Diane Venora Biography: Movies, Husband, Age, Children, Height, Parents, Family

Biography

Diane Venora, born August 10, 1952, in East Hartford, Connecticut, is an acclaimed American actress known for her versatility on stage, in film, and in television.

She rose to prominence with standout roles in films such as The Cotton Club (1984), Heat (1995), and Romeo + Juliet (1996). A graduate of Juilliard, Venora is celebrated for her powerful, nuanced performances, particularly in Shakespearean theater.

Notably, she earned critical acclaim for her portrayal of Hamlet in a groundbreaking New York Shakespeare Festival production. Her dynamic acting style has garnered widespread recognition throughout her diverse career.

American television actress
Diane Venora
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Diana Venora
Stage Name:	Diane Venora
Born:	10 August 1952 (age 72 years old)
Place of Birth:	East Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Nationality:	American
Education:	East Hartford High School, Boston Conservatory of Music, Juilliard School
Height:	1.65 m
Parents:	Robert P. Venora, Marie Venora
Siblings:	N/A
Spouse:	Andrzej Bartkowiak (m. 1980–1989)
Boyfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	Madzia Bartkowiak Horgan
Occupation:	Actress • TV Personality
Net Worth:	$1 million-$5 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Diane Venora, originally born Diana Venora, was born on August 10, 1952, in East Hartford, Connecticut, USA.

Her father, Robert P. Venora, of Italian descent, ran a dry-cleaning business, while her mother, Marie (née Brooks), raised their family. Diane grew up as one of six children in a middle-class household, though the names of her siblings are not publicly documented.

Her ethnicity is noted as White, with her Italian heritage stemming from her father’s side. Information regarding her religion is not explicitly available in public sources.

From a young age, Diane displayed a passion for the arts, particularly singing and acting. She participated actively in her school’s dramatics club and cultural activities. Initially, she considered a career as a hairdresser, but her parents encouraged her to pursue acting, recognizing her talent. She graduated from East Hartford High School in 1970, where she was involved in musicals and plays, laying the foundation for her future in performance.

Venora’s pursuit of the arts led her to the Boston Conservatory of Music, where she studied for two years. Her talent earned her a scholarship to the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City, where she enrolled in the Drama Division and graduated with a B.F.A. in 1977.

At Juilliard, she was part of the Drama Department’s Group 6 (1973–1977) alongside future stars like Kelsey Grammer, Harriet Sansom Harris, and Robin Williams.

Career

Diane Venora’s career, which spans over four decades, reflects her remarkable versatility and unwavering dedication to her craft on stage, in film, and in television.

Trained at Juilliard, she launched her career in theater, earning early acclaim at the New York Shakespeare Festival with her groundbreaking portrayal of Hamlet in 1983—one of the first women to take on the title role at the Public Theater.

Her stage work also includes standout performances in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Winter’s Tale, and Uncle Vanya at the Yale Repertory Theatre, firmly establishing her as a formidable presence in classical theater.

Transitioning to film in the early 1980s, Venora debuted in Wolfen (1981) and gained wider recognition as Gloria Swanson in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Cotton Club (1984). Her portrayal of Chan Parker in Clint Eastwood’s Bird (1988) earned her a Golden Globe nomination and a New York Film Critics Circle Award, underscoring her talent for portraying layered, real-life figures.

Venora is perhaps best known for her role as Justine Hanna in Michael Mann’s Heat (1995), where she delivered a powerful performance opposite Al Pacino. Her diverse film credits also include F/X (1986), Ironweed (1987), The Jackal (1997), and Romeo + Juliet (1996) as Lady Capulet, consistently favoring complex, character-driven roles.

On television, Venora appeared in recurring and guest roles on series such as Chicago Hope, Law & Order: SVU, Thunder Alley, A Gifted Man, and Grey’s Anatomy. Her TV work showcased her ability to bring depth and gravitas to smaller-screen narratives. Throughout the 2000s, she balanced both film and television, with roles in The Insider (1999), Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 (2001), and All Good Things (2010), while periodically returning to her theatrical roots.

Known for her meticulous preparation, emotional intensity, and selective approach to roles, Venora has consistently prioritized artistic integrity over mainstream fame. Her career stands as a testament to her skill and passion, with standout performances in Heat and Bird and her Shakespearean stage work defining her enduring legacy.

Social Media

• Wikipedia: Diane Venora
• IMDb: Diane Venora

Personal Life

Diane Venora was born on August 10, 1952, in East Hartford, Connecticut, making her 72 years old. She stands at a height of approximately 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 meters), though some sources cite 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters). Her weight is reported to be around 127–143 pounds (58–65 kg), but exact figures vary and are not consistently documented.

Venora was married once to Polish cinematographer and director Andrzej Bartkowiak. The couple met while working on a commercial for Head & Shoulders shampoo and married in 1980. Their marriage lasted nine years, ending in divorce in 1989.

The reason for their separation was not publicly disclosed. Together, they have one daughter, Madzia Bartkowiak (also referred to as Madaket) Bartkowiak Horgan, born in the early 1980s. Madzia, who was eight at the time of the divorce, has a degenerative nerve condition and is partially deaf, which required significant care from Venora.

Following the divorce, Venora took a five-year hiatus from acting to focus on raising her daughter. She lived in New York and taught disadvantaged children while occasionally performing in theater. Bartkowiak later remarried, but Venora chose to raise Madzia as a single mother, with Bartkowiak offering support for their daughter’s upbringing.

There is no confirmed record of Venora remarrying or having additional children. Her dating history post-divorce is largely private, and reliable sources indicate she has remained single, with no verified reports of boyfriends or romantic relationships since 1989.

Some online discussions, such as comments on Who’s Dated Who, mention unverified claims of a marriage to a British man named Andrew, but these lack substantiation from credible sources and contradict established biographies that confirm only her marriage to Bartkowiak. Venora has preferred keeping her personal life out of the public eye, focusing instead on her career and daughter.

One inaccurate source claims Venora attended the University of Connecticut and is married to actor/director Peter Masterson, which is incorrect; this appears to be a conflation with another actress or misinformation, as Venora’s education was at Juilliard, and no evidence supports a marriage to Masterson.

Net Worth

Diane Venora’s net worth is estimated to range between $1 million and $5 million, primarily derived from her decades-long career as a stage, film, and television actress.

Her income stems from notable roles in films like Bird (1988), Heat (1995), and The Jackal (1997), as well as her acclaimed theater work, particularly in Shakespearean plays.

Additional revenue may come from endorsements and occasional teaching. Despite her success, Venora’s selective approach to roles and a five-year hiatus to care for her daughter suggest a focus on artistic integrity over financial gain, contributing to a modest yet substantial fortune.

Filmography

Movies

• Wolfen (1981) – Rebecca Neff
• Terminal Choice (1982) – Unknown role (uncredited)
• The Cotton Club (1984) – Gloria Swanson
• F/X (1986) – Ellen
• Ironweed (1987) – Margaret ‘Peg’ Phelan
• Bird (1988) – Chan Parker
• Heat (1995) – Justine Hanna
• Three Wishes (1995) – Joyce
• Romeo + Juliet (1996) – Lady Capulet
• The Jackal (1997) – Valentina Koslova
• The Young Girl and the Monsoon (1999) – Giovanna
• The Insider (1999) – Liane Wigand
• True Crime (1999) – Barbara Everett
• The Joyriders (1999) – Celeste
• Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 (2001) – Gabriella Francini
• Heartbreak Hospital (2002) – Sunday Tyler / Andrea Harmon
• Stateside (2004) – Mrs. Hengen
• Breaking Dawn (2004) – Mother
• Touched (2005) – Carole Davis
• Self Medicated (2005) – Louise Eriksen
• C.S. Lewis: Beyond Narnia (2005) – Joy Gresham
• The Ministers (2009) – Kate
• Follow the Prophet (2009) – Red
• All Good Things (2010) – Janice Rizzo
• The Wish List (2010, TV Movie) – Brenda
• Childless (2011) – Mary
• Silver Skies (2016) – Valerie
• Star Wars: The Odyssey (2018) – Yoda (voice)

TV Shows

• Getting There (1980, TV Movie) – Melanie
• Nurse (1981, Episode: “Margin for Error”) – Ellen Brill
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1982, TV Movie) – Hippolyta
• Cook & Peary: The Race to the Pole (1983, TV Movie) – Marie Peary
• Thunder Alley (1994–1995, 7 Episodes) – Bobbi Turner
• Chicago Hope (1994–1995, 4 Episodes) – Dr. Geri Infante
• Race Against Time: The Search for Sarah (1996, TV Movie) – Dr. Kathy Grace
• Law & Order (2000, Episode: “Stiff”) – Mara Feder
• Medium (2005, Episode: “Time Out of Mind”) – Sarah Jane Levitt
• Criminal Minds (2006, Episode: “Lessons Learned”) – Doris
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2009–2010, 2 Episodes) – ADA Susan Alexander
• Private Practice (2010, Episode: “Just Lose It”) – Sharon
• A Gifted Man (2011–2012, 2 Episodes) – Edie Covington
• Grey’s Anatomy (2019, Episode: “I Want a New Drug”) – Audrey

Theater (Selected Works)

• Penguin Touquet (1981) – Public Theater, New York
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1982) – Hippolyta, New York Shakespeare Festival
• Hamlet (1983) – Hamlet, Public Theater, New York Shakespeare Festival
• The Winter’s Tale – Perdita, Yale Repertory Theatre
• Uncle Vanya – Yale Repertory Theatre
• Messiah – Circle Repertory Company
• Peer Gynt – Williamstown Theatre Festival
• Largo Desolato – Yale Repertory Theatre
• School for Scandal – American Conservatory Theater
• Three Sisters – Regional theater production