Dina Merrill: Heiress to Fortune, Star of '50s & '60s

Dina Merrill, born December 29, 1923, became a prominent film and television actress during the 1950s and 1960s. Her career spanned over 100 projects. Merrill was the sole child of Marjorie Merriweather Post, heiress to the General Foods fortune, and Edward Francis Hutton, founder of E.F. Hutton & Co.

Instead of pursuing a life as a socialite, Merrill chose acting. She gained significant recognition for her role as Sylvia in the 1957 film Desk Set, starring alongside Katherine Hepburn. Her filmography also includes notable roles in "Operation Petticoat" and "The Courtship of Eddie's Father."

Merrill was married three times and had four children. She passed away in 2017 with an estimated fortune of $500 million. Despite her wealth, she was committed to philanthropy, playing a key role in launching the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation after one of her children was diagnosed with the condition.