Diane Markoff

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Diane Markoff is an American actress, photographer, and stage/location services professional, best known to television audiences for her recurring role as a waitress in Quincy, M.E. during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Over a career spanning more than four decades, she also appeared in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Cliffhangers, Young Doctors in Love, and Death Wish II, before transitioning into photography and location-stage management. She later directed operations at DC Stages in Los Angeles, a creative complex featured in the *Los Angeles Times* for its innovative reuse of industrial warehouses for filming. Her life blends performance, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy, particularly through her support of law-enforcement training and wildlife rescue.

Early life and family

Markoff (center) in a 1960 family photo at Mission San Juan Capistrano, which she later described in her writing.

Markoff grew up in Southern California. In a 2013 *Orange County Register* essay she reflected on a 1960 family visit to Mission San Juan Capistrano, calling the photograph from that day “a frame of time that explains who we were and what we carried forward.”

Her father, who died young from heart complications, encouraged artistic pursuits; her mother’s perseverance after major surgery inspired the daily mantra “find a reason to put your feet on the floor.” Markoff has credited actor Jack Klugman with repeating that phrase to her during the filming of Quincy, M.E., where it became a personal motto.

Modeling and early publicity

By 1973, Markoff entered local beauty contests. The *Independent Press-Telegram* reported her as a semifinalist in the Miss Long Beach competition (Apr 1 1973) and a participant in the “Beauties to Tour Queen” pageant (Apr 12 1973). The *News-Pilot* (May 29 1974) noted her participation in a Catalina Island event.

These experiences led to commercial photo work—swimwear, Bugle Boy jeans, and print campaigns—introducing her to the Los Angeles casting world.

Acting career

Poster image for Cliffhangers: The Secret Empire (1979).

Markoff’s screen appearances coincide with the boom of late-1970s genre television:

• The Incredible Hulk (1978) – The Girl / Janet
• The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries (1978) – guest role
• Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979) – Female PilotTemplate:Cite web
• Cliffhangers: The Secret Empire (1979) – Princess Tara, acknowledged in *The Sacramento Union* preview.

Her longest engagement came with *Quincy, M.E.* (1979–1983), where she portrayed **Diane**, the recurring waitress at Danny’s restaurant. Her friendly interactions with Klugman’s Quincy added everyday realism.

Publicity still from Quincy, M.E.; Markoff appears as the recurring waitress Diane.

Film roles followed:

• Young Doctors in Love (1982) – Emilia — ensemble comedy directed by Garry Marshall.
• Death Wish II (1982) – Supporting role (listed in AFI Catalog).
• Harper Valley PTA (1982) – Pookey
• Alien Nation: Dark Horizon (1994) – Communications Officer
• The Final Wish (2018) – Librarian

Photography and behind-the-camera work

Markoff using her Nikon at DC Stages, Los Angeles (1980s).

In the mid-1980s Markoff redirected her creative efforts toward still photography and production logistics. She became known for her Nikon-based documentary style—catching the unnoticed gestures of crew and cast—and for her capacity to convert forgotten industrial corners into usable film spaces.

A *Los Angeles Times* feature, “Hollywood Does Remake of Old Industrial Sites” (2 July 1989), profiled her among warehouse-location agents transforming the city’s landscape.

Still from the DC Stages drone tour video (2020), featuring Markoff.

DC Stages, community engagement, and legacy

Markoff managed **DC Stages** into the 2010s, overseeing themed set rentals used for both entertainment and training.

Police K-9 team training at DC Stages with support from Markoff (circa 2000s).

She donated space to local police departments for K-9 training and tactical drills, reflecting her commitment to civic service.

Her compassion extended to animal care—feeding birds and rescue animals around DC Stages and her home, often accompanied by her dog Buddy.

A publicly released drone tour in 2020 opened with Markoff greeting viewers; by 2021, the complex had been demolished, closing a chapter of Los Angeles filming history. She described the loss as “an end and a renewal—the sets served their stories, and stories move on.”

Later reflections and influence

Markoff continues to be recognized in retrospectives on *Quincy, M.E.* and late-1970s television. The *Star-Ledger* (Aug 3 2008) included her among “supporting faces we remember.” Her career path—from pageants to television to location management—illustrates the fluidity of creative labor in Hollywood and the contributions of women behind the camera.

Selected filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes / Citation
1978	The Incredible Hulk (TV)	The Girl / Janet	Episode credit
1979	Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV)	Female Pilot	Template:Cite web
1979	Cliffhangers: The Secret Empire (TV)	Princess Tara	Template:Cite news
1979–1983	Quincy, M.E. (TV)	Diane (recurring waitress)	Template:Cite web
1982	Young Doctors in Love	Emilia	Template:Cite web
1982	Death Wish II	Supporting role	Template:Cite web
1994	Alien Nation: Dark Horizon	Communications Officer	Television movie
2018	The Final Wish	Librarian	Independent film

Photo placeholders for additional sourcing

• **Placeholder 1:** Diane Markoff on the set of Quincy, M.E. – caption suggested: “Markoff as the waitress Diane at Danny’s Restaurant (early 1980s).”
• **Placeholder 2:** Markoff behind the camera at DC Stages – caption suggested: “Photographing on location with her Nikon camera (1980s).”
• **Placeholder 3:** Publicity still for Cliffhangers – caption suggested: “Diane Markoff as Princess Tara in NBC’s serial The Secret Empire (1979).”

External links

• Diane Markoff on IMDb
• Diane Markoff at Xwhois
• Diane Markoff at TV Guide
• Classic TV Archive – Quincy, M.E. Season 7
• AFI Catalog – Death Wish II
• OC Register essay
• LA Times feature (1989)
• DC Stages Drone Tour (YouTube)

Gallery

• Selected photographs and posters from Diane Markoff’s career
• Promotional photo of Diane Markoff (1976).
  Promotional photo of Diane Markoff (1976).
• Family photo at Mission San Juan Capistrano (1960), later referenced in her 2013 essay.
  Family photo at Mission San Juan Capistrano (1960), later referenced in her 2013 essay.
• 
  Publicity still from Quincy, M.E. featuring Diane as the recurring waitress.
• 
  Poster for Cliffhangers: The Secret Empire (1979), where she played Princess Tara.
• 
  Poster for Young Doctors in Love (1982), directed by Garry Marshall.
• Markoff photographing at DC Stages with her Nikon (1980s).
  Markoff photographing at DC Stages with her Nikon (1980s).
• Police K-9 training exercises hosted at DC Stages with Markoff’s support (2000s).
  Police K-9 training exercises hosted at DC Stages with Markoff’s support (2000s).
• Still from the 2020 drone tour of DC Stages, featuring Markoff at the opening.
  Still from the 2020 drone tour of DC Stages, featuring Markoff at the opening.
• Mission San Juan Capistrano, central to her family history and personal writing.
  Mission San Juan Capistrano, central to her family history and personal writing.