O'Donnell, Lillian

American crime writer, born as Lillian Udvardy in Trieste, Italy. She started her schooling at Notre Dame de Sion in Trieste, but the family moved in the early 1930s to New York, where she spent the rest of her life. After studying at Sacred Heart Academy and American Academy of Dramatic Arts, she made her debut in 1941 as an actress and dancer on Broadway in a little role in Pal Joey. She later became the first female director on Broadway and also worked with summer theatre for the Schubert Organization.