Diana Barrymore, a talented American film and stage actress, was born Diana Blanche Barrymore Blythe on March 3, 1921, in the vibrant city of New York. She was the daughter of the renowned actor John Barrymore and his second wife, the accomplished poet Blanche Oelrichs. This union also brought her a stepmother, the esteemed actress Dolores Costello, and a half-brother, the actor John Drew Barrymore. Moreover, Diana was an aunt to the accomplished actress Drew Barrymore, further solidifying her connection to the world of entertainment.
Despite her parents' tumultuous marriage, which only lasted a few years, Diana's early life was marked by her parents' eventual divorce when she was just four years old. This significant event would have a lasting impact on her life, as she would have limited contact with her father, a situation exacerbated by her mother's deep-seated bitterness towards him.
