Linda Dano (born Linda Rae Wildermuth; May 12, 1943, Long Beach, California) is an American actress and television host. She began her career appearing in film and prime time television before she was cast as Rae Cummings on the ABC daytime soap opera, One Life to Live from 1978 to 1980. Three years later, Dano starred as Felicia Gallant in the NBC soap opera Another World from 1983 to 1999. She returned to One Life to Live starring in the show from 1999 to 2004. Dano was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award seven times, winning once for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1993 for her work on Another World.

From 1986 to 1991, Dano co-hosted the talk show Attitudes on Lifetime receiving Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host nomination, and had a long-running clothing and home-furnishings line with QVC, first partnering with the home shopping channel in 1993 and ultimately working with them for over 20 years.^[2]

Dano was born Linda Rae Wildermuth^[3] in Long Beach, California, to Evelyn (Delgado) and Ted Wildermuth.^[4]

In late 1960s, Dano began appearing on screen playing small parts in films Tony Rome (1967), Star! (1968) and Hello, Dolly! (1969). In early 1970s, she signed a contract to 20th Century Fox alongside such actors as Tom Selleck and was cast in a numerous primetime programs.^[5] Dano guest-starred on Ironside, Police Woman, Harry O, Petrocelli, The Rockford Files (in three different roles), Starsky & Hutch, Charlie's Angels, and CHiPS, as well as in Emergency!, Barney Miller, and The Six Million Dollar Man (in two different roles). In 1975, Dano starred in the short-lived 1975 NBC comedy series, The Montefuscos, which was cancelled after three episodes were broadcast and ultimately ran for seven. She had supporting roles in the made-for-television movies The Last Survivors (1975), The Nurse Killer (1975), and The Night That Panicked America (1975). She starred alongside Joe Don Baker in the 1977 Western horror film, The Shadow of Chikara.

In 1978, Dano moved to New York City and joined the ABC daytime soap opera One Life to Live in the role of Gretel Cummings to 1980.^[6][7] From 1981 to 1982, she played Cynthia Haines on As the World Turns. In 1983, Dano was cast as a glamorous romance novelist Felicia Gallant in the NBC soap opera, Another World appearing until the show's cancellation on June 25, 1999,^[8] For the performance, Dano received the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1993.^[9] She was also nominated for Leading Actress Emmys in 1994^[10] and 1996,^[11] and for Supporting Actress in 1992.^[12]

From 1986 to 1991, Dano hosted the Lifetime talk show Attitudes, for which she received Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host nomination, and has both been a guest and guest-host on The View. Lifetime Television dedicated an episode of its Intimate Portrait celebrity biography series to Dano in 2000. Dano was impersonated on NBC's Saturday Night Live in the late 1980s by Nora Dunn. Dano hosted an Another World reunion special on SOAPnet in 2003 for which she was later nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Special Class Special. ^{[citation needed]} Dano has written a style and fashion column for Soap Opera Digest on and off for years, and has had her own merchandise lines on QVC, with Dano having celebrated her 20th anniversary affiliated with the home shopping network in February 2013.^[13] In 1999, she won the Accessories Council Excellence Award for outstanding contributions to consumer awareness.^[14]

Dano starred opposite Jaclyn Smith in the 1986 miniseries, Rage of Angels: The Story Continues based on novel by Sidney Sheldon. She appeared in the television movies Perry Mason: The Case of the Killer Kiss (1993), When the Vows Break (1995) opposite Patty Duke, and See Jane Date (2003). She also guest-starred on Homicide: Life on the Street and appeared in the independent film Somewhere in the City (1998).^[15]

On June 28, 1999, Dano returned to One Life to Live as Gretel, now calling herself "Rae" Cummings.^[6][8] The character also appeared on the three other ABC soap operas at the time — All My Children, General Hospital, and Port Charles — in a crossover storyline, which was the first time a daytime character had ever appeared on four series.^[6][16][17] In 2003, Dano was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Supporting Actress for the role,^[18] and left One Life to Live on March 13, 2004.^[7] In 2005, Dano appeared briefly as Lena Kendall on CBS soap opera, Guiding Light.

Dano left daytime television in 2005 and moved to Connecticut. Since then, she guest-starred in episodes of Desperate Housewives and What I Like About You, as well as appeared in the 2007 crime drama film, Reservation Road. In 2005, she appeared as the title character in Mame at the Bucks County Playhouse.^[19]

In 2019, after more than ten years off-screen, Dano appeared in the Hallmark television film, Chronicle Mysteries: Vines That Bind starring another soap opera veteran, Alison Sweeney.^[20] In early 2021, Dano stepped into the role briefly of Vivian Alamain on NBC soap opera, Days of Our Lives.^[21][22] In 2021, Dano starred in a Hallmark comedy film production, A Little Daytime Drama playing the role of the creator/producer of popular long-running daytime series.^[23][24]

Dano was married to actor Frank Attardi for over 20 years until his death in 2004.^[5] She has two stepchildren, three stepgrandchildren, a niece, and a nephew.^{[citation needed]}

For several years, Dano has worked with organizations to tackle medical conditions such as depression and Alzheimer's disease. Her father's life was taken by the effects of Alzheimer's, and she battled depression later after the double loss of her husband and her mother, Evelyn, a week-and-a-half afterward, with her mother showing signs of dementia before her death. Dano is active in such groups as HeartShare, the National Osteoporosis Foundation, the National Alzheimer's Association, and Support Partners, among others. Dano is also a patron of the Catholic Guardian Society of New York.

HeartShare Human Services of New York bestows an annual "Linda Dano Award".^[25]

During her run on Another World, Dano co-wrote at least one romance novel published under the name of her character Felicia Gallant.^[26]

• Gallant, Felicia, with Rebecca Flanders (1984). Dreamweaver. Harlequin. ISBN 0-373-97012-9. OCLC 11693590.

Donna Ball was a co-author.^{[citation needed]}

• Dano, Linda, with Anne Kyle (1997). Looking Great: Fashion Authority and Television Star Linda Dano Shares Her Style and Beauty Secrets to Help You Look Your Best. G.P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN 0-399-52387-1. OCLC 35688092.
• Dano, Linda, with Anne Kyle (1998). Living Great: Style Expert and Television Star Linda Dano Shows You How to Bring Style Home With Her Easy, Affordable Decorating Ideas and Techniques. Putnam. ISBN 0-399-14392-0. OCLC 37782918.

• Exclusive Interview with Linda Dano
• Linda Dano at Library of Congress, with 2 library catalog records (under her own name)

Note. The U.S. library covers Taylor Brady as a real name, citing Contemporary Authors, rather than a pseudonym of Donna Ball, or Ball and Shannon Harper. It also treats all books published under the name Rebecca Flanders as possibly collaborations of Brady and Dano.