Diahnne Abbott

Diahnne Abbott (born January 1, 1945[1]) is an American actress and singer. She played supporting roles in films of the 1970s and 1980s, including Taxi Driver (1976).

For the British politician, see Diane Abbott.
Diahnne Abbott
Born (1945-01-01) January 1, 1945
New York City, New York, U.S.
Other namesDiahnne Eugenia Abbott
Diahnne Déa
OccupationActress, singer
Years active1976–present
Spouse(s)
Robert De Niro
(m. 1976; div. 1988)
ChildrenDrena De Niro
Raphael De Niro

Abbott was married to actor Robert De Niro from 1976 to 1988. They had a son, Raphael, who was named after the hotel in Rome where he was conceived. De Niro adopted Drena, Abbott's daughter from a previous marriage. Drena has appeared in several of her father's films, including Showtime (2002), Wag the Dog (1997), City by the Sea (2002) and The Intern (2015). De Niro and Abbott divorced in 1988.

Abbott portrayed the pornographic movie theatre box office clerk in Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver (1976) opposite Robert De Niro. She has a cameo in the 1977 film New York, New York, in which she sings Fats Waller's song, "Honeysuckle Rose".[2]

She also played the object of De Niro's affections in Scorsese's 1983 film, The King of Comedy, as well as roles in the television series Crime Story (the character of Sonia) and the 1986 film Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (Mother). She is the cousin of singer Gregory Abbott, known for his 1986 song "Shake You Down".[3]

Filmography

Film roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
1976Taxi DriverConcession Girl
1976Welcome to L.A.Jeanette Ross
1977New York, New YorkHarlem Club singer
1983The King of ComedyRita Keane
1984Love StreamsSusan
1986Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is CallingMother
2000Before Night FallsBlanca Romero
2002SoliloquyLeah

Television roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
1988Crime StorySoniaThree episodes

References
  1. McCann, Bob (2009). Encyclopedia of African American actresses in film and television. McFarland & Co. p. 4. ISBN 978-0786458042.
  2. Gabbard, Krin (1996). Jammin' at the margins : jazz and the American cinema. University of Chicago Press. p. 278. ISBN 0226277895.
  3. "Biography" at Gregoryabbott.com.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.