Diane Louise Salinger (born January 25, 1951) is an American actress and voice actress known for her distinctive character roles across film, television, and stage. She gained recognition for her role as Apollonia in the television series "Carnivàle" (2003–2005) and appeared in notable films such as "Pee-wee's Big Adventure," "Batman Returns," and "Ghost World". With a career marked by versatility, Salinger has performed in popular TV shows including "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "ER," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," and "Law & Order". Beyond acting, she is a dedicated teacher and director who founded an acting workshop for at-risk youth and has directed theatrical pieces for high-profile audiences.

Filmography

• 2025Dante's Inferni — Speaker – 6th Circle: The Heretics / Medusa
• 2025Things Like This — Darlene Bat
• 2018Slay Belles — Cherry
• 2016All Hallow's Eve — Delayna Hallow
• 2016Ovation — Hildi
• 2016Pee-wee's Big Holiday — Penny King
• 2015Forever — Hilary
• 2015No Deposit — Gloria Markovitz
• 2014Freedom — Fanny
• 2014Stitch — Landlady
• 2013First Period — Ms. Mallow
• 2012Just 45 Minutes from Broadway — Vivien Cooper Isaacs
• 2011Terri — Mrs. Vick
• 2010Queen of the Lot — Hildi
• 2009Dark House — Ms. Janet Darrode
• 2009The Telling — Alina
• 200820 Years After — Margaret
• 2008Rest Stop: Don't Look Back — The Mother
• 2006Rest Stop — The Mother
• How I Met Your Mother — Dr. Aurelia
• 2005Love's Long Journey — Barbara Taylorson
• Carnivàle — Apollonia
• 2002Almost a Woman — Mrs. Moore
• 2001Ghost World — Psychiatrist
• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation — Hilda Morton
• Curb Your Enthusiasm — Deborah's Mom
• 2000Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue — Queen Bansheera (voice)
• Strong Medicine — Diane Winston
• 1999The Auteur Theory — Jane Holmes-Caprice
• 1999The Kid with X-Ray Eyes — Vanessa
• Charmed — Sea Hag
• 1997Guy — Gail
• 1995Last Summer in the Hamptons — Marian Mora Garfield
• 1995One Night Stand — Barbara Joslyn
• 1995The Scarlet Letter — Margaret Bellingham
• ER — Sophie's Mom
• Power Rangers — Queen Bansheera (voice)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — Lupaza
• 1993The Magic Bubble — Julia
• 1992Batman Returns — Penguin's Mother
• 1992Earth and the American Dream — Reader (voice)
• 1992Stormy Weathers — Bogey
• Silk Stalkings
• 1991The Butcher's Wife — Trendoid
• 1990Alice — Carol
• Law & Order — Eugenia Rawlings
• 1988Bird — Baroness Nica
• 1988Maybe Baby — Dr. Strauss
• 1988Street of Dreams — Anne Kepler
• 1988The Verne Miller Story — Mortician's Wife
• 1987Right to Die — Betsy
• On Wings of Eagles — Emily Gaylord
• 1986The Morning After — Isabel Harding
• 1985Creature — Melanie Bryce
• 1985Pee-wee's Big Adventure — Simone
• Murder, She Wrote — Sondra Arthur
• St. Elsewhere — Valerie Ives
• 1979The Witch Who Was Afraid of Witches — Older Sister / Middle Sister

Appearances as themselves (1)

• 2021Finding Titan: The Making of Creature — Self