Dana Eden, the acclaimed producer and co-creator of the Apple TV spy thriller Tehran, has died during production of the show’s fourth season. She was 52.
Eden was found dead in an Athens hotel room on Sunday, confirms the New York Times. She was present in Greece to oversee filming of the show’s upcoming season and was discovered unresponsive in her room by her brother. Greek police told the outlet that authorities did not suspect foul play.
News of Eden’s death was additionally confirmed by Kan, Israel’s national public broadcaster, which announced, “We mourn the passing of our colleague and partner in a long series of productions, series, and programs at the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation.”
Apple TV also commented on Eden’s death in a statement to Entertainment Weekly.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Dana Eden, an extraordinary producer and creative partner whose passion for storytelling made a lasting impact on audiences around the world,” the company said in the statement. “Dana’s vision, dedication and leadership were instrumental in shaping Tehran into the globally acclaimed series it is today. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Dana’s family, friends and colleagues. She will be remembered not only for her remarkable contributions to television, but for the warmth, artistry and commitment she brought to every project and every collaboration.”
Eric Charbonneau/Getty
Following news of Eden’s death, some Israeli media outlets claimed that Greek police were investigating a possible link to Iran, suggesting that the producer was killed. This report was slammed by her production company, Donna and Shula Productions, on social media.
“Rumors about criminal death or about a national background are not true and are not grounded,” producer Shula Spiegel, who runs the company with Eden, said in a translated statement shared on Facebook. “We call on the media and the public to refrain from publishing unverified assumptions, and to behave responsibly and sensibly. It’s a moment of great pain for the family, friends, and colleagues. We ask to preserve Dana’s dignity and the privacy of her dears.”
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Eden was a driving force behind several Israeli-created television shows. She began her career in the ’90s, working on titles such as Yom Haem, Saving the Wildlife, and Magpie, before finding international success with Tehran. The spy thriller was picked up by Apple TV in June 2020 after originally being developed for Kan. The series follows Iranian-born and Israeli-raised spy Tamar Rabinyan, who is sent back into Iran on an undercover mission. In 2021, the show won an International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series.
While accepting the award, Eden told the crowd, “Tehran is not only an espionage series, it’s also about understanding the human behind your enemy. We’re doing it every day on our set.”
Adding that the show sees Israelis and Iranians working together onscreen and off, Eden continued, “We found out that we have a lot in common. I think it gives hope for the future.”