Diana Hyland
Diana Hyland (January 25, 1936 – March 27, 1977) was an American actress.
Born Diana Gentner in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Hyland made her acting debut in 1955 in an episode of Robert Montgomery Presents. Over the next decade she played numerous guest and supporting roles in various television series before being cast in a featured role in The Chase (1966) with Marlon Brando, Jane Fonda, and Robert Redford. She also played a continuing role in the soap opera Peyton Place from 1968 until 1969.
In 1976 she began a relationship with the actor John Travolta, 17 years her junior and beginning to find success as an actor in the television series Welcome Back, Kotter. The two appeared together in a television movie, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble (1976), and Hyland was then signed to play the wife of Dick Van Patten in the series Eight is Enough.
Hyland was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy. Despite this, her health deteriorated and after filming four episodes she left the series, and was replaced by Betty Buckley. Her illness overwhelmed her quickly and less than a year later she died, reportedly in Travolta's arms.
Travolta accepted an Emmy Award on her behalf, when she won posthumously for her role in The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.
Hyland was survived by Travolta, and a four year old son from a previous relationship.