Dana Hill

Dana Hill (born Dana Lynne Goetz; May 6, 1964 – July 15, 1996) was an American actress and voice artist. As a live-action actress, she was best known for playing Audrey Griswold in National Lampoon's European Vacation, and also known for her roles in Shoot the Moon and Cross Creek. As a voice actress, she was best known for her work as Max Goof in Goof Troop. Hill had diabetes which affected physical growth which meant that she often played children into adolescence and beyond.

Dana Hill
Born
Dana Lynne Goetz

(1964-05-06)May 6, 1964
Encino, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedJuly 15, 1996(1996-07-15) (aged 32)
Burbank, California, U.S.
Other namesDana Hill-Goetz
OccupationActress, voice artist
Years active1978–1996
Known forAudrey Griswold in National Lampoon's European Vacation,
Max Goof in Goof Troop
TelevisionSee below
Awards

Early life and health issues

Dana Lynne Goetz was born on May 6, 1964 in Encino, Los Angeles, California, to Sandy Hill and Theodore Arthur "Ted" Goetz, a director of commercials.[1] A diagnosis of Type I diabetes at an early age ended her athletic career; a 1982 article in People magazine[2] reported that Hill, at age 10, had placed third nationwide in the 880-yard run and fourth in the mile run. A few weeks later, she collapsed on the track, which resulted in her medical diagnosis. The diabetes affected her growth and caused lifelong health complications.[3]

Teen years

Despite her father's strong discouragement, Hill's initial work was in commercials (her first job was a 1973 commercial for the YMCA, spinning a basketball on her finger with Boston Celtics center Dave Cowens). However, to avoid the appearance of nepotism, she used her mother's maiden name and devoted herself to acting as a career. She appeared in guest roles on such programs as Family before landing a major role on the 1981–1982 CBS series The Two of Us as Gabrielle "Gabby" Gallagher. While filming this series, the 17-year-old Hill would sometimes be pulled over by the police while driving to the studio because she looked too young to drive.[2]

Her breakthrough role was in the 1981 made-for-TV movie Fallen Angel. The 17-year-old Hill played 12-year-old molestation victim Jennifer Phillips, a role which earned her a Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress in a Television Special.[4]

In 1982, Hill played Sherry Dunlap in Shoot the Moon. The same year, she played Frankie Addams, the lead character in the made-for-TV adaptation of The Member of the Wedding, co-starring with Pearl Bailey. In 1983, she starred with Rip Torn and Mary Steenburgen in the film Cross Creek, a semi-biographical story about Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, author of The Yearling.

In 1982 and 1983, Hill made two guest appearances in the TV series The Fall Guy. In season 1, episode 18 "Child's Play", she played a young girl called Libby. In season 2, episode 20 "P.S. I Love You" she had the role of 21-year-old stuntwoman Cassie Farraday. In 1983, she made a guest appearance on Magnum, P.I. in the episode "Basket Case". She played Willie, a 13-year-old foster child who joined Magnum's youth basketball team.

At age 19, she starred in a 1984 CBS Schoolbreak Special titled Welcome Home, Jellybean, playing Geraldine "Jellybean" Oxley, a 12-year-old developmentally disabled girl whose parents take her out of an institution so she can experience a normal home life. The same year, she appeared in Shelley Duvall's 1980s children's TV series Faerie Tale Theatre, playing the princess in an episode titled "The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers".

In 1986, she had another role in the TV series The Fall Guy. She appeared in the episode "Tag Team".

Film roles

The producers of the 1983 movie National Lampoon's Vacation were planning a sequel, but Anthony Michael Hall declined to reprise his role as son Rusty Griswold, choosing instead to do the film Weird Science. The producers decided to recast the roles of both Griswold children, and so for National Lampoon's European Vacation, Hill was chosen to replace Dana Barron, the original actress who portrayed Audrey.

Hill appeared as Sergeant Andrea Pritchett with George Clooney in Combat Academy (also known as Combat High), a 1986 film from the producers of Police Academy.

Voice acting

Beginning in 1987, she provided the voice for Scrappy, the orphan mouse, on eight episodes of Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures.[5] She also provided the voice of Toots in the episode "The Bright Eyes Mob" for Pound Puppies. She was Teddy-2 in Jetsons: The Movie (1990);[6] from 1989–1991 she voiced Buddy on the animated children's television show Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears,[7] in 1991 was the voice of Tank Muddlefoot on Darkwing Duck and in 1992–1993 was the voice of Max on Goof Troop. She was also the speaking voice of Tim (Tom's proclaimed twin brother) in Tom and Jerry Kids.[8] Her voice was featured as Jerry Mouse in Tom and Jerry: The Movie,[9] Norton in the DIC cartoon What-a-Mess, Charles Duckman in Duckman until her death in 1996. Following Hill's passing, Pat Musick replaced her as Charles[10] and numerous characters in the Nickelodeon show Rugrats. She was also a semi-regular panelist on the 1990s version of To Tell the Truth.

Death

Hill slipped into a diabetic coma in May 1996 and suffered a massive paralytic stroke the following month. On July 15, 1996, Hill died at age 32.[11]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1981 Fallen Angel Jennifer Phillips
1982 Shoot the Moon Sherry Dunlap
1983 Cross Creek Ellie Turner
1985 Waiting to Act Dana
National Lampoon's European Vacation Audrey Griswold
1990 Jetsons: The Movie Teddy 2 Voice
1991 Rover Dangerfield Danny
1992 Tom and Jerry: The Movie Jerry Mouse Voice; final film role

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1978 Mork & Mindy Girl Scout Episode: "Mork the Gullible"
1979 The Paul Williams Show Debbie TV film
Featherstone's Nest Courtney Featherstone
The French Atlantic Affair Maggie Joy TV miniseries
1980 The $5.20 an Hour Dream Kim Lissick TV film
The Kids Who Knew Too Much Foxy Cooper
ABC Afterschool Special Michelle Mudd Episode: "What Are Friends For?"
Family Martha Episode: "Smarts"
1981 Fallen Angel Jennifer Phillips TV film
1981–82 The Two of Us Gabrielle 'Gabby' Gallagher Main role; 20 episodes
1982 The Member of the Wedding Frankie Addams TV film
1982, 1983, 1986 The Fall Guy Libby, Cassie Farraday, Loser Episode: "Child's Play", "P.S. I Love You", "Tag Team"
1983 Magnum, P.I. Willie Episode: "Basket Case"
Branagan and Mapes Gussie Mapes TV short
1984 CBS Schoolbreak Special Geraldine 'Jellybean' Oxley Episode: "Welcome Home, Jellybean"
Silence of the Heart Cindy Lewis TV film
1984, 1985 Faerie Tale Theatre Princess Amanda, Guest Interviewee Episode: "The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers", "Grimm Party"
1986 Picnic Millie Owens TV film
1986 Combat Academy Sgt. Andrea Pritchett
1987 Pound Puppies Toots / Colin Voice; 2 episodes
1987–1988 Mighty Mouse the New Adventures Orphan Scrappy / Kid Mouse Voice; regular role; 19 episodes
1988 The Flintstone Kids' Just Say No Special Stoney Voice; TV film
1988 The Adventures of Raggedy Ann & Andy Raggedy Dog Voice
1988 Fantastic Max XS Voice; episodes: "Cooking Mother's Goose", "From Here to Twinkle, Twinkle", "Boo Who?"
1989 Marvin, Baby of the Year Marvin Miller Voice; TV short
1990 Sugar and Spice Ginger Regular role; 7 episodes
1990, 1991 Adventures of the Gummi Bears Buddy Gummi Voice; episodes: "Return to Ursalia", "The Rite Stuff"
1990–91 Widget Kevin Voice; regular role; 14 episodes
1991 Final Verdict Francy TV film
1991 Darkwing Duck Tank Muddlefoot Voice; recurring role; 11 episodes
1991 The Legend of Prince Valiant Young Valiant Voice; episode: "The Gift"
1991–94 Rugrats Various Voice; recurring role; 8 episodes
1992 P.J. Sparkles Sparks Voice; TV film
1992 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Foster Fenwick Voice; episode: "Too Hot to Handle"
1992–93 Goof Troop Max Goof Voice; main role; 70 episodes
1993 Bonkers Timmy Voice; episodes: "Fistful of Anvils", "I Oughta Be in Toons"
1994 Sonic the Hedgehog Young Sally Voice; episodes: "Blast to the Past" — Parts 1 & 2
1994 Beethoven Timmy / Bully Voice; 2 episodes
1994–97 Duckman Charles Voice; main role; 46 episodes
1995 Timon & Pumbaa Nefu Voice; Episode: "Unlucky in Lesotho" / "Rafiki Fables: Rafiki's Apprentice"
1995–96 What-a-Mess Norton / Archbishop of Canterbury Voice; 4 episodes
1996 The Hot Rod Dogs and Cool Car Cats Hot Rod Voice; regular role; 7 episodes
1996 Adventures from the Book of Virtues Joe Harper Voice; episode: "Work"
1996 The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper Wee Willie Winkle Voice; 1 episode
gollark: This is the most performant possible solution.
gollark: You should just use a linked list of key/value pairs.
gollark: Xkde guessing.
gollark: Code gusinfn.
gollark: Code sgtwddibf

References
  1. "Theodore (Ted) Goetz Obituary". Los Angeles Times. July 24, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2020 – via Legacy.com.
  2. Bacon, Doris Klein (March 8, 1982). "Diabetes Has Slowed Her Growth but Not Her Talent — Dana Hill Is Big Enough to Shoot the Moon". People. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  3. Lipton, Michael A. (August 12, 1996). "Fighting Spirit". People. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  4. Young Artist Award website
  5. "Mighty Mouse, the New Adventures (TV Series 1987–1988)" IMDb.
  6. "Jetsons: The Movie (1990)" IMDb.
  7. "Adventures of the Gummi Bears (TV Series 1985–1991)" IMDb.
  8. "Goof Troop (TV Series 1992–1993)" IMDb.
  9. "Tom and Jerry: The Movie (1992)" IMDb.
  10. ""Magnum, P.I." Basket Case (TV episode 1983)" IMDb.
  11. "Dana Hill Biography". dLife. December 30, 2013. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
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