A question about Diana Hyland's illness

[TJAMES03]

Now don't get me wrong as I am not talking ill of the dead, but I do have a question. Diana Hyland was only able to film three or four eps. before she died in real-life which makes me wonder if she knew that she was very ill during the time that she was cast in her role. If she did know, I wouldn't have thought that a very professional thing to do because it would have left the show with a whole in it very soon.

Once again, PLEASE don't get me wrong when I ask this question. Either way it was a tragedy that she died so young.

Does anyone know if she did know that she was dying when she was cast as Joan?

[T-Greg]

She was signed to play Joan in 1976, right after she completed "Boy in the Plastic Bubble" with John Travolta. They were romantically involved and he was 18 years younger than she. Shortly after the series began airing, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy. After filming 4 episodes, she left the series but did not tell the cast the true reason why. The disease progressed very quickly and she died less than a year later. So, to answer your question, I believe she was unaware that she had cancer when she was filming the show.

[TV Guy]

I know this is an older thread, but thought it was important to correct some inaccuracies. The "Eight is Enough" pilot was filmed in the spring of 1976. It was not picked up for the fall of 1976, but ABC kept its options on the cast in case they wanted to order it later as a midseason replacement. Diana Hyland was diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 1976 and had what seemed like successful treatment.

ABC finally ordered EIE as a midseason replacement in late 1976, with production to begin early in 1977. Shortly before production began in January 1977, Hyland's cancer recurred. She informed the producers before production began. They asked her what she wanted to do, and she said she very much wanted to continue. The producers kept her illness quiet, partly at her request and partly because they feared that ABC executives would force them to recast the role if they knew.

Hyland managed to film an additional three episodes after the pilot, and then was unable to continue. The cast and crew were told that she had hurt her back and would miss some episodes. The producers wrote Joan out as visiting a relative, and recorded voiceovers from Hyland so that Tom Bradford could talk to his wife on the phone every week (please WB - include these scenes in the DVD release, because they are edited out in the syndication versions).

As the weeks went on, rumors began to circulate that Hyland was in rehab, or was having plastic surgery. That's when the producers decided to set the record straight, and told the cast and crew that Hyland was terminally ill and would not be returning to the show.

The producers also refused to consider the possibility of recasting the role of Joan after Hyland's death. They wanted to show the young cast - many of whom were in their first job - that they didn't consider the cast to be interchangeable.

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by TV Guy

I know this is an older thread, but thought it was important to correct some inaccuracies.

I suppose you have some type of proof to support these claims and preferably something other than Wikipedia or IMDb.

[TV Guy]

First of all, lose the attitude. Second, if you want proof, then read The Show Must Go On. They have an entire chapter on EIE, with interviews from the cast and producers, this is all in there.

[McGillicuddy]

Originally Posted by TV Guy

I know this is an older thread, but thought it was important to correct some inaccuracies. The "Eight is Enough" pilot was filmed in the spring of 1976. It was not picked up for the fall of 1976, but ABC kept its options on the cast in case they wanted to order it later as a midseason replacement. Diana Hyland was diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 1976 and had what seemed like successful treatment.

ABC finally ordered EIE as a midseason replacement in late 1976, with production to begin early in 1977. Shortly before production began in January 1977, Hyland's cancer recurred. She informed the producers before production began. They asked her what she wanted to do, and she said she very much wanted to continue. The producers kept her illness quiet, partly at her request and partly because they feared that ABC executives would force them to recast the role if they knew.

Hyland managed to film an additional three episodes after the pilot, and then was unable to continue. The cast and crew were told that she had hurt her back and would miss some episodes. The producers wrote Joan out as visiting a relative, and recorded voiceovers from Hyland so that Tom Bradford could talk to his wife on the phone every week (please WB - include these scenes in the DVD release, because they are edited out in the syndication versions).

As the weeks went on, rumors began to circulate that Hyland was in rehab, or was having plastic surgery. That's when the producers decided to set the record straight, and told the cast and crew that Hyland was terminally ill and would not be returning to the show.

The producers also refused to consider the possibility of recasting the role of Joan after Hyland's death. They wanted to show the young cast - many of whom were in their first job - that they didn't consider the cast to be interchangeable.

I just stumbled on this thread, and this answers alot of questions I had about Diana/Joan. Now I realize the WB dropped the ball with this dvd release!! I was so looking forward to seeing Eight is Enough complete and un-cut.

[McGillicuddy]

Well, atleast one of the recorded voice-over scenes is included. There's a scene with Tom talking to Joan, outside her darkroom, while she was developing a picture. We hear her voice, but don't see her. At the end of the scene, we see the picture is the one Joan took of the family for the first opening intro. I'm thinking this was one of the last scenes filmed for this episode. Anyway, it sure is bitter-sweet, and kind of heart-breaking, when they pan in on that picture.

[catlover79]

I just got the DVD set from the library, and this is the first time I've ever seen Diana Hyland as the first Mrs. Bradford. (I haven't seen EIE since the mid-80s when it was in syndication, and the only episodes I saw were of the Betty Buckley era.)

No disrespect to Betty Buckley, but if Diana Hyland had lived and was healthy and able to go the show's full run, she would've easily joined the lists of great TV moms. She was a dynamo and added so much spark to the family. Ms. Hyland was obviously thrilled to be there and it shows in her episodes.

Joan Bradford's mannerisms, excitement, creativity and especially her voice remind me so much of my aunt. The inflections, tone, everything. It just endeared me to Diana/Joan even more. I'm so sorry that she passed so young and left behind her own young son.

For however brief her run on the show was, it's obvious that the entire cast adored Ms. Hyland. When the cast showed up on Family Feud, on two separate occasions, their charity was to build up a trust fund for Diana's young son, Zachary. Another time they played for the American Cancer Society in Diana's memory.

[Vahan]

I don't think it was ever mentioned, but I'll do so anyways.

To my understanding, the cast found working with Betty Buckley very difficult. For one thing, she was used to doing Broadway and features, where you have the time to do lots of rehearsals (and retakes). And I'm sure the cast initially had issues with how much rehearsal Buckley wanted to do at first. Also, there was a problem with a Christmas gift Buckley gave to her younger co-stars her first year on the show - a book on acting. Some of the kids took this as Buckley's way of telling them that they weren't good actors, while others looked to the gift as Buckley's way of mentoring the younger actors. Still, it didn't seem like the cast was that much close to her at all.

And get this: Supposedly, the cast did not shed any tears for her when she did not appear in those two NBC reunion movies in the late 1980s (instead, the part of Abby Bradford was played by Mary Frann and Sandy Faison respectively).

[McGillicuddy]

Originally Posted by catlover79

I just got the DVD set from the library, and this is the first time I've ever seen Diana Hyland as the first Mrs. Bradford. (I haven't seen EIE since the mid-80s when it was in syndication, and the only episodes I saw were of the Betty Buckley era.)

No disrespect to Betty Buckley, but if Diana Hyland had lived and was healthy and able to go the show's full run, she would've easily joined the lists of great TV moms. She was a dynamo and added so much spark to the family. Ms. Hyland was obviously thrilled to be there and it shows in her episodes.

Joan Bradford's mannerisms, excitement, creativity and especially her voice remind me so much of my aunt. The inflections, tone, everything. It just endeared me to Diana/Joan even more. I'm so sorry that she passed so young and left behind her own young son.

For however brief her run on the show was, it's obvious that the entire cast adored Ms. Hyland. When the cast showed up on Family Feud, on two separate occasions, their charity was to build up a trust fund for Diana's young son, Zachary. Another time they played for the American Cancer Society in Diana's memory.

You could see how much the cast missed Diana in the Christmas episode, where Tommy is opening a gift Joan left for him in the cupboard before she died. Everybody was gathered around him and there wasn't a dry eye in the house!

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Vahan

I don't think it was ever mentioned, but I'll do so anyways.

To my understanding, the cast found working with Betty Buckley very difficult. For one thing, she was used to doing Broadway and features, where you have the time to do lots of rehearsals (and retakes). And I'm sure the cast initially had issues with how much rehearsal Buckley wanted to do at first. Also, there was a problem with a Christmas gift Buckley gave to her younger co-stars her first year on the show - a book on acting. Some of the kids took this as Buckley's way of telling them that they weren't good actors, while others looked to the gift as Buckley's way of mentoring the younger actors. Still, it didn't seem like the cast was that much close to her at all.

And get this: Supposedly, the cast did not shed any tears for her when she did not appear in those two NBC reunion movies in the late 1980s (instead, the part of Abby Bradford was played by Mary Frann and Sandy Faison respectively).

Willie Aames confirmed that he and Betty Buckley had clashes in his book from a few years ago, Grace is Enough, for the reasons you listed.

[Mr. Television]

Speaking of Diana Hyland, I saw her in an episode of Happy Days today. It was from early in 1977. You can't even tell she's sick. It's so sad what happened to her.

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

Speaking of Diana Hyland, I saw her in an episode of Happy Days today. It was from early in 1977. You can't even tell she's sick. It's so sad what happened to her.

I remember that episode...

[TV Guy]

Originally Posted by catlover79

If Diana Hyland had lived and was healthy and able to go the show's full run, she would've easily joined the lists of great TV moms. She was a dynamo and added so much spark to the family. Ms. Hyland was obviously thrilled to be there and it shows in her episodes.

I thought the exact same thing when I watched the episodes recently. She's especially good in "Pieces of Eight", where Tom's newspaper is on strike and she decides to go and get a job. Of all four of her episodes, this is the one where she has the most to do. She's so warm, and has great chemistry with Dick Van Patten (I never thought he and Betty Buckley had much in that department) as well as her younger co-stars.

What a loss.

[catlover79]

Not only did she spark with DVP, she did with all the actors playing the kids - even if IRL she wasn't really old enough to be their mom (well, with the exceptions of the youngest kids). I would have loved to see her play opposite Janis Paige as Auntie V. THAT would have been classic!!!!