Leann Hunley


Leann Hunley is an American television actress. Although she has worked in numerous productions, she is perhaps best known for portraying Anna DiMera on NBC's Days of Our Lives and Dana Waring on the ABC primetime soap opera, Dynasty.

Personal life

Hunley was born in Forks, Washington, and later attended Washington University in St. Louis.

Career

Her first television appearance was on Hawaii Five-O. She was a regular on The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo in 1979 and 1980. Her role as Anna DiMera on Days of Our Lives from 1982 to 1986 would win her an Emmy Award at the 13th Daytime Emmy Awards for best supporting actress in 1986. For three seasons of Dynasty, Hunley portrayed Dana Waring, Adam Carrington's wife. She appeared on Aaron Spelling's short-lived Models, Inc.. In the first season of Dawson's Creek she was Tamara Jacobs, a high school English teacher who has an tempestuous affair with her student Pacey Witter. She also played Shira Huntzberger on Gilmore Girls in 2005.
After a 21-year absence from playing the role, Hunley returned to Days of Our Lives as Anna on June 21, 2007, recurring on the series until early 2017. She again returned to play the role of Anna DiMera for a story arch in August 2019.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1977Hawaii Five-OLongworth's SecretaryEpisode: "The Cop on the Cover"
1978Hawaii Five-OLucy SutherlandEpisode: "Frozen Assets"
1978The IslanderMac's WifeTV movie
1978-1979Battlestar Galactica1st Girl Warrior4 episodes
1979B. J. and the BearDr. WintersEpisode: "Crackers"
1979Mrs. ColumboJudyEpisode: "The Valley Strangler"
1979-1980The Misadventures of Sheriff LoboSarah Cumberland17 episodes
1982Fantasy IslandSecretaryEpisode: "The Curse of the Moreaus/My Man Friday"
1982-1986Days of Our LivesAnna DiMeraTV series
1983Hart to HartDianeEpisode: "As the Hart Turns"
1984AirwolfMerylEpisode: "One Way Express"
1985Amazing StoriesEpisode: "Remote Control Man"
1986Knight RiderLiz PrestonEpisode: "Fright Knight"
1986HotelCatherineEpisode: "Opening Moves"
1986-1988DynastyDana Waring CarringtonSeries Regular
Guest Role 47 episodes
1988Highway to HeavenJenniferEpisode: "We Have Forever: Parts 1 & 2"
1988Murder, She WroteShannon McBrideEpisode: "A Little Night Work"
1988Simon & SimonViolet Harlowe / R.J. SimmonsEpisode: "Play It Again, Simon"
1989The Last WordHerselfGame show pilot
1989Who's the Boss?LisaEpisode: "Winter Break"
1989WolfTelevision movie
1990Designing WomenGaby LangfordEpisode: "The Mistress"
1990MatlockLeanne WilsonEpisode: "The Talk Show"
1990Murder, She WroteDana DarrenEpisode: "Murder: According to Maggie"
1990Lucky ChancesEdenTV miniseries
1990L.A. LawMaura FitzgeraldEpisode: "New Kidney on the Block"
1991Gabriel's FireGwen KidderEpisode: "Postcards from the Faultline"
1991PrincessesAndrea SussmanEpisode: "Pilot"
1992CoopersmithLaraine SandsTelevision movie
1993Silent VictimChrissy LeeTelevision movie
1993Daddy DearestPamEpisode: "The Tortoise and the Scare"
Episode: "Thanks, But No Thanks"
1994The NannyBobbi JoEpisode: "I Don't Remember Mama"
1994Models Inc.Marcia Carson4 episodes
1994Heaven Help UsTV series
1994Murder, She WroteLydia De KooningEpisode: "Amsterdam Kill"
1995Murphy BrownLindaEpisode: "Rumble in the Alley"
1995The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirJoanEpisode: "As the Will Turns"
1995Burke's LawLeslie LivingstonEpisode: "Who Killed the Centerfold?"
1996Hudson StreetElizabeth OwensEpisode: "One for the Monet"
1996'Emily ChanningEpisode: "Swear to God, This Time We're Not Kidding"
19977th HeavenRachel GreweEpisode: "Say Good-Bye"
1998Dawson's CreekTamara Jacobs9 episodes
1999'Lauren WellsEpisode: "Mishap"
1999Horse SenseJacy WoodsTelevision movie
2003Strong MedicineRenee Van DykeEpisode: "Blocked Lines"
2003Just Shoot Me!BinnieEpisode: "Strange Bedfellows"
2005Gilmore GirlsShira HuntzbergerEpisode: "But I'm a Gilmore!"
Episode: "We've Got Magic to Do"
2007-2010, 2017, 2019Days of Our LivesAnna DiMeraTV series
2009Joyce ShepardEpisode: "Sugar"
2010NCISYoung Joann FieldingEpisode: "Mother's Day"
2012Raising HopeFrancineEpisode: "The Walk for the Runs"