Diana Canova (born Diana Rivero on June 1, 1953 in West Palm Beach, Florida) is an American actress. Her professional last name is taken from the maiden name of her mother, actress and singer Judy Canova. She is a graduate of Hollywood High School.
Her most famous role was that of nymphomaniac Corinne Tate on Soap, a sitcom that parodied soap operas, between 1977 and 1980.
In 1980, ABC executives offered Canova her own television series, starring alongside Danny Thomas in I'm a Big Girl Now. The show lasted just one season.
Canova's acting career entered a slump for many years before she was cast as Sandy Beatty in Throb!, a successful sitcom which was broadcast in syndication from 1986 to 1988. She played "Jenny" in Stephen Sondheim's Broadway musical revival of Company in 1995.
Canova spent a number years as a member of the Church of Scientology, an organization she later began to criticize. She found the Scientologists straightforward in their desire for money, declaring in 1993 in a Premier magazine interview, "The first time I walked in those doors, they said, 'Just give us all the money in your bank account.'" She also criticized the Church's counseling practice called auditing, when she said "They're telling you, 'Don't spend $100 an hour on a shrink's couch, it'll ruin your mind.' Auditing is so much better?"
For the most part, Canova has retired from acting. Her last role was in the 1998 movie One True Thing.
She wrote two plays based on Grimm brothers tales. They're entitled, A Knighttime Musical and Seven Angry Little Men.
Lived with Steve Landesberg
Daughter of Judy Canova
Father is musician Filberto Rivero.
Has two sons.
Niece of Anne Canova, Pete Canova and Zeke Canova.
