Didi Conn

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Didi Conn
Born Edith Bernstein
(1951-07-13) July 13, 1951 (age 60)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 1962–present
Spouse David Shire (1982–present), 1 child

Didi Conn (born Edith Bernstein on July 13, 1951) is an American film, stage and television actress.

Personal life

Conn was born in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of a clinical psychologist.[1] "Didi" was her childhood nickname. She attended Midwood High School; her brother is opera singer Richard Bernstein.

She has been married to composer David Shire since 1982, with whom she has a son, Daniel Shire, who has been diagnosed with autism. Conn is also stepmother to Matthew Shire, a Los Angeles screenwriter.

Career

Conn made her debut as an actress in the 1960s. Her notable roles since the 1970s, when she first became prominent, include:

Conn provided the voice for Raggedy Ann in the 1977 animated feature, Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure, directed by Richard Williams. Conn's "childlike" voice is one of her trademarks. She occasionally appeared as a celebrity guest on game shows like Match Game, The $20,000 $25,000 and $100,000 Pyramids, Chain Reaction and Go.

Activism

Conn's son Danny is diagnosed with autism.[2] On November 13, 2008, Conn was named national celebrity spokesperson for Autism Speaks.[3] Before that, Conn was a spokesperson for the National Alliance for Autism Research, now part of Autism Speaks. She has performed at benefits for Foundation for Educating Children with Autism (FECA)[4].

On September 27, 2008, Conn performed with David Shire and Lynne Wintersteller at a benefit performance for Barack Obama in Nyack, New York.[5]

Notable roles on film and television

References

  1. ^ Didi Conn Biography (1951-)
  2. ^ I Was the Queen of Denial on Autism CNN.com, April 1, 2009
  3. ^ Didi Conn Named a National Celebrity Spokesperson for Autism Speaks, Autism Speaks, e-Speaks, November 14, 2008
  4. ^ http://www.devereux.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=16395&news_iv_ctrl=1770
  5. ^ Sept 27, 2008 Obama Benefit performance, Nyack News & Views, September 21, 2008

External links