Known for movies
Knots Landing (1980-1993)
as Abby Ewing / Abby Cunningham / Abby Sumner / Abby
Joy (2015)
as Priscilla
Play Misty for Me (1971)
as Tobie
False Arrest (1991)
as Joyce Lukezic
Short Info
| Net Worth | $7 million |
| Date Of Birth | December 11, 1940 |
| Mark | Short stature |
| Fact | Devoted member of Eco, an environmental group. |
Donna Mills (born December 11, 1940) is an American actress and producer. She began her television career in 1966 with a recurring role on The Secret Storm, and in the same year appeared on the soap opera Love is a Many Splendored Thing. Mills gained prominence for her leading role on the primetime soap opera Knots Landing from 1980 to 1989.
Happy 25th Birthday to my little princess! I love you forever and always sweet girl. I can’t believe a quarter century has already gone by, everyday with you is my favorite. I love you bunny🐇 https://t.co/HpPRopmg2l
— Donna Mills (@TheDonnaMills) September 12, 2019
Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Mills began her career as a model in New York City in the early 1960s. She made her television debut in 1966 with a recurring role on The Secret Storm, and in the same year appeared on the soap opera Love is a Many Splendored Thing. Mills gained prominence for her leading role on the primetime soap opera Knots Landing from 1980 to 1989. She also starred in the independent film Playback (1996) and had a recurring role on the television series Lipstick Jungle (2008–2009).
Mills was married to actor Michael Douglas from 1992 to 2010. They have two children.
Early Life
Mills was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 11, 1940, the daughter of Bernice (née Dittberner), a dancer, and John Burns Mills, a businessman. She has two sisters, Jane and Nancy. Mills was raised in a Catholic household and attended St. Ferdinand Grammar School and Notre Dame High School for Girls, both in Chicago.
Such a wonderful time yesterday surrounded with so much love and support for our first reserve bottles of Mandeville Vineyards Malbec/Cabernet blend 🍇 @ Brentwood (Los Angeles) https://t.co/2IezpPCkVt
— Donna Mills (@TheDonnaMills) August 20, 2018
Career
Mills began her career as a model in New York City in the early 1960s. She made her television debut in 1966 with a recurring role on The Secret Storm, and in the same year appeared on the soap opera Love is a Many Splendored Thing. Mills gained prominence for her leading role on the primetime soap opera Knots Landing from 1980 to 1989. She also starred in the independent film Playback (1996) and had a recurring role on the television series Lipstick Jungle (2008–2009).
Mills was married to actor Michael Douglas from 1992 to 2010. They have two children.
General Info
| Full Name | Donna Mills |
| Net Worth | $7 million |
| Date Of Birth | December 11, 1940 |
| Height | 1.63 m |
| Profession | Film producer, Actor |
| Education | University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, William Howard Taft High School |
| Nationality | American |
Family
| Children | Chloe Mills |
Accomplishments
| Awards | Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Guest Performer in a Drama Series, TV Land Anniversary Award |
| Movies | Play Misty for Me, Dangerous Intentions, False Arrest, Joy, Ladies of the House, The Incident, A Very Cool Christmas, Murph the Surf, Curse of the Black Widow, The Stepford Husbands, The Bait, Superdome, Love Is A Four Letter Word, Rolling Man, Alice in Wonderland, Cursed: Part III, Doctors' Private... |
| TV Shows | Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac, Knots Landing, The Good Life, General Hospital, Love Is a Many Splendored Thing |
Social profile links
Marks
| # | Marks / Signs |
|---|---|
| 1 | Short stature |
| 2 | Natural blonde hair |
| 3 | Deep sultry voice |
| 4 | Light blue eyes |
| 5 | Frequently played roles that were either victimized or housewrecking |
Quotes
| # | Quote |
|---|---|
| 1 | [on Jane Wyman] Jane was an inspiration to all and had the most amazing spirit-American icon! |
| 2 | Comedy is what I want to do now. |
| 3 | [Of the way Aussie people were very friendly]: I was really amazed that everybody in the town knew me. They have one television station and Knots Landing (1979) was on it. |
| 4 | [About Knots Landing (1979)]: People don't tune in Knots Landing to see our gowns and jewelry. By and large our acting is overlooked because of the machinations of the plot. I have to be on guard all the time to keep Abby fresh and interesting. |
| 5 | I played so many of those. That's the reason I like to play Abby. I got tired of playing the victim. You're constantly reacting to things that are happening to you rather than making things that are happening to you rather than making things happen. It's a more active role. Abby keeps things stirred up, and I like that. |
| 6 | [Who created her character that became part of prime-time soap history]: Having created her and played her all this time, there's a great deal of me in Abby, and a lot of her has crept into me. I think some of the ambition and some of the guts that she has as a character I've kind of taken on. She helped me in a lot of ways. |
Facts
| # | Fact |
|---|---|
| 1 | Had left her best-known role on Knots Landing (1979) at the end of the series' tenth season, to focus on other projects, hence, she returned for the series finale. She joined the cast in 1980 and stayed until 1989. |
| 2 | In the same situation as her co-star Michele Lee, she too had a clause in her Knots Landing (1979) contract that her character would never be a grandmother. |
| 3 | Met Larry Hagman on The Good Life (1971), where the two embarked on a lifelong friendship, for over 40 years, from 1971 until his death in 2012. The two would co-star together in Knots Landing (1979), which was a spin-off of Dallas (1978). |
| 4 | Her idol when she was young was Jane Wyman, the same idol as her future Knots Landing (1979) co-star, Joan Van Ark. |
| 5 | Once had a crush on John Pleshette. |
| 6 | Best known by the public for her role as "Wicked" Abby Fairgate Cunningham Ewing Sumner on Knots Landing (1979). |
| 7 | It was Michele Lee's, 'David Jacobs' (IV)'s and Michael Filerman's call for her to audition for "Abby" on Knots Landing (1979), after the show's first season was nearly on the brink of cancelation, due to low ratings. They were all right to screen test her and hired her, and Mills was a big asset to the show for 9 years, until her departure in 1989. |
| 8 | In a long-term relationship with Larry Gilman. |
| 9 | Diagnosed with Arthritis. Spokeswoman for B.E.A.T., an arthritis awareness group. [2000] |
| 10 | Devoted member of Eco, an environmental group. |
| 11 | Was in a long-time relationship with Richard Holland. |
| 12 | Adopted daughter Chloe [1995]. |
Pictures
Movies
Actress
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| The F.B.I. | 1971-1972 | TV Series | Bernice Rawson / Mary Anne Collins |
| The Good Life | 1971-1972 | TV Series | Jane Miller |
| Play Misty for Me | 1971 | Tobie | |
| Dan August | 1970 | TV Series | Edna Adams |
| Lancer | 1970 | TV Series | Lucy |
| The Incident | 1967 | Alice Keenan | |
| Love Is a Many Splendored Thing | 1967 | TV Series | Laura Donnelly Elliott #1 (1967-1970)(original cast) |
| The Secret Storm | 1954 | TV Series | Rocket (1966) |
| Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens | 2016 | TV Movie | Supervisor Wink |
| Joy | 2015/I | Priscilla | |
| 12 Gifts of Christmas | 2015 | TV Movie | Joyce Rehnquist |
| General Hospital | 2014-2015 | TV Series | Madeline Reeves |
| Life Gets in the Way | 2014 | Dr. Goldstein | |
| Deadly Revenge | 2013 | Evelyn | |
| GCB | 2012 | TV Series | Bitsy Lourd |
| Nip/Tuck | 2008-2010 | TV Series | Lulu Grandiron |
| Dirty Sexy Money | 2009 | TV Series | Wealthy Socialite |
| Ladies of the House | 2008 | TV Movie | Elizabeth |
| Love Is a Four Letter Word | 2007 | TV Movie | Margot Harper |
| Cold Case | 2007 | TV Series | Lauren Williams |
| Jane Doe: Yes, I Remember It Well | 2006 | TV Movie | Polly Jameson |
| A Very Cool Christmas | 2004 | TV Movie | Mrs. Claus |
| Cursed Part 3 | 2000 | Short | |
| Rude Awakening | 2000 | TV Series | Linda |
| Twice in a Lifetime | 1999 | TV Series | Linda MacCullen / Lana Kasalas |
| Moonlight Becomes You | 1998 | TV Movie | Maggie Holloway |
| Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac | 1997 | TV Mini-Series | Abby Fairgate Cunningham Ewing Sumner |
| Melrose Place | 1996-1997 | TV Series | Sherry Doucette |
| The Stepford Husbands | 1996 | TV Movie | Jodi Davison |
| High Society | 1995 | TV Series | Jacelyn Seymore Winters / Lucinda |
| An Element of Truth | 1995 | TV Movie | Vanessa Graves |
| Dangerous Intentions | 1995 | Beth Williamson | |
| Dream On | 1994 | TV Series | Ashlyn |
| The John Larroquette Show | 1993-1994 | TV Series | Carol |
| My Name Is Kate | 1994 | TV Movie | Kate |
| Remember | 1993 | TV Movie | Nicky Wells |
| Knots Landing | 1980-1993 | TV Series | Abby Ewing Abby Cunningham Abby Sumner ... |
| The President's Child | 1992 | TV Movie | Elizabeth Hemming |
| In My Daughter's Name | 1992 | TV Movie | Laura Elias |
| False Arrest | 1991 | TV Movie | Joyce Lukezic |
| Runaway Father | 1991 | TV Movie | Pat Bennett |
| The World's Oldest Living Bridesmaid | 1990 | TV Movie | Brenda Morgan |
| The Lady Forgets | 1989 | TV Movie | Rebecca Simms / Julie Black |
| Outback Bound | 1988 | TV Movie | Samantha 'Sam' Hollings |
| Intimate Encounters | 1986 | TV Movie | Julie Atkins |
| Alice in Wonderland | 1985 | TV Movie | The Rose |
| He's Not Your Son | 1984 | TV Movie | Kathy Saunders |
| Bare Essence | 1982 | TV Movie | Barbara Fisher |
| Insight | 1980 | TV Series | Jackie Bliss |
| Waikiki | 1980 | TV Movie | Cassie Howard |
| Young Maverick | 1979-1980 | TV Series | Lila Gates |
| Fantasy Island | 1979 | TV Series | Cindy Carter |
| Hanging by a Thread | 1979 | TV Movie | Ellen Craig |
| The Love Boat | 1977-1978 | TV Series | Jeannie Carter / Lila Barton |
| Doctors' Private Lives | 1978 | TV Movie | Dr. Beth Demery |
| Superdome | 1978 | TV Movie | Lainie Wiley |
| Bunco | 1977 | TV Movie | Frankie |
| Woman on the Run | 1977 | TV Movie | Laura Frazier |
| The Hunted Lady | 1977 | TV Movie | Susan Reilly |
| Curse of the Black Widow | 1977 | TV Movie | Leigh Lockwood |
| Fire! | 1977 | TV Movie | Harriett Malone |
| The Oregon Trail | 1977 | TV Series | |
| Smash-Up on Interstate 5 | 1976 | TV Movie | Laureen |
| Quincy M.E. | 1976 | TV Series | Roberta Rhodes |
| Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby | 1976 | TV Movie | Ellen |
| City of Angels | 1976 | TV Series | Faith |
| Police Woman | 1976 | TV Series | Tamee Swanson |
| S.W.A.T. | 1976 | TV Series | Lauren Brooks |
| Barnaby Jones | 1975 | TV Series | Abby Reinhart |
| Medical Story | 1975 | TV Series | Audrey |
| Beyond the Bermuda Triangle | 1975 | TV Movie | Claudia |
| Cannon | 1975 | TV Series | Lena Michaels |
| Hawaii Five-O | 1975 | TV Series | Marcia Bissell |
| Police Story | 1974-1975 | TV Series | Carol / Betty Johnson |
| Murph the Surf | 1975 | Ginny Eaton | |
| Who Is the Black Dahlia? | 1975 | TV Movie | Susan Winters |
| Medical Center | 1975 | TV Series | Donna Guthrie |
| The Rookies | 1975 | TV Series | Gwen DeWitt |
| Thriller | 1973-1975 | TV Series | Patty Heron / Helen Cook / Chrissie Morton |
| The Six Million Dollar Man | 1975 | TV Series | Liza Leitman |
| The Wide World of Mystery | 1974 | TV Series | Patty Heron |
| McMillan & Wife | 1974 | TV Series | Laura Rainey |
| Marcus Welby, M.D. | 1974 | TV Series | Bea Averton |
| Live Again, Die Again | 1974 | TV Movie | Caroline Carmichael |
| Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law | 1971-1973 | TV Series | Kit Howell / Nancy Danziger |
| Gunsmoke | 1973 | TV Series | Cora Sanderson |
| The Bait | 1973 | TV Movie | Tracy Fleming |
| Banyon | 1973 | TV Series | Trina King |
| The Bold Ones: The New Doctors | 1972 | TV Series | Valerie DeMarco |
| Night of Terror | 1972 | TV Movie | Linda Daniel |
| Rolling Man | 1972 | TV Movie | Bebe Lotter |
| Haunts of the Very Rich | 1972 | TV Movie | Laurie Dugan |
Producer
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| My Name Is Kate | 1994 | TV Movie executive producer | |
| In My Daughter's Name | 1992 | TV Movie executive producer | |
| Runaway Father | 1991 | TV Movie executive producer | |
| The World's Oldest Living Bridesmaid | 1990 | TV Movie executive producer |
Thanks
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| It Was a Wonderful Life | 1993 | Documentary thanks |
Self
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entertainment Tonight | 2000-2016 | TV Series | Herself |
| Queens of Drama | 2015 | TV Series | Herself |
| Good Day L.A. | 2015 | TV Series | |
| The 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards | 2015 | TV Movie | Herself |
| Today | 2008-2015 | TV Series | Herself |
| Home & Family | 2014 | TV Series | Herself |
| Extra | 2014 | TV Series | Herself |
| Live from the Red Carpet: The 2014 Daytime Emmy Awards | 2014 | TV Special | Herself |
| The 41st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards | 2014 | TV Special | Herself |
| Oprah: Where Are They Now? | 2014 | TV Series | Herself |
| Pioneers of Television | 2013 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Herself |
| The Talk | 2013 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| The Doctors | 2012 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| RuPaul's Drag U | 2012 | TV Series | Herself - Judge |
| 79th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade | 2010 | TV Movie | Herself |
| The 7th Annual TV Land Awards | 2009 | TV Special | Herself |
| ADHDtv: With Lew Marklin | 2008 | TV Series | Herself - Celebrity Guest |
| Knots Landing Reunion: Together Again | 2005 | TV Movie documentary | Herself / Abby Cunningham |
| TV Movie Superstars: Women You Love | 2004 | TV Movie | Herself |
| CBS at 75 | 2003 | TV Special documentary | Herself |
| Intimate Portrait | 1998-2002 | TV Series documentary | Herself / Narrator |
| The Rosie O'Donnell Show | 2002 | TV Series | Herself |
| Play It Again: A Look Back at 'Play Misty for Me' | 2001 | Video documentary | Herself |
| E! Mysteries & Scandals | 2000 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| 68th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade | 1999 | TV Special | Herself |
| The Directors | 1997 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| CBS This Morning | 1989-1995 | TV Series | Herself |
| CBS Tournament of Roses Parade | 1995 | TV Special | Herself |
| Late Night with Conan O'Brien | 1993 | TV Series | Herself |
| 1993 Environmental Media Awards | 1993 | TV Special | Herself |
| The Knots Landing Block Party | 1993 | TV Special documentary | Herself / Abby Cunningham |
| Jeopardy! | 1992 | TV Series | Herself - Contestant |
| The 9th Annual American Cinema Awards | 1992 | TV Special | Herself |
| The 6th Annual American Comedy Awards | 1992 | TV Special | Herself |
| The 18th Annual People's Choice Awards | 1992 | TV Special | Herself - Co-Presenter: Favourite Male Performer in New Television Series |
| One on One with John Tesh | 1991 | TV Series | Herself |
| 1st Annual Environmental Media Awards | 1991 | TV Special | Herself |
| AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to David Lean | 1990 | TV Special | Herself (uncredited) |
| The 16th Annual People's Choice Awards | 1990 | TV Special | Herself - Presenter |
| Live with Kelly and Michael | 1990 | TV Series | Herself |
| The Arsenio Hall Show | 1989 | TV Series | Herself |
| The Joan Rivers Show | 1989 | TV Series | Herself |
| AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Gregory Peck | 1989 | TV Special | Herself (uncredited) |
| The 46th Annual Golden Globe Awards | 1989 | TV Special | Herself - Audience Member |
| The Pat Sajak Show | 1989 | TV Series | Herself |
| Hour Magazine | 1980-1988 | TV Series | Herself |
| The 2nd Annual Soul Train Music Awards | 1988 | TV Special | Herself |
| The 14th Annual People's Choice Awards | 1988 | TV Special documentary | Herself - Co-Presenter: Favourite Male Musical Performer |
| The 45th Annual Golden Globe Awards | 1988 | TV Special | Herself - Presenter |
| 4th Annual Soap Opera Digest Awards | 1988 | TV Special | Herself |
| AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Barbara Stanwyck | 1987 | TV Special documentary | Herself (uncredited) |
| The Annual Entertainment Industry Honors Presentes a Salute to Bud Grant | 1987 | TV Movie | Herself |
| Sex Symbols; Past, Present and Future | 1987 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
| The American Jewish Commitee Annual Honors Present a Salute to Merv Adelson | 1987 | TV Movie | Herself |
| The 1987 Annual Salute to Hollywood Benefit | 1987 | TV Movie | Herself |
| The 11th Annual Women in Film Crystal Awards | 1987 | TV Special | Herself |
| Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood | 1987 | TV Special documentary | Herself |
| The 22nd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards | 1987 | TV Special | Herself |
| The 13th Annual People's Choice Awards | 1987 | TV Special | Herself - Presenter: Favourite Television Game Show Host |
| The 44th Annual Golden Globe Awards | 1987 | TV Special | Herself - Presenter: Best Actress / Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture |
| Bob Hope's Bagful of Christmas Cheer | 1986 | TV Special | Herself |
| The Late Show | 1986 | TV Series | Herself |
| The 38th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards | 1986 | TV Special | Herself - Audience Member |
| The 3rd Annual Television Academy Hall of Fame Awards | 1986 | TV Special | Herself |
| Evening Magazine | 1986 | TV Series | Herself |
| Bob Hope's All-Star Superbowl Party | 1986 | TV Special | Herself |
| The 43rd Annual Golden Globe Awards | 1986 | TV Special | Herself - Co Host |
| Lou Rawls Parade of Stars | 1985 | TV Series | Herself |
| All-Star Party for 'Dutch' Reagan | 1985 | TV Special | Herself |
| The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | 1985 | TV Series | Herself |
| The 2nd TV Academy Hall of Fame | 1985 | TV Movie | Herself |
| Night of 100 Stars II | 1985 | TV Movie | Herself |
| Bob Hope Lampoons Television | 1985 | TV Movie | Herself |
| The 42nd Annual Golden Globe Awards | 1985 | TV Special | Herself - Presenter: Best Actress / Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy / Musical |
| The Annual American Technion Society's Albert Einstein Award | 1985 | TV Movie | Herself |
| All-Star Party for Lucille Ball | 1984 | TV Special | Herself |
| The 24th Annual International Broadcasting Awards | 1984 | TV Special | Herself - Presenter |
| Breakaway | 1984 | TV Series | Herself |
| Gala Opening of the American Ballet Theater | 1984 | TV Movie | Herself |
| Late Night with David Letterman | 1984 | TV Series | Herself |
| The 41st Annual Golden Globe Awards | 1984 | TV Special | Herself - Presenter |
| Battle of the Network Stars XV | 1983 | TV Special | Herself - Host |
| Salute! | 1983 | TV Series | Herself |
| The 1983 Annual American Image Awards | 1983 | TV Special | Herself - Presenter |
| 2 on the Town | 1983 | TV Series | Herself |
| The 40th Annual Golden Globe Awards | 1983 | TV Special | Herself - Presenter |
| The 34th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards | 1982 | TV Special | Herself - Presenter |
| The Regis Philbin Show | 1982 | TV Series | Herself |
| An Evening at the Improv | 1982 | TV Series | Guest host |
| CBS All American Thanksgiving Day Parade | 1981 | TV Special | Herself |
| Battle of the Network Stars XI | 1981 | TV Special | Herself - CBS Team |
| CHiPs | 1980 | TV Series | Herself |
| Battle of the Network Stars IX | 1980 | TV Special | Herself - CBS Team |
| Battle of the Network Stars III | 1977 | TV Special | Herself - NBC Team |
| Match Game 73 | 1976 | TV Series | Herself - Panelist / Guest Panelist |
| The Merv Griffin Show | 1976 | TV Series | Herself |
| The David Frost Show | 1972 | TV Series | Herself |
| The Virginia Graham Show | 1971 | TV Series | Herself |
Archive Footage
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entertainment Tonight | 2015 | TV Series | Herself |
| 50 Most Wicked Women of Primetime | 2004 | TV Movie documentary | Abby Cunningham - Knots Landing |
| Celebrities Uncensored | 2004 | TV Series | Herself |
| Bob Hope's Bag Full of Christmas Memories | 1993 | TV Special | Herself - 'Silver Bells' |
Awards
Won Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Special Guest Performer in a Drama Series | General Hospital (1963) |
| 2009 | Anniversary Award | TV Land Awards | Knots Landing (1979) | |
| 1989 | Soap Opera Digest Award | Soap Opera Digest Awards | Outstanding Villainess: Prime Time | Knots Landing (1979) |
| 1988 | Soap Opera Digest Award | Soap Opera Digest Awards | Outstanding Villainess: Prime Time | Knots Landing (1979) |
| 1986 | Soap Opera Digest Award | Soap Opera Digest Awards | Outstanding Villainess on a Prime Time Serial | Knots Landing (1979) |
Nominated Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Soap Opera Digest Award | Soap Opera Digest Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role on a Prime Time Serial | Knots Landing (1979) |
Source: IMDb, Wikipedia
