The Israeli co-creator of an Apple TV spy series about Iran’s nuclear programme was found dead in her hotel room in Greece ahead of filming the newest season.
Greek police said Dana Eden, 52, was discovered by her brother late on February 15 in the hotel she had been staying in for two weeks after she did not answer her phone for several hours. Filming was set to restart in a few weeks.
Early reports in Israeli media said local forces were investigating a possible link to Iran, but police have since attributed her death to suicide. According to a Greek police spokeswoman, Constantina Dimoglidou, evidence found in Eden’s hotel room appeared to rule out foul play.
The Athens hotel where Eden was found
AGGELOS NAKKAS/AFP
The production company also dismissed rumours of any criminal or nationalistic motivation in an unusual statement released on February 16, which said such reports were incorrect and unfounded.
“We call on the media and the public to refrain from publishing and conjecturing that is not verified, and to act responsibly and sensitively,” the company, called Donna and Shula, said in a statement and asked to protect Eden’s dignity at a moment of “great pain for the family”.
The Israeli foreign ministry said its embassy in Athens was “handling the tragic event in Greece” and was in contact with the family.
Eden was the visionary behind several critically acclaimed Israeli shows, but was best known for Emmy award-winning series Tehran, which was released on Kan, Israel’s public broadcaster, before being sold to Apple TV in 2020. The show follows an Iranian-born, Israeli-raised spy sent to Tehran on an undercover mission to co-ordinate an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear programme.
Dana Eden, centre, at the 2021 Emmy awards
EVAN AGOSTINI/AP
The series took on a new meaning after the US struck Iran’s nuclear facilities in June, before imposing a ceasefire after 12 days. After Iran’s deadly crackdown on protesters in January, the US has built up its naval presence in the region. The two countries are expected to hold their second round of talks to stave off military confrontation on February 17 in Geneva.
• Iran-US nuclear talks begin after Tehran launches war games
“We mourn the passing of our colleague and partner in a long series of productions, series, and programs at the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation,” Kan said in a statement.
A spokeswoman for Apple TV said in an email that the company was “deeply saddened” by Eden’s death.
“Dana’s vision, dedication and leadership were instrumental in shaping Tehran into the globally acclaimed series it is today,” the company said.