Donna Hanover

Donna Hanover is an American journalist, television producer, and actress who has worked in local news and New York broadcasting. Born in Oakland, California, she earned a political science degree from Stanford University and a master's in journalism from Columbia University. Her early television career took her to stations in Utica, Columbus, Pittsburgh, and Miami. She joined WPIX in 1983 and spent much of the late 1980s as lead anchor of its 7:30 pm weeknight newscast. She later worked for WNYW's Good Day New York. She moved into acting, playing Ruth Carter Stapleton in The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996), a performance critic Frank Rich called brilliant, and appearing in Superstar (1999), Someone Like You (2001), and Interview (2007). On television she had a recurring role as Judge Deborah Bourke on Law & Order and appeared on The Practice, Sex and the City, and Ally McBeal. She hosted Famous Homes & Hideaways and later became a correspondent for CUNY TV.