Darlanne Fluegel

Darlanne Fluegel (November 25, 1953 – December 15, 2017) was an American actress and model. 

She had the female lead roles in a number of films throughout the 1980s.

Life and career

Fluegel was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. She modeled from 1974 to 1981. She worked for Eileen Ford's modeling agency, Ford Models, and took acting lessons from Stella Adler.

She made her screen debut in a supporting role in the 1978 film Eyes of Laura Mars. Her first major film role was as Nanelia in the cult sci-fi film Battle Beyond the Stars (1980). She was featured 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' girlfriend. In 1985, she appeared in To Live and Die in L.A. as Ruth Lanier, the love interest of William Petersen's main character, Secret Service Agent Richard Chance. Not long afterward, in 1986, she portrayed Billy Crystal's ex-wife, Anna, in the buddy-cop action comedy Running Scared. As a lead actress, Fluegel starred in the independent film Freeway (1988).

Fluegel had the main role in the first season of the NBC drama series Crime Story from 1986 to 1987. In 1989 she starred in Lock Up with Sylvester Stallone She later had a recurring role on Wiseguy, and from 1990 to 1991 was a regular cast member in the final season of Hunter. Fluegel taught acting as a professor at the University of Central Florida (2002–07).

Personal life

From 1983 until 2004, Fluegel was married to Michael Ira Small. They had two children.

Diagnosed at age 56 with early onset Alzheimer's disease, Fluegel died at her home in Orlando, Florida on December 15, 2017 at the age of 64.