- Born
- Died
- Height5′ 7¼″ (1.71 m)
- American leading lady, briefly prominent on screen during the 80s and 90's. Blond, gray-eyed Darlanne (whose not very Hollywood-sounding birth name literally translates to 'wing' in German) began her career in 1974 as a model with the Eileen Ford and Zoli Agencies in New York. Seven year later, though very much a success in this most competitive industry (earning $300 per hour) she decided, that, at 25, she "was washed up as a model". Determined to make a serious go of becoming an actress, Darlanne's early film roles instead suggested inevitable typecasting as high fashion models, accentuating allure factor rather than acting ability. As it turned out, more promising offers did come her way, beginning with a role as the chief love interest in Roger Corman's cultish space opera Battle Beyond the Stars (1980). She was then briefly featured as Robert De Niro's girlfriend Eve, the first person murdered in Once Upon a Time in America (1984), followed by a grittier role as a junkie/police informant in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985). Between 1986 and 1991, Darlanne derived her primary source of income from the small screen where she found an appreciative audience playing Julie Torello, the wife of Dennis Farina's tough 1960s Chicago cop in Crime Story (1986) and Lacey Marseille in season three of Wiseguy (1987). She took over the female lead in season seven of Hunter (1984), but, given 'creative differences' between her and co-star Fred Dryer , she wanted to quit the show and her character was killed off after twelve episodes. Darlanne's career then gradually lost direction and she retired from acting in the mid-90s. Between 2002 and 2007, she held a position as a college professor teaching drama and production at the University of Central Florida film faculty.- IMDb Mini Biography By: I.S.Mowis
- Darlanne Fluegel was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and died on December 15, 2017, in Orlando, Florida. Most of her childhood was spent in Binghamton, New York.
She started her professional modeling career in 1970 in New York City, working for the Ford Agency. As a lead actress, Fluegel starred in multiple films through 1996. Her screen debut came with a role in the acclaimed film, Eyes of Laura Mars (1978). She was subsequently featured as Nanelia in the cult science fiction film Battle Beyond the Stars (1980), in Sergio Leone's film Once Upon a Time in America (1984) as Robert De Niro's girlfriend Eve, and in Tough Guys (1986) as Kirk Douglas's girlfriend.
In 1985, she appeared in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) as Ruth Lanier, the love interest of William Petersen's character, Secret Service Agent Richard Chance. In 1986, she portrayed Billy Crystal's ex-wife Anna, in the buddy-cop action comedy Running Scared (1986).
Fluegel had the main role in the first season of the NBC drama series Crime Story (1986), and a recurring role on Wiseguy (1987). She was a regular cast member in the final season of Hunter (1984).
Fluegel taught acting as a professor at the University of Central Florida (2002-07). She was the mother of one son, Coulter Nathan Small, and of one daughter, Jenna Carey, who, credited as Jenicka Carey, appeared as the character Astrid in the film Thirteen (2003).- IMDb Mini Biography By: Jenna Carey
- SpouseMichael J. Moore(1983 - 2004) (divorced, 2 children)
- ChildrenCoulter Small
- Diagnosed at age 56 with early onset Alzheimer's disease, Fluegel died on December 15, 2017 at the age of 64.
- When she was 16 and living in Binghamton, New York, her father, a chiropractor, died suddenly of a brain tumor. Darlanne turned to modeling as to "not to be a burden" on her mother, who worked with the Department of Social Security.
- Taught acting in the University of Central Florida Film School from 2002 through 2007.
- Had one older sister and three younger brothers, as well as an older half-sister.
- Body cremated and ashes given to family or friend.
- [on her unusual name] There was a lot of pressure from agents, publicists and even Gene Shalit on The Today (1952) Show asked why I keep it, but I want my family to be proud of me. And I find that once people hear the name, they don't soon forget it
- [on Billy Crystal] He and Gregory Hines and I had the best time. We were just like 'the group.' Billy is hysterically funny, because he doesn't throw it at you. Some comedians feel like they can't turn off. He was just a regular guy. One time on the set, we had this explosion of a birthday cake. They didn't expect the explosives were going to make such a mess. He flew over the bar, and started telling jokes - reading Christmas cards. It was so funny, the cast and crew couldn't stop laughing and they had to leave the set.
- It is tough to get people in the acting world to take you seriously if you've been a successful model. Some models turn out to be good actresses; most are terrible.
- [on Robert De Niro] I loved working with Bobby. He's easy to work with. He's so 'there.' To see him acting right there with you, it's really fun. We had lots of good times on the set. When I first got the part, I tried out with another actor who filled in for his role. Afterward, Bobby came up to me, 'I'm sorry I didn't do that with you.' He was very respectful.
- [why she kept her acting ambitions to herself] In Binghamton, they think that an actress is the same as a hooker.
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