Diana Sands

Diana Sands (August 22, 1934- September 2, 1973) was an American dramatic actress, perhaps most famous for her portrayal of Beneatha Younger, the sister of Sidney Poitier's character in the original film version of Lorraine Hansberry's Raisin in the Sun (1961). She also appeared in a number of dramatic television series in the sixties and seventies such as I Spy and Julia. Sands also co-starred with Alan Alda in the original Broadway production of The Owl and the Pussycat (1964), later filmed with Barbra Streisand and George Segal. She was set to star in the film Claudine (1974) with James Earl Jones, however, she was too ill to accept the role and it went to her friend Diahann Carroll. She was twice nominated for a Tony Award, and twice nominated for an Emmy Award as well. She died of leiomyosarcoma aged 39.