Diane Markoff
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Diane Markoff is an American actress, photographer, and stage/location services professional, best known to television audiences for her recurring role as a waitress in Quincy, M.E. during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Over a career spanning more than four decades, she also appeared in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Cliffhangers, Young Doctors in Love, and Death Wish II, before transitioning into photography and location-stage management. She later directed operations at DC Stages in Los Angeles, a creative complex featured in the *Los Angeles Times* for its innovative reuse of industrial warehouses for filming. Her life blends performance, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy, particularly through her support of law-enforcement training and wildlife rescue.
Early life and family
Markoff grew up in Southern California. In a 2013 *Orange County Register* essay she reflected on a 1960 family visit to Mission San Juan Capistrano, calling the photograph from that day “a frame of time that explains who we were and what we carried forward.”[1]
Her father, who died young from heart complications, encouraged artistic pursuits; her mother’s perseverance after major surgery inspired the daily mantra “find a reason to put your feet on the floor.” Markoff has credited actor Jack Klugman with repeating that phrase to her during the filming of Quincy, M.E., where it became a personal motto.
Modeling and early publicity
By 1973, Markoff entered local beauty contests. The *Independent Press-Telegram* reported her as a semifinalist in the Miss Long Beach competition (Apr 1 1973) and a participant in the “Beauties to Tour Queen” pageant (Apr 12 1973).[2][3] The *News-Pilot* (May 29 1974) noted her participation in a Catalina Island event.[4]
These experiences led to commercial photo work—swimwear, Bugle Boy jeans, and print campaigns—introducing her to the Los Angeles casting world.
Acting career
Markoff’s screen appearances coincide with the boom of late-1970s genre television:
- The Incredible Hulk (1978) – The Girl / Janet
- The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries (1978) – guest role
- Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979) – Female PilotTemplate:Cite web
- Cliffhangers: The Secret Empire (1979) – Princess Tara, acknowledged in *The Sacramento Union* preview.[5]
Her longest engagement came with *Quincy, M.E.* (1979–1983), where she portrayed **Diane**, the recurring waitress at Danny’s restaurant. Her friendly interactions with Klugman’s Quincy added everyday realism.
Film roles followed:
- Young Doctors in Love (1982) – Emilia — ensemble comedy directed by Garry Marshall.
- Death Wish II (1982) – Supporting role (listed in AFI Catalog).[6]
- Harper Valley PTA (1982) – Pookey
- Alien Nation: Dark Horizon (1994) – Communications Officer
- The Final Wish (2018) – Librarian
Photography and behind-the-camera work
In the mid-1980s Markoff redirected her creative efforts toward still photography and production logistics. She became known for her Nikon-based documentary style—catching the unnoticed gestures of crew and cast—and for her capacity to convert forgotten industrial corners into usable film spaces.
A *Los Angeles Times* feature, “Hollywood Does Remake of Old Industrial Sites” (2 July 1989), profiled her among warehouse-location agents transforming the city’s landscape.[7]
DC Stages, community engagement, and legacy
Markoff managed **DC Stages** into the 2010s, overseeing themed set rentals used for both entertainment and training.
She donated space to local police departments for K-9 training and tactical drills, reflecting her commitment to civic service.
Her compassion extended to animal care—feeding birds and rescue animals around DC Stages and her home, often accompanied by her dog Buddy.
A publicly released drone tour in 2020 opened with Markoff greeting viewers; by 2021, the complex had been demolished, closing a chapter of Los Angeles filming history. She described the loss as “an end and a renewal—the sets served their stories, and stories move on.”
Later reflections and influence
Markoff continues to be recognized in retrospectives on *Quincy, M.E.* and late-1970s television. The *Star-Ledger* (Aug 3 2008) included her among “supporting faces we remember.”[8] Her career path—from pageants to television to location management—illustrates the fluidity of creative labor in Hollywood and the contributions of women behind the camera.
Selected filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes / Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | The Incredible Hulk (TV) | The Girl / Janet | Episode credit |
| 1979 | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV) | Female Pilot | Template:Cite web |
| 1979 | Cliffhangers: The Secret Empire (TV) | Princess Tara | Template:Cite news |
| 1979–1983 | Quincy, M.E. (TV) | Diane (recurring waitress) | Template:Cite web |
| 1982 | Young Doctors in Love | Emilia | Template:Cite web |
| 1982 | Death Wish II | Supporting role | Template:Cite web |
| 1994 | Alien Nation: Dark Horizon | Communications Officer | Television movie |
| 2018 | The Final Wish | Librarian | Independent film |
Photo placeholders for additional sourcing
- **Placeholder 1:** Diane Markoff on the set of Quincy, M.E. – caption suggested: “Markoff as the waitress Diane at Danny’s Restaurant (early 1980s).”
- **Placeholder 2:** Markoff behind the camera at DC Stages – caption suggested: “Photographing on location with her Nikon camera (1980s).”
- **Placeholder 3:** Publicity still for Cliffhangers – caption suggested: “Diane Markoff as Princess Tara in NBC’s serial The Secret Empire (1979).”
External links
- Diane Markoff on IMDb
- Diane Markoff at Xwhois
- Diane Markoff at TV Guide
- Classic TV Archive – Quincy, M.E. Season 7
- AFI Catalog – Death Wish II
- OC Register essay
- LA Times feature (1989)
- DC Stages Drone Tour (YouTube)
Gallery
- Selected photographs and posters from Diane Markoff’s career
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Promotional photo of Diane Markoff (1976).
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Family photo at Mission San Juan Capistrano (1960), later referenced in her 2013 essay.
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Publicity still from Quincy, M.E. featuring Diane as the recurring waitress. -
Poster for Cliffhangers: The Secret Empire (1979), where she played Princess Tara. -
Poster for Young Doctors in Love (1982), directed by Garry Marshall. -
Markoff photographing at DC Stages with her Nikon (1980s).
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Police K-9 training exercises hosted at DC Stages with Markoff’s support (2000s).
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Still from the 2020 drone tour of DC Stages, featuring Markoff at the opening.
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Mission San Juan Capistrano, central to her family history and personal writing.
index.php?title=Category:American television actresses index.php?title=Category:American film actresses index.php?title=Category:20th-century American actresses index.php?title=Category:21st-century American actresses index.php?title=Category:Stage managers index.php?title=Category:Women photographers