Emmy-Nominated Screenwriter Anna Sandor, Creator of ‘Hangin’ In,’ Dies at 76

Screenwriter and playwright Anna Sandor has died. She was 76 years old.

She passed away on November 1 in La Jolla, California. Her death resulted from complications of melanoma.

A Pioneering Voice in Canadian Television

Anna Sandor was a co-creator of the notable CBC series Hangin’ In. The show aired for seven successful seasons from 1981 to 1987.

It was a rare television program created by a woman at that time. The series starred Lally Cadeau as a social worker helping teens.

It also featured one of the first onscreen credits for actor Keanu Reeves. This early work cemented her place in Canadian television history.

Her first major film script was the 1984 CBC telefilm Charlie Grant’s War. She conducted extensive research for this true story about saving Jews from the Nazis.

The film was critically acclaimed. It earned Sandor an ACTRA award for her powerful writing.

Hollywood Recognition and Lasting Legacy

Sandor earned her greatest acclaim for the 1992 NBC film Miss Rose White. The movie starred Kyra Sedgwick and Amanda Plummer.

It told the story of two sisters confronting their Holocaust past. The film won the Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie.

Sandor received an Emmy nomination for her writing. She also won a Humanitas Prize for the script.

Her personal history deeply influenced her work. Sandor was born in Budapest to Holocaust survivors.

She and her mother fled Hungary during the 1956 revolution. They eventually emigrated to Toronto, Canada.

She once told the Los Angeles Times she lived with the specter of her parents’ experiences. This informed the authenticity of her later historical dramas.

Later in her career, she returned to acting in community theater. She also continued writing plays locally in San Diego.

Anna Sandor is survived by her daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters. Her work remains a testament to storytelling rooted in resilience and human connection.

Thought you’d like to know

What was Anna Sandor’s most famous work?

She is best known for writing the Emmy-winning NBC telefilm Miss Rose White. She also co-created the long-running CBC series Hangin’ In.

Did Anna Sandor win any major awards?

Yes, she won a Humanitas Prize for Miss Rose White. She also earned an ACTRA award for Charlie Grant’s War and received an Emmy nomination.

What was unique about ‘Hangin’ In’?

It was a rare TV series in the early 1980s created by a woman. The show ran for seven seasons and featured an early role for Keanu Reeves.

How did her personal life influence her writing?

As the child of Holocaust survivors and a refugee herself, themes of identity and survival permeated her work. This brought deep authenticity to projects like Miss Rose White.

What did she do later in her career?

After a successful TV movie career, she returned to acting in San Diego community theater. She also wrote plays, including Knock Loudly! which debuted in 2024.