For the British politician, see Diane Abbott.

Diahnne Abbott
Born (1945-01-01) January 1, 1945 (age 78)
New York City, U.S.
Other namesDiahnne Déa
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1976–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1976; div. 1988)​
ChildrenDrena De Niro
Raphael De Niro

Diahnne Abbott (born January 1, 1945[1]) is an American actress and singer. She played supporting roles in films of the 1970s and 1980s, including Taxi Driver (1976).

Abbott was married to actor Robert De Niro from 1976 to 1988. They had a son, Raphael, who was named after the hotel in Rome where he was conceived. De Niro adopted Drena, Abbott's daughter from a previous marriage. Drena has appeared in several of her father's films, including Showtime (2002), Wag the Dog (1997), City by the Sea (2002) and The Intern (2015). De Niro and Abbott divorced in 1988.

Abbott portrayed the pornographic movie theatre concession clerk in Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver (1976) opposite De Niro. She has a memorable cameo in the 1977 film New York, New York, in which she sings Fats Waller's song, "Honeysuckle Rose".[2]

She also played the object of De Niro's affections in Scorsese's 1983 film, The King of Comedy, as well as roles in the television series Crime Story (the character of Sonia) and the 1986 film Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (Mother). She is the cousin of singer Gregory Abbott, known for his 1986 song "Shake You Down".[3]

Filmography

Film roles

Year Title Role Notes
1976 Taxi Driver Concession Girl
1976 Welcome to L.A. Jeanette Ross
1977 New York, New York Harlem Club Singer
1983 The King of Comedy Rita Keane
1984 Love Streams Susan
1986 Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling Mother
2000 Before Night Falls Blanca Romero
2002 Soliloquy Leah

Television roles

Year Title Role Notes
1988 Crime Story Sonia Three episodes

References

  1. ^ McCann, Bob (2009). Encyclopedia of African American actresses in film and television. McFarland & Co. p. 4. ISBN 978-0786458042.
  2. ^ Gabbard, Krin (1996). Jammin' at the margins : jazz and the American cinema. University of Chicago Press. p. 278. ISBN 0226277895.
  3. ^ "Biography" at Gregoryabbott.com.

External links