Dinah Manoff was born in New York City to actress Lee Grant and writer Arnold Manoff.

 

She won both a  Theater World and Tony Award as Best Featured Actress for her performance in the Broadway production of Neil Simon’s "I Ought To Be In Pictures."  She reprised the role in the motion picture of the same title.

 

Her numerous theater credits include Broadway's "Leader of the Pack," "Alfred and Victoria" at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, Tenessee William’s "Kingdom of Earth" at Theatre West and Donald Margulies “Gifted Children” at the JRT Off-Broadway. She won a Dramalogue Award (Best Director of the Year,) for directing "Telegrams From Heaven," a play starring Renee Taylor -- which she co-wrote with Dennis Bailey - - based on her late father's (Arnold Manoff) novel. 

 

On television, she was a series regular on "Soap," and has appeared in numerous TV movies, including "Maid For Each Other," which she wrote the story for as well.  Manoff is best known for her portrayal as Richard Mulligans daughter “Carol Weston” the character she played for seven years on "Empty Nest".  More recently she spent two years starring in the highly acclaimed ABC family series “State of Grace,” for which she received a Jewish Image Award.

 

Manoff has also worked as a television director, helming episodes of “Sabrina,” “Movie Stars,” “Brothers,” and numerous episodes of Empty Nest.

 

In feature films, Manoff played the role of pink lady Marty Marachino in the movie of Grease. Other film credits include "Ordinary People,"  Bloodhounds of Broadway," "Child's Play," "Staying Together," "Backfire," “I Ought to be in Pictures,” "Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael,” and the recently released “Bart Got a Room.”

 

Currently Manoff resides with her family on Bainbridge Island where she writes, coaches and teaches acting, and directs theater with the Northwest Actors Lab.

 

 

ME: What was your Jewish background?

 

DM: I was raised in a completely secular household. We didn't celebrate Shabbat or Passover or anything. In fact, despite the fact that both of my parents were Jewish, we had a Christmas tree. When I had my first child, I wanted him to have some kind of context as a Jew. We put him in a preschool at Kehilat Israel in Pacific Palisades, CA. I found that I was relieved to be exposed to a tradition and culture that I wanted. I do have trouble with some of the religious aspects of Judaism and I wrestle with that. I consider myself a spiritual but not a religious person.

 

ME: What do you wrestle with, exactly?

 

DM: I find a lot of religious practice constricting, although I do love the music, a lot of the traditions and the holidays. We do celebrate Shabbat most of the  time. I love Shabbat, but I don't love reading and studying the Torah.  Quite frankly, it drive me a little crazy. I just want to argue with all the decisions God makes. I'm told that's very Jewish of me. My husband loves Torah study. He has been doing it for four years. My Jewish spirituality is found in community. I find my Jewish spirituality by sharing experiences with our Chavarah. I certainly felt connected at my son Dashiell's bar mitzvah. It was an amazing experience. One I never had for myself and one which I know registered deeply with Dashiell.

 

ME: Turning to your career, you played Elaine Lefkowitz on the classic sitcom "Soap." She was actually one of the very first Jewish characters on TV, and outside of "Jewish" sitcoms like "The Goldbergs" (No relation to the current sitcom of that name) the first Jewish female continuing character on TV.  How aware were you of this when you were doing the show?

 

DM: Actually, I didn't know that until just now and never thought of that! I was always nervous about not getting roles because of looking too Jewish. In Hollywood, looking ethnic limited the parts an actress could play. There weren't that many great roles for women to begin with so I was thrilled to get the part in "Soap."

 

ME: You also had a role in the TV movie, "Raid On Entebbe," which told the amazing true story of the Israeli raid on Entebbe that rescued the passengers of a plane that had been hijacked by terrorists.

 

DM: I knew it was an important piece but I was 18 or 19 and was mostly just intimidated by the incredible cast.  We had Sylvia Sydney, Harvey Lembeck, Martin Balsam, Jimmy Woods.  It was one of my first jobs and I got to work with wonderful people. In those days, Hollywood was making wonderful TV movies. 

 

ME: You were at the Second Annual Jewish Image Awards. Can you tell us what that was like?

 

DM: I was doing a very interesting and Jewish themed show on the ABC Family Network  It was called "State Of Grace" and it concerned two girls in North Carolina, one Catholic and one Jewish.  I played the Jewish girl's mother. It took place in the sixties but felt very current. It also showed many sides of Jewish tradition side by side with Catholic tradition.  Of all the projects I have worked on, this is my favorite.  I'm really proud of it.

 

ME: You were on Regis and Kathie Lee, and you said something which, to me, proves just how Jewish you are. You said you worry a great deal.

 

DM (laughing): Yes, I do. I swear to you that I feel I was born worried. I don't remember a time when I was not worried.

 

ME: Your father died when you were only eight years old, but you did have the opportunity to direct a dramatization of his novel, "Telegram From Heaven." What was that like?

 

DM: It was very cathartic for me. First of all, it had very strong Jewish themes that were portrayed in a way Judaism is never portrayed in Hollywood. It was about a specific time and was a slice of life in a Jewish family.  It was the era of the depression-World War II, and was about a young Jewish girl trying to make her way.  The piece means a lot to me, because, quite frankly, my father was something of a misogynist.  I felt very connected to him adapting the book and directing the play. I discovered parts of him I could have never have had a chance to know. I think it was a good collaboration. 

 

 

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