short-lived Fox drama ''[[w:Pasadena (TV series)|Pasadena]]'' (2001) and the CBS medical series ''[[w:Presidio Med|Presidio Med]]'' (2002–2003).
 
In February 2006, Delany appeared as [[Sesha Abinell]] in the ''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' episode "[[Sacrifice]]", written by [[Anne Cofell Saunders]] and directed by [[Reynaldo Villalobos]], which aired on the Sci Fi Channel on February 10, 2006.<ref group="external" name="imdb_sacrifice_episode_2006_delany">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0519783/#:~:text=A%20terrorist%20attacks%20and%20holds%20several%20key%20people%20hostage|title=Battlestar Galactica: "Sacrifice" (2006)|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> Abinell is a widow whose husband was killed in a Cylon attack; convinced that the fleet is harboring a Cylon agent, she and a small group seize the Cloud Nine lounge and take [[Lee Adama|Apollo]], [[Billy Keikeya]], and [[Ellen Tigh]] hostage, demanding that [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]] be surrendered to them. Delany also appeared in a recurring role during the abbreviated run of the NBC thriller ''[[w:Kidnapped (TV series)|Kidnapped]]'' (2006–2007).
 
In 2007, Delany joined the cast of the ABC comedy-drama ''[[w:Desperate Housewives|Desperate Housewives]]'' as Katherine Mayfair, remaining with the series until 2010 and returning for a 2012 guest appearance.<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_delany_desperate_housewives_joined_2007">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/dana-delany#:~:text=In%202007%2C%20Delany%20joined%20the%20cast%20of%20ABC%27s%20Desperate%20Housewives%2C%20playing%20housewife%20Katherine%20Mayfair|title=Dana Delany|publisher=Television Academy|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> She then led the ABC medical drama ''[[w:Body of Proof|Body of Proof]]'' (2011–2013) as Dr. Megan Hunt, a former neurosurgeon who, after losing the use of her hands in an accident, transitions to forensic pathology, and played Crystal Harris across 20 episodes of the [[w:Amazon Prime Video|Amazon]] drama ''[[w:Hand of God (TV series)|Hand of God]]'' (2014–2017).<ref group="external" name="imdb_delany_body_proof_hand_god_credits">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001127/#:~:text=Hand%20of%20God|title=Dana Delany|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>
 
In November 2022, Delany joined the [[w:Paramount+|Paramount+]] crime drama ''[[w:Tulsa King|Tulsa King]]'', created by [[w:Taylor Sheridan|Taylor Sheridan]], as Margaret Devereaux, an equestrian and horse farm owner who sits on the board of the Annie Oakley Society.<ref group="external" name="variety_delany_tulsa_king_margaret_devereaux_role">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/taylor-sheridan-tulsa-king-paramount-plus-cast-dana-delany-1235298854#:~:text=Delany%20will%20play%20Margaret%2C%20an%20affluent%20and%20influential%20equestrian%20and%20owner%20of%20a%20sprawling%20horse%20farm|title=Taylor Sheridan's 'Tulsa King' Adds Dana Delany to Cast|publisher=Variety|date=22 September 2022|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> She appeared in 29 episodes across the series' first three seasons (2022–2025).<ref group="external" name="imdb_delany_tulsa_king_29_eps">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001127/#:~:text=Tulsa%20King%202022|title=Dana Delany|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> In 2024, she also appeared in the [[w:Netflix|Netflix]] action comedy film ''[[w:The Union (2024 film)|The Union]]'' and in five episodes of the [[w:FX (TV channel)|FX]] drama ''[[w:Mayans M.C.|Mayans M.C.]]''<ref group="external" name="imdb_delany_union_mayans_2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001127/#:~:text=Mayans%20M.C.|title=Dana Delany|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>
 
She has hosted the [[w:Television Academy Honors|Television Academy Honors]] on ten occasions since the event's founding.<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_delany_honors_host_ten">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/dana-delany#:~:text=served%20as%20host%20of%20the%20Television%20Academy%20Honors%20ten%20times%20since%20its%20inception|title=Dana Delany|publisher=Television Academy|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>
 
=== Voice acting ===
 
In 1993, Delany voiced Andrea Beaumont, Bruce Wayne's childhood sweetheart, in the animated theatrical film ''[[w:Batman: Mask of the Phantasm|Batman: Mask of the Phantasm]]''.<ref group="external" name="imdb_delany_batman_phantasm_andrea_beaumont">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001127/#:~:text=Batman%3A%20Mask%20of%20the%20Phantasm|title=Dana Delany|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> Beginning in 1996, she voiced [[w:Lois Lane|Lois Lane]] across all three seasons of ''[[w:Superman: The Animated Series|Superman: The Animated Series]]'', and went on to reprise the role in ''[[w:Justice League (TV series)|Justice League]]'' (2001–2004), ''[[w:Justice League Unlimited|Justice League Unlimited]]'' (2004–2006), and ''[[w:The Batman (TV series)|The Batman]]'' (2004–2008), as well as in the direct-to-video animated features ''[[w:Superman: Brainiac Attacks|Superman: Brainiac Attacks]]'' (2006) and ''[[w:Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox|Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox]]'' (2013).<ref group="external" name="imdb_delany_lois_lane_dc_animated_career">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001127/#:~:text=Superman%3A%20The%20Animated%20Series|title=Dana Delany|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>
 
== Personal life ==
 
Since the mid-1990s, Delany has served on the board of the [[w:Scleroderma Research Foundation|Scleroderma Research Foundation]].<ref group="external" name="parade_delany_scleroderma_foundation_board">{{cite web|url=https://parade.com/entertainment/beloved-90s-actress-whose-career-spans-6-decades-turns-70#:~:text=long-standing%20role%20on%20the%20board%20of%20the%20Scleroderma%20Research%20Foundation|title=Beloved '90s Actress, Whose Career Spans 6 Decades, Turns 70|author=Lindain, Liz|publisher=Parade|date=13 March 2026|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> Her involvement was partly prompted by her portrayal of a scleroderma patient in ''For Hope'' (1996), a television film directed by [[w:Bob Saget|Bob Saget]].<ref group="external" name="parade_delany_for_hope_scleroderma_bob_saget">{{cite web|url=https://parade.com/entertainment/beloved-90s-actress-whose-career-spans-6-decades-turns-70#:~:text=playing%20a%20scleroderma%20patient%20in%20the%20film%20For%20Hope%2C%20directed%20by%20the%20late%20Bob%20Saget|title=Beloved '90s Actress, Whose Career Spans 6 Decades, Turns 70|author=Lindain, Liz|publisher=Parade|date=13 March 2026|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>
 
== References ==
 
=== External Sources ===
{{reflist|group=external}}