Scene from River's Edge (1986)

Alternate Names: Danyi Deats-Barrett

Physical Characteristics: N/A

First Appearances:

• River's Edge (1986) as Jamie

Most Important Roles:

• The Allnighter (1987) as Junkie
• What Happened to Her (2016) as
• River's Edge (1986) as Jamie

Career Highlights:

• The Allnighter (1987)
• What Happened to Her (2016)
• River's Edge (1986)

At an age when many children are still exploring their imagination, Danyi Deats found herself stepping into another world. She portrayed an extraterrestrial in Steven Spielberg's seminal film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977). Her next role was a departure from her otherworldly character, offering audiences a glimpse of her humanity, albeit through the lens of mortality. In "River's Edge" (1987), she played Jamie alongside Crispin Glover, Keanu Reeves, and Ione Skye, in a film that explored the macabre fascination with a deceased woman by the riverbank, a role Danyi herself portrayed without any clothing but for some lifeless embellishments. Her acting portfolio also includes a junkie character in "The Allnighter" (1987) alongside Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles, and a recurring part as Atomic Waitress on the primetime television series "Hard Copy" in 1987.

While Danyi's acting credits concluded here, her Hollywood journey was far from over. In 1993, she transitioned behind the camera, embracing the role of a producer, predominantly focusing on music video productions. Her client list reads like a who's who of musical sensations, including Selena, Usher, Monica, Bryan Adams, Tina Turner, Rob Zombie, Sting, Shania Twain, Elvis Costello, Kelly Clarkson, Calvin Harris, Jennifer Lopez, Demi Lovato, Stevie Nicks, Kid Cudi, and countless others. Some of her notable productions include the Backstreet Boys' hit "Everybody" (1997), Sugar Ray's anthemic "Someday" (1999), Sisqó's infectious "Thong Song" (2000), Nelly ft. Justin Timberlake's chart-topping "Work It" (2003), and more recently, Ed Sheeran's "Photograph" (2015) and several of his other songs, Selena Gomez's empowering "Same Old Love" (2015), Halsey ft. Lauren Jauregui's captivating "Strangers" (2018), and Lizzo's uplifting "Good as Hell" (2019). After a brief hiatus from 2006 to 2013, Danyi returned with renewed vigor, continuing to make her mark on the music industry. Her impact goes beyond the transient nature of acting, leaving an indelible impression through her production work.