Dina Merrill

2.1. Background and Family

Merrill was born Nedenia Marjorie Hutton in New York City on December 29, 1923, though for many years her birth date was publicly given as December 9, 1925. She was the only child of Marjorie Merriweather Post, the heiress to Post Cereals, and her second husband, Edward Francis Hutton, a prominent Wall Street stockbroker and founder of E. F. Hutton & Co..

Merrill had two older half-sisters from her mother's first marriage to Edward Bennett Close: Adelaide Brevoort Close (born July 26, 1908, died December 31, 1998) and Eleanor Post Hutton (born December 3, 1909, died November 27, 2006). Edward Bennett Close was also the grandfather of actress Glenn Close. Dina Merrill was also a first cousin to heiress Barbara Hutton (from the Woolworth fortune), as their fathers were brothers. She was also first cousin once removed to Barbara Hutton's son, Lance Reventlow.

2.2. Education

Dina Merrill attended Miss Porter's School for her preparatory education. Following this, she briefly enrolled at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. for one term. Driven by her passion for performing arts, she then transferred to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, where she honed her acting skills. She further pursued her studies in acting at HB Studio, receiving instruction from the renowned acting teacher Uta Hagen.

2.3. Personal Life

Dina Merrill was married three times throughout her life. Her first marriage was in 1946 to Stanley M. Rumbough Jr., an entrepreneur and heir to the Colgate-Palmolive toothpaste fortune. They had three children: Nedenia Colgate Rumbough, David Post Rumbough, and Stanley Rumbough III. The couple divorced in 1966.

Later in 1966, she married actor Cliff Robertson. Together, they had one daughter, Heather Robertson. This marriage concluded in divorce in 1986.

In 1989, Merrill married producer Ted Hartley. They remained married until her death.

Tragically, two of Merrill's four children predeceased her. Her son, David Post Rumbough, died in a boating accident a few weeks before his 24th birthday. Her daughter, Heather Robertson, died from ovarian cancer at the age of 38.

3.1. Acting Career

Upon the advice of her half-sister's then-husband, Nedenia Marjorie Hutton adopted the stage name Dina Merrill. She chose "Merrill" from Charles E. Merrill, a prominent stockbroker, similar to her father's profession. Her professional acting debut came in 1945 in the stage play The Mermaid Singing.

During the late 1950s and 1960s, Merrill was frequently compared to and marketed as a potential successor to actress Grace Kelly, known for her elegant and sophisticated screen presence. In 1959, she was notably proclaimed "Hollywood's new Grace Kelly."

Merrill accumulated over a hundred film and television credits. Her notable film appearances include Desk Set (1957), A Nice Little Bank That Should Be Robbed (1958), Don't Give Up the Ship (1959), and Operation Petticoat (1959), where she co-starred with Cary Grant, who had previously been married to her cousin, Barbara Hutton. Other significant film roles include The Sundowners (1960), Butterfield 8 (1960), The Young Savages (1961), The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963), I'll Take Sweden (1965), The Greatest (1977), A Wedding (1978), Just Tell Me What You Want (1980), Anna to the Infinite Power (1983), Twisted (1986), Caddyshack II (1988), Fear (1990), True Colors (1991), The Player (1992), Suture (1993), and Shade (2003).

She also appeared in numerous made-for-television movies, such as Seven in Darkness (1969), The Lonely Profession (1969), Family Flight (1972), and The Tenth Month (1979).

Merrill was a prolific presence on television series throughout the 1960s and beyond. In 1968, she played the villain Calamity Jan in two episodes of Batman, co-starring with her then-husband Cliff Robertson. She made guest appearances on two episodes of Bonanza as Susannah Clauson, and was featured in The Alfred Hitchcock Hour episode "Bonfire" (1962). Her extensive television credits also include roles in The Investigators, The Bold Ones, Wagon Train (1964), Mission: Impossible, The Love Boat, Quincy, M.E., Murder, She Wrote, Roseanne, and The Nanny, where she portrayed Maxwell Sheffield's disapproving and distant British mother. In 1971, Merrill appeared as Laura Duff in The Men from Shiloh, a rebranded version of the TV Western The Virginian, in an episode titled "The Angus Killer".

On stage, Merrill's credits include the 1983 Broadway revival of the Rodgers and Hart musical On Your Toes, where she starred alongside Russian prima ballerina Natalia Makarova. In 1991, she participated in the rotating cast of the off-Broadway staged reading of Wit & Wisdom.

Merrill was also a recurring guest on several network television game and panel shows during the 1960s and 1970s, including Match Game, To Tell the Truth, What's My Line, and Hollywood Squares.

3.2. Business and Philanthropic Activities

Beyond her acting career, Dina Merrill was deeply involved in the business world and dedicated to various philanthropic causes. In 1991, she and her third husband, Ted Hartley, merged their company, Pavilion Communications, with RKO Pictures, forming a new entity that owns the intellectual property of the historic RKO Radio Pictures movie studio.

Merrill also held significant positions in corporate governance. In 1980, she joined the board of directors of her father's firm, E. F. Hutton & Co.. She continued her board service and participation on the compensation committee for over 18 years, including after Lehman Brothers acquired Hutton.

Her philanthropic efforts were extensive. She was a presidential appointee to the board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, demonstrating her commitment to the arts at a national level. She also served as a trustee of the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, supporting the development of new theatrical works. Additionally, Merrill was a vice president of the New York City Mission Society, contributing to community welfare initiatives.

4.1. Circumstances of Death

Dina Merrill died on May 22, 2017, at her home in East Hampton, New York, at the age of 93. Her death was attributed to Lewy Body Dementia, a progressive neurological disorder.

5.1. Awards and Honors

In 1994, Dina Merrill was honored with the Women's International Center (WIC) Living Legacy Award, acknowledging her enduring contributions. In April 2005, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where she had studied, presented her with a lifetime achievement award, recognizing her significant and lasting impact on the field of acting.

6.1. Feature Films

6.2. Television Films

6.3. Television Series