Link (http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=8541484)

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Authorities are searching for suspects after a prominent actress and dancer was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Griffith Park.

Zina Feeley, 66, who went by her maiden name Zina Bethune, died shortly after midnight Sunday while trying to help an injured animal along Forest Lawn Drive.

Bethune was driving westbound on Forest Lawn Drive when she stopped and parked her car along the road. Officials said she walked toward the animal, which was on the eastbound lanes, and was struck by a car. She was later hit by a second vehicle.

Bethune was a noted ballet dancer in her youth and later acted in film and TV, including several soap operas.

In later years, she focused her life on teaching dance and acting to children with disabilities.


"She's brought light and joy to so many people through her art, through her dancing, through the program for these beautiful children," said friend Paula Woodley. "Think of the lives that she has made bright and now hers is gone."

Authorities are looking for a white car that left the scene of the accident.

Anyone with information was asked to contact the Los Angeles Police Department at (877) LAPD-24-7.

:rip: How tragic!! Zina Bethune's best known soap role was that of Barbara Sterling on the now defunct CBS serial, Love of Life, and was played the role from 1965-1971.

Helene Dumas looks like Dorris Roberts.

How sad that she died while trying to perform a good deed. RIP Zina.

Helene Dumas looks like Dorris Roberts.

Ironically, Helene Dumas (who played Zina Bethune's grandmother on the show) played a character who was a nosy, disapproving mother-in-law. Sound familiar? Hmmmmm...

Zina was also in Martin Scorcese's first film Who's Knocking At My Door with Harvey Keitel (the film was Keitel's debut).


RIP and I hope the nail the bastard that killed her.

:rip: How tragic!! Zina Bethune's best known soap role was that of Barbara Sterling on the now defunct CBS serial, Love of Life, and was played the role from 1965-1971.

She was also on the cover of TV Guide with her costar from The Nurses, Shirl Conway, for the issue of Feb. 29, 1964. The cover story was about her: "Zina's a Lonely Girl".

:rip: How tragic!! Zina Bethune's best known soap role was that of Barbara Sterling on the now defunct CBS serial, Love of Life, and was played the role from 1965-1971.

It's interesting to see some of the other people in this picture who became better-known or endured on tv for years. Cindy Grover appeared in several commercials as a girl, Marsha Mason became better-known, later, of course as Neil Simon's wife and actress in some of his movies, John Gabriel was the original Professor in the unaired Gilligan's Island pilot, and, as I suspected, Jeannette Dubois later became known as Ja'net Dubois and became Willona Woods on Good Times and sang the theme song for The Jeffersons.

How sad that she died while trying to help a defenseless animal.

To not pay attention while driving is terrible but to drive off and leave someone hurt is beyond terrible.

.

^ Agreed. :( :( :( :( :(

I suspect that the two drivers who killed her may have been mental nutcases and/or deranged fans, who, for no reason held a grudge against her, and may have planned it in advance. Why else would they run her over and not even notice, let alone apologize that they did so?

I suspect that the two drivers who killed her may have been mental nutcases and/or deranged fans, who, for no reason held a grudge against her, and may have planned it in advance. Why else would they run her over and not even notice, let alone apologize that they did so?

The fact that she tried to help an injured animal cancels out this theory. There was no way possible that they could've known ahead of time that she would be the one to try to help it and then run her down. I suspect that it was an unfortunate accident and that those responsible are most likely too scared to come forward for fear of the consequences.

^ Yes, I could definitely see that happening. If it was dark, the other drivers may have not even seen her at first - especially while she was helping the animal.

^ Yes, I could definitely see that happening. If it was dark, the other drivers may have not even seen her at first - especially while she was helping the animal.
I remember Zina Bethune from a prime time series from the early 60s called "The Nurses". As I recall, she co-starred with an older woman named Shirl Conway. Stopping to help an injured animal assuredly guarantees her place in heaven. This brought tears to my eyes.