Anne Karen McDaniels, a Barron, Wis. native who worked 24 years as a model, actress and performer, died Friday, April 26, 2024, from complications of anorexia at her Hollywood Blvd. apartment in Los Angeles. She was 46.

She was born July 13, 1977, at St. Croix Falls Hospital to Michael and Paula McDaniels. She attended schools at Stanley, Eau Claire, and Barron, graduating from Barron High School in 1995. She studied business and French at the University of Minnesota, graduating in 2000.

Anne worked in sales for General Mills for about two years, during which she also served as a Minnesota Vikings cheerleader. She moved to New York City in 2003 to pursue her dream of becoming a professional dancer and actor. She lived in the Soho district for seven years, taking gigs as a performer at bar mitzvahs, modeling, and acting in theatre and commercial advertising opportunities.

Anne moved to Los Angeles in 2007, residing in Hollywood. She appeared in numerous movies and TV series including General Hospital, Law & Order, Conan and many more. She worked extensively, modeling everything from shoes and clothing to luxury automobiles. She frequently traveled across the U.S. and the Caribbean for photo shoots, productions, and corporate events. For the past four years, Anne produced and hosted an exercise and fitness podcast series she titled “SoCal Sweat.”

She was a member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and even co-owned a motorcycle rental business for a period.

Anne’s zeal for modeling, dance, and athleticism was formed early by her involvement in high school dance and music programs. She leveraged her work ethic, confidence, charismatic personality, and brilliant smile to find her niche in the competitive performance industry. Anne was fiercely independent to the end.

She is survived by her mother, Paula (née Dzubay), of Barron; father, Michael (Donna Windeatt), of Rockford, IL; one sister, Mary, of St. Paul; and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Nicholas and Shirley Dzubay, of Barron, and Laverne and Hazel McDaniels, of Janesville; aunts, Alexa (Dzubay) Geeza of Pleasant Prairie, WI and Vicky Huffman of Janesville; and uncles, Boris Geeza and Curt Coda, of Janesville.

Funeral services will begin at 11:00 am, on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Clayton, WI, with Fr. Christopher Wojcik officiating. There will be a visitation prior to the service, beginning at 9:30 am. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Anne’s cousins: Masha Hodi, Nick Geeza, Ella Anderson and husband Jacob, and Isaac Dzubay and wife Elisse.

Memorials are preferred to the following organizations: Barron Area Education Foundation (P.O. Box 271, 100 W. River Ave., Barron, WI 54812) and Holy Trinity Orthodox Church (523 First St., Clayton, WI, 54004).

Last Update: May 07, 2024 11:57 am CDT