Linda Dano and her husband Frank Attardi | Linda Dano | Source: Instagra.com/Linda Dano | Getty Images
- Linda Dano is a soap opera legend known for her roles in "Days of Our Lives" and "Another World."
- She suffered the loss of her husband to cancer and the death of her mother just days later.
- The actress just celebrated her 80th birthday and is enjoying her time as a podcaster.
Linda Dano is a soapie queen known from hit shows like "Days of Our Lives," "Another World," and "General Hospital."
She is a Los Angeles-born actress who has been gracing the screens since the early '60s. Now she is 80 years old and still as vibrant as ever.
Linda Dano in Los Angeles in 2003 | Source: Getty Images
The actress has now moved on to podcasting and constantly posts pictures with her guests on Instagram. Her friend, Anna Holbrook, was recently a guest and Dano shared how amazing their conversation was.
Dano is an active 80-year-old who meets up with friends and has birthday dinners. She posted a picture with Stephen Schnetzer, one of the cast members from "Another World," while they were in New York and out for lunch.
Linda Dano and her husband Frank Attardi in New York in 2003 | Source: Getty Images
On her 79 birthday, Dano had dinner with entrepreneur Sabrina Jade Macchio, wearing one of the caps from her fashion collections. One of her signature looks is her red lipstick and fans still think she looks "stunning"
Losing Her Husband of 22 Years
Dano's romantic life has had its ups and downs. The actress was first married to Larry Peck, and when that ended, she tied the knot with Salvatore Giordano.
Her third marriage was with Frank Attardi, whom she married in 1984, but Attardi's battle with cancer would later separate the two. Dano was there to nurse Attardi until his last days but was utterly distraught when he took his last breath in 2004.
Linda Dano and Frank Attardi with her mother in New York, in 1994 | Source: Getty Images
Months after her husband's passing, Dano still believed she would never be "okay" with it. However, she expressed, "I think you just learn to live with the 'okay' and, for me at least, try to find things to be passionate about."
Her husband was an advertising executive diagnosed with cancer in May 2003. Dano was proud of the way he handled the disease. "He was so positive – he sort of grabbed it by the throat and shook it," she said. Despite the surge of bad news they received, Dano said Attardi would take it by the chin and continue his fight.
After her husband's death in September 2004, Dano went on a hiatus and only made her first appearance in November. She came out to support NASDAQ with Eric J. Hall, CEO of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.
Dano has been a spokesperson for Alzheimer's, raising awareness for its early detection and for caregivers to learn more about the disease that put her father through much suffering and took his life in 1996.
Now that she had experienced the life of a caregiver, the actress addressed the crowd and said, "I do not know why God keeps deciding He wants me to be someone's caregiver . . . but any time I can reach out to other caregivers, and there are millions of them out there, I will do whatever I can."
Attardi and Dano met in Los Angeles when Attardi's advertising agency was casting for commercials. In the group of cast members was Dano.
Attardi was based in New York but was in Los Angeles for business at the time, and Dano left a lasting impression on him and the six others running the auditions.
The actress remembered Attardi telling her she was "the biggest fool in the room," which was all part of her strategy. The "Days of Our Lives" star knew how nerve-wracking it would be to audition in front of seven ad executives, so she used her humor to put them all at ease.
Attardi tried his best to keep things professional. He even confessed that hitting on women at work was unlike him, but the chemistry between them was undeniable.
He went back to New York, but they continued speaking on the phone. During the phone calls, Attardi tried his best to convince Dano to move, but she would not.
Eventually, she agreed that they meet halfway, which was in Chicago. Attardi remembered how brutally cold that night was, so much so that he told Dano it was freezing for them to go anywhere. So they settled to stay in the hotel room, and the rest was history. Since that night, the two were inseparable until death.
After much deliberation about where to move, the couple bought a big plot of land in Washington where they created their little heaven. There they enjoyed cooking, gardening, entertaining friends, and a beautiful environment for their six dogs.
However, their life in paradise crumbled when the ad executive was diagnosed with cancer, which changed their lives forever.
But Attardi's death was followed by more heartbreaking news. After burying her husband, the actress found out that her mother had died, which led her into a deep depression.
Life after Surviving Two Significant Loses
After suffering the loss of her beloved husband and mother, Dano went back to being on screen. She made her comeback on the Hallmark channel movie, "A Little Daytime Drama."
Ironically, the soap opera legend portrays a soap opera producer in the movie. Speaking of the role, the actress said she drew most of her inspiration from a friend who works as a producer.
Even after many years of being away from the screen, Dano's legendary status has not fallen; her co-stars were honored to work with her and claimed she brought a sassy touch to her character.
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