Diane Roter

Danielle B. Roter was born on May 26, 1948 in Brussels, Belgium, the daughter of Tovia and Bella Roter. Along with her younger brother, Michel, the family departed from Cherbourg, France in early December 1948 on the Queen Elizabeth, arriving in New York, New York, USA on December 13, 1948. Diane's father, Tovia, was an actor and director credited as Theodore/Ted Roter and Peter Balakoff. In 1952 the family officially moved to the United States and in 1957 became American citizens. After her first role as a little French speaking girl on Ronald Reagan's General Electric Theater in 1959 Diane was sent to a Brussels, Belgium school for the 1961-62 school year. She was multi-lingual and fluent in Dutch and French. Danielle's father became the executive director of the Santa Monica Playhouse giving her progressively larger parts in every play they produced until she reached starring role status. Danielle left school at the conclusion of her junior year (1965) at Venice High School in the west side of Los Angeles. Venice High is a foreign language and international studies magnet school. She accepted the role of Judge Garth's niece, Jennifer Sommers, at the start of The Virginian's fourth season for NBC. She replaced Roberta Shore who left the series to be married. After NBC changed her first name to Diane, she remained in the role of Jennifer for twenty-five episodes (1965-1966). Sara Lane replaced Diane after one season, appearing in over one hundred episodes (1966-1970). Diane has taught mime, movement, and acting in numerous private classes and schools. She has been a journalist and art critic in numerous newspapers. Diane earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bio-Psychology at UCLA. As 2014 ends Diane is in the process of writing a novel.