The entertainment industry is deeply saddened by the news of Dana Eden’s passing. The acclaimed co-creator and producer of the hit Apple TV series ‘Tehran’ was found dead on Sunday in Athens, Greece, where the show’s fourth season was currently in production. Greek police confirmed her death.
Ms. Eden, 52, was discovered by her brother in a hotel room. In a statement, Kan, Israel’s public broadcaster, expressed profound sorrow, saying, ‘We mourn the passing of our colleague and partner in a long series of productions, series, and programs.’
She was in Athens overseeing the filming of the latest season of ‘Tehran,’ the internationally recognized espionage thriller that Apple TV renewed for its fourth season in December.
According to Constantina Dimoglidou, a police spokeswoman, Ms. Eden’s brother informed Greek police that his sister had a history of hospitalization and was on medication. The evidence gathered from her hotel room led police to conclude that foul play was not suspected in her death.
Despite some speculative reports in Israeli media suggesting a possible link to Iran, Ms. Eden’s production company, Donna and Shula Productions, which she ran with Shula Spiegel, strongly refuted these claims. Their statement urged media and the public to ‘refrain from publishing unverified assumptions, and to behave responsibly and sensibly,’ emphasizing that ‘Rumors about criminal death or about a national background are not true and are not grounded.’
While Dana Eden was a driving force behind several critically acclaimed Israeli shows, she gained global recognition for her pivotal role in ‘Tehran.’ The series, initially developed for Kan in Israel, was picked up by Apple TV in June 2020.
‘Tehran’ captivated audiences with its story of Tamar Rabinyan, an Iranian-born, Israeli-raised spy embarking on her first deep-cover mission in Iran to aid an Israeli attack on the country’s nuclear program. The show earned an International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series in 2021.
In her acceptance speech for the Emmy, Ms. Eden shared a powerful message: ‘I want to say that ‘Tehran’ is not only an an espionage series, it’s also about understanding the human behind your enemy.’ She reflected on the collaborative spirit on set, where Israelis and Iranians worked together.
She expressed hope for the future, stating, ‘We found out that we have a lot in common. I think it gives hope for the future, and I hope that we can walk together, the Iranians and the Israelis, in Jerusalem and in Tehran as friends and not as enemies.’