Dana Eden, the 52-year-old co-creator of the hit Israeli spy thriller Tehran, has been found dead in a hotel room in Athens, where the fourth season of the series was being filmed. Greek police reported that her brother discovered her late on Sunday, and they have attributed her death to suicide.
Donna and Shula Productions, the international production company founded by Eden, expressed their sorrow, calling it 'a moment of great sorrow for the family, friends, and colleagues.' The company also refuted rumours of a possible link to Iran, stating that 'a criminal or nationalistic-related death' had been ruled out and that such claims 'are not true and are unfounded.'
A postmortem is being carried out automatically, and Greek police have launched an official inquiry, taking testimony from hotel staff and reviewing security camera footage. Police spokesperson Constantina Dimoglidou appeared to rule out foul play, noting that Eden's brother had mentioned she was on medication for a condition that had previously hospitalised her.
Eden, an award-winning TV executive who won an Emmy for producing Tehran, had been in Athens since 4 February working on the latest season. Israel's public broadcaster, KAN, paid tribute, saying: 'We are saddened by the passing of our friend and partner... Dana was among the senior figures in the Israeli television industry.'
Tehran, starring Niv Sultan as a Mossad agent, has been praised for its realistic portrayal of espionage and criticised by the Iranian regime as Zionist propaganda. The series, which features Glenn Close in its second season, has been filmed in Athens since its inception, chosen for its resemblance to Tehran.
KAN added that Eden's 'professional and personal legacy will continue to shape Israeli television for many years to come.'
