Erin Daniels ( Cohen) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Dana Fairbanks on The L Word (2004–2007). Her feature film work includes A Single Man (2009) and One Hour Photo (2002).
Early life Daniels was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, to a Jewish family. Her father is an architect, and her mother is a clinical social worker who co-founded the Central Reform Congregation in St. Louis. Her grandmother received an award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews.A ‘Blue’ (State) Role , a February 2005 article from The Jewish Week She attended Clayton High School and Vassar College, graduating from the latter in 1995 after majoring in art.
Career After Vassar, she moved to New York City, where she studied with William Esper, a protégé of Sanford Meisner, and worked off-Broadway. She then moved to Los Angeles for a part on the short-lived TV series Action.
In 2002, the St. Louis Film Festival awarded Daniels the Emerging Star Award. She appeared in One Hour Photo, Wheelmen, and House of 1000 Corpses before becoming a major cast member of Showtime's The L Word. Her depiction of Dana Fairbanks on that show prompted an anonymous donation of a million dollars to the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation,Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation Receives $1 Million Dollar Donation... , from the foundation's website an organization that promotes and funds breast cancer intraductal research.About the Foundation / Our Vision & Research scissors from the website of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation The death of Daniels' character from breast cancer was controversial, with creator Ilene Chaiken expressing that it is the one plot point in the series she regrets as "the audience never forgave me for it". Daniels reprised the role of Dana in reboot The L Word: Generation Q in a fantasy sequence
Soon after leaving The L Word, Daniels appeared on a pilot for a TV show called Julie Reno, Bounty Hunter. Daniels has also appeared in the TV shows Action, Jericho, Dexter, Saving Grace, Big Shots, Justice, CSI, and Swingtown.
She played the role of The Mother in Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean. In a 2022 interview, Daniels stated that she is an acting coach, and that she is "pretty much a stay-at-home mom".
Personal life Daniels has children, and describes herself as a single parent.
Filmography YearFilmRoleNotes1998USMA West PointChristine DavisTelevision film1999FlushedHerselfas Erin CohenChill FactorMedic #22000The DisciplesLisa JohnsonTelevision film2002One Hour PhotoMaya Burson2003House of 1000 CorpsesDenise Willis2005WheelmenGwen2009A Single ManBank Teller2010Starlight InnKatherine SellwoodShort2011Few OptionsHelen2011The SitterMrs. Pedulla2012Like FatherAli MillerTelevision filmPull the Trigger, Mr. WickerRaphaellaShortJoshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James DeanRoommate's Mother2013The Bling RingShannon
Television credits YearTitleCharacterNotes1996Law & OrderMiss StadlerGuest Appearance1999The Outer LimitsBarbara ChafeyGuest Appearance1999ActionJenny2000V.I.P.Die Bodyguards2001Jack & JillBecky Hart2001PhillyNicole Gilbert2003BoomtownKaren Crane2004-2007The L WordDana FairbanksMain Character 2006Julie Reno, Bounty HunterJulie RenoUnaired Pilot2006Love MonkeyDana2006DexterRita's Neighbour2006JusticeBetsy Harrison2007JerichoMaggie2007CSI: NYDet. Brennan2007Big ShotsRebecca Parks2007Saving GraceAsst. D.A. Morgan Byer2008SwingtownSylvia Davis2009CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationSchuyler2011Rizzoli & IslesKate2013MaronFemale Vet2014PerceptionDillon's Mother2015StalkerLauren2020The Bold TypeMindy2022The L Word: Generation QDana FairbanksGuest Appearance
References
External links
Erin Daniels interview at Diva Magazine official site