Dana Wynter, the German-born actress best known for her role in the original 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers', has passed away at the age of 79, reports the New York Daily News. Dana Wynter passed away in a California medical facility after losing her long battle with heart disease.
Born Dagmar Winter in Berlin in 1931, the actress grew up in England but soon moved to New York where she was discovered by an American agent. She starred in television shows such as 'Robert Montgomery Presents', 'Suspense' and 'Studio One in Hollywood'. After establishing herself as a working actress, Wynter arrived in Hollywood and immediately landed roles in, 'The View from Pompey's Head', 'Shake Hands with the Devil' and 'D-Day the Sixth of June'. Her biggest role came in 1956 when she starred in Don Siegel's horror movie 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers', about a small-time doctor who learns that the population of his community is being replaced by alien duplicates. A remake of the movie in 1978 featured Donald Sutherland and Jeff Goldblum.
In 1956, Dana Wynter married the renowned Hollywood divorce lawyer Greg Bautzer, but the couple divorced in 1981 having had one child together, Mark Ragan Bautzer.