Diane Gaidry was an American actress, filmmaker, and life coach who starred in several films and theatre productions. She is best known for her role as Simone Bradley in the 2006 film Loving Annabelle, for which she won the Outstanding Actress award at the L.A. Outfest. She also co-founded and served as the executive director of the Filmmakers Alliance, a nonprofit independent filmmaking collective based in Los Angeles. Gaidry died on January 30, 2019, due to liver failure after a battle with cancer. Here is a brief overview of her life and career, as well as the details of her tragic death.
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Early Life and Education
Gaidry was born on October 11, 1964, on Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, South Dakota, the daughter of Barbara (née Cunningham) and Thomas Gaidry, and sister of Brian Gaidry. She moved to Snyder, New York, in her youth and attended Amherst Junior and Senior high schools before graduating from the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts in 1982. She earned a bachelor’s degree in acting from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts and a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Santa Monica.
Acting Career
Gaidry began her acting career in 1989, when she appeared on the CBS series TV 101, becoming the first graduate of the arts high school to appear on a network television show. In 1993, she co-founded the Filmmakers Alliance with her then-husband Jacques Thelemaque, and performed lead roles in some of the feature-length films that came out of the collective, such as The Dogwalker (2002) and America So Beautiful (2001). She also acted in several short films, including Transaction (2005), which won the Grand Prix du Jury at Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in France.
Gaidry’s most notable role was that of Simone Bradley, a poetry teacher who has a relationship with a 17-year-old student named Annabelle (played by Erin Kelly) in a Catholic boarding school, in the 2006 film Loving Annabelle. The film was directed by Katherine Brooks and received mixed reviews from critics, but gained a cult following among LGBTQ audiences. Gaidry’s portrayal of Simone earned her critical acclaim and the Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Actress at L.A. Outfest.
Gaidry also did several guest appearances on television shows, such as Medium, CSI: NY, and Without a Trace. She also worked with maverick filmmaker Rob Nilsson on his feature Need (2005).
Theatre Work and Life Coaching
In later years, Gaidry moved back to Buffalo, where she grew up, and performed on stage with some of Buffalo’s local theatre companies. She appeared in many theatrical productions, mostly with cutting-edge Torn Space Theater, where she appeared in Storehouse, Motion Picture, Uncle Vanya, Blood on the Cat’s Neck, He Who Gets Slapped, Procession and Trace. At Subversive Theatre, she appeared in In the Beginning, and for the Irish Classical Theatre Co., she played Dona Lucia in Charley’s Aunt and Mary Tyrone in Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night.
Gaidry also ran her own life coaching business called Vérité, where she offered guidance and support to clients who wanted to achieve their personal and professional goals. She also wrote a blog where she shared her insights and experiences on various topics.
Cancer Diagnosis and Death
In January 2018, Gaidry was diagnosed with stage four cancer that had spread to her liver. She underwent chemotherapy and other treatments to fight the disease, but her condition worsened over time. She documented her journey with cancer on her blog and social media accounts, where she expressed gratitude for her life and loved ones. She also revealed that she had married her longtime partner Thomas Walker in December 2018.
Gaidry died on January 30, 2019, at her home in Buffalo. She was 54 years old. She is survived by her husband Thomas Walker; her parents Barbara Cunningham and Thomas Gaidry; her brother Brian Gaidry; her ex-husband Jacques Thelemaque; and many friends and fans.
Legacy and Tributes
Gaidry’s death was mourned by many people who knew her or admired her work. Her family and friends held a memorial service for her at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Buffalo on February 9, 2019. Her former co-star Erin Kelly wrote a heartfelt tribute to her on Instagram, calling her “a beautiful soul” who “taught me so much about life”. Katherine Brooks also posted a video tribute to Gaidry on YouTube, saying that she was “one of the most talented actresses I’ve ever worked with” and “a true friend”. The Filmmakers Alliance also honored Gaidry’s memory and contribution to the independent film community on their website and social media platforms.
Gaidry’s films and theatre performances remain as a testament to her talent and passion for the arts. She also left behind a legacy of inspiring and empowering others through her life coaching and writing. She will be remembered as a courageous and compassionate woman who lived her life with authenticity and grace.
