Dalene Young

Writing · Acting · Production

Born June 29, 1939, Hawaii, USA

Dalene Young (June 29, 1939 — May 9, 2025) was an American screenwriter, producer, and occasional actor. She was best known for writing the coming-of-age comedy-drama Little Darlings (1980), featuring Tatum O’Neal and Kristy McNichol, and the Mary Steenburgen-starring drama Cross Creek (1983). Young received a Daytime Emmy nomination for co-writing the Showtime children’s special Locked in Silence (1999) and landed a Christopher Award and a Humanitas Prize nomination for her work on the NBC telefilm Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted (1992).

Filmography

• 2021Pig — Jezebel
• Grimm — Charlotte
• 2000Baby Luv — Elizabeth, Writer, Theatre Play
• 2000Going Home — Co-Producer, Teleplay
• 2000The Last Dance — Writer
• 1999Locked in Silence — Writer
• 1999Silk Hope — Teleplay, Co-Producer
• 1998Cab to Canada — Teleplay, Co-Producer
• 1998Evidence of Blood — Teleplay
• 1997Journey of the Heart — Writer, Co-Producer
• 1995The Baby-Sitters Club — Screenplay
• 1994Is There Life Out There? — Writer
• 1994The Yarn Princess — Writer, Co-Producer
• 1992A Message from Holly — Teleplay, Co-Producer
• 1992Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted — Writer
• 1991Living a Lie — Teleplay, Story, Co-Producer
• 1989I Love You Perfect — Writer, Co-Producer
• 1989Sonny Boy — Doc Wallace
• 1988The People Across the Lake — Story, Co-Producer, Teleplay
• 1984Why Me? — Writer
• 1983Cross Creek — Screenplay
• 1983Will There Really Be a Morning? — Hairdresser, Writer
• 1982Little Darlings — Characters
• 1981Pale Horse Pale Rider — Writer
• 1980Little Darlings — Screenplay
• 1980Marilyn: The Untold Story — Teleplay
• 1980The Plutonium Incident — Screenplay
• 1979Can You Hear the Laughter? The Freddie Prinze Story — Teleplay
• 1978Deadman's Curve — Screenplay
• 1978Teen Lust — Mother
• 1977Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn — Story
• 1977Christmas Miracle in Caufield, U.S.A. — Writer
• 1977Panic in Echo Park — Writer
• 1976Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway — Writer
• 1960Juke Box Racket — Betty