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...
In one of her only six television shows after her one season on The Virginian, Diane Roter joined Kathy Garver, Jamie Farr, Richard Gates, and Veronica Cartwright in a comedic episode of Family Affair that aired in 1969. They all appeared as "flower children" on the "Flower Power" episode, playing on the dismay of Brian Keith in his role as "Uncle Bill". Kathy Garver and Diane later appeared together on The Marquee Theater stage in El Paso, Texas, USA in 1972 in "Under the Yum-Yum Tree." Diane's husband in real-life, Gregory O. Spencer, was also in the cast. Following her television and film career Diane studied mime in Paris, France under Marcel Marceau.
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In the years 2011-2013 Diane has participated in each of the reunions for the surviving cast members of The Virginian. She joins Roberta Shore and Sara Lane at each of these celebrations. They have been held at diverse locations, i.e., Olive Branch, Mississippi, USA; Kanab, Utah, USA; and The Autry National Center and Museum in Los Angeles, California, USA.
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From 1980 to 1983 under the byline Danielle Roter she wrote a Kings Feature syndicated column as an interviewer and sometimes as a critic. Subjects included Jack Hofsiss, Franco Zeffirelli, Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill, Sandra Reeves-Phillips, Angela Lansbury, Barbi Benton, Scott Glenn, Darryl Hannah, Bruce Boxleitner, George Gaynes, and Sandra Bernhard.
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When Diane Roter's mother left in March 1966 to visit relatives in Europe her father was asked how he was faring on Diane's cooking while she was gone. His six word reply, "Just fine. I eat in restaurants," didn't say much for Diane's cooking.
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After signing with NBC in 1965 Diane Roter refused to have a double do her horseback riding scenes. She took horseback riding lessons at the age of seventeen. She did her own riding on the series. Despite her lessons her first day on the set in 110 degree weather was not a good day. She got blisters from her new boots, and to make matters worse, was thrown from her horse. She continued taking riding lessons throughout her work on The Virginian.
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As a nine year old Danielle Roter's father, Theodore Roter, arranged for her to appear on a television program, General Electric Theater, hosted by Ronald Reagan, to play the part of a little French girl. Charles Laughton starred in "The Last Lesson," a thirty minute 1959 episode, The uncredited role was Danielle's first television appearance.
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Identified as Danielle, not Diane, Roter in the cast of the 1968 television series, "Hondo," was not pleased to learn that the script called for her to do a nude screen. The nineteen year old discussed the situation with her actor father, Ted Roter, who did not object and advised her that the bathing scene could be done by using a few well placed flesh colored pieces of fabric.
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In 2011 Diane directed and co-adapted a new version of of the 19th century Mark Twain and Bret Harte play, "Ah Sin." The Los Angeles Heritage Square Museum was the site for its debut reading.
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Diane has taught Algebra to adults at Los Angeles Valley College and is a certified teaching artist. She has had art critic reviews published under the names of Danielle Roter and Duncan Wilde. She has reviewed film, theater, and books during the first decade of the 21st century.
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Danielle Roter's name was changed to Diane by NBC executives because they thought it would go better with her new role, which first was aired on an episode titled, "Jennifer," on November 3, 1965, as a young lady in the Old West.
She was a guest at the 2012 Memphis Film Festival's "A Gathering of Guns 4: A TV Western Reunion" at the Whispering Woods Hotel and Conference Center in Olive Branch, Mississippi.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
Triangle
1970
as Danielle Roter
Justine
1969
Drusilla (uncredited)
Family Affair
1969
TV Series
Myra
The Rat Patrol
1968
TV Series
Monique
Hondo
1967
TV Series
Star Bird
Laredo
1966
TV Series
Lohray
The Virginian
1965-1966
TV Series
Jennifer Sommers / Jennifer Summers
The Dick Powell Theatre
1962
TV Series
Girl
General Electric Theater
1959
TV Series
French school girl
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Little Girls Lost...
1983
writer: "Little Girls Lost"
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1966
Bronze Wrangler
Western Heritage Awards
Fictional Television Drama
The Virginian (1962)
Known for movies
The Virginian (1965-1966) as Jennifer Sommers / Jennifer Summers
$1 Million
