Anna Marie Nanasi (July 6, 1944 – August 19, 2010), better known by her professional name Ahna Capri (also as Anna Capri), was an American film and television actress best known for her role as Tania (secretary of Han) in the martial-arts film Enter the Dragon.[2]

Ahna Capri
Born
Anna Marie Nanasi

(1944-07-06)July 6, 1944
Budapest, Hungary[1]
DiedAugust 19, 2010(2010-08-19) (aged 66)
NationalityAmerican
OccupationActress
Years active1956–1979
RelativesPeter Robbins (brother)

Early life

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She was born to Hungarian parents in Budapest and arrived in the United States with her family as a refugee in 1950.[3] Her younger brother, Louis, who used the stage name Peter Robbins, was the voice of Charlie Brown in the Peanuts animated specials.[4]

Career

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Capri started her career as a child actress, appearing on such series as Father Knows Best, The Danny Thomas Show, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, Leave It to Beaver — in the role of Cindy Andrews in "Eddie's Sweater" (1963) & Cinda Dunsworth in "Lumpy's Scholarship" (1963) — as Anna Capri, and a recurring role as Edie Westrope on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show in 1958. She made her film debut at the age of thirteen in Outlaw's Son. She appeared thereafter in more films and television series,[5] including roles in two CBS westerns in 1959, as Dolly Cleary in "The Littlest Client" on Wanted: Dead or Alive, starring Steve McQueen, and as Debbie McCallin in "McCallin's Daughter" on Trackdown, with Robert Culp.[6]

In 1962, Capri was cast in a recurring role as Mary Rose in the ABC/Warner Bros Television sitcom, Room for One More.[6] She appeared on other ABC/WB series, including Maverick, Sugarfoot, Cheyenne, Bronco, 77 Sunset Strip.

In 1967, Capri appeared as Cpl. Terry Cahill in Season 3, Episode 17 "The Hunters and the Killers" of Twelve O'Clock High.[7]

Later, Capri appeared in Branded, The Monroes, The Iron Horse, The Guns of Will Sonnett, Laredo, The Wild Wild West, Run for Your Life, The F.B.I., Banyon, Baretta, Banacek, Mannix, The Mod Squad, Ironside, Cannon, The Invaders, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Adam-12, The Name of the Game, Police Story, Search, and Kojak.[6]

In 1971, Capri played Linda Perry in two episodes of ABC's crime drama Dan August, starring Burt Reynolds. In 1972, she was cast in the film Payday, with Rip Torn in the lead role as a country music singer in Alabama.[6] Beginning in the 1970s, she used the spelling Ahna Capri in order to reflect the correct pronunciation of her first name.[5]

Death

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On August 9, 2010, Capri was in a car accident in which a 5-ton truck collided with her car. After 10 days in a coma and on life support, she died on August 19 at age 66.[5]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1956 The Opposite Sex Child Uncredited
1957 Outlaw's Son Amy Wentworth – as a Child
1959 The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker Babs Pennypacker Uncredited
1963 Critic's Choice Daughter Uncredited
1964 Kisses for My President Gloria McCloud
1965 The Girls on the Beach Arlene
1966 One of Our Spies Is Missing Do Do
1969 Target: Harry Francesca
1970 Darker than Amber Del
1971 The Brotherhood of Satan Nicky
1972 Piranha, Piranha Terry Greene
1973 Payday Mayleen Travis
1973 Enter the Dragon Tania
1975 The Specialist Londa Wyeth
1976 The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings The Prostitute

References

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  1. ^ "Anna Capri" (Obituary). For Your Eyes Only. 2010.
  2. ^ Cater, Dave (2011). "Car Accident Claims Ahna Capri". Inside Kung Fu Magazine. Archived from the original on March 11, 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  3. ^ Lisanti, Tom; Paul, Louis (2002). Film Fatales: Women in Espionage Films and Television, 1962–1973. McFarland & Company. pp. 86–89. ISBN 0-7864-1194-5.
  4. ^ "Peter Robbins, original voice of Peanuts' Charlie Brown character, dies at 65". January 26, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Block, Alex Ben (August 24, 2010). "Actress Ahna Capri dies". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d "Ahna Capri". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
  7. ^ "12 O'Clock High (TV Series), The Hunters and the Killers, Full Cast & Crew". Internet Movie Database. 1967.
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