TVOvermind: 10 things you didn't know about Diana Maria Riva
The distinguished CCM alumna has been a regular presence in film and television for nearly 25 years
Distinguished CCM alumna Diana Maria Riva (BFA, ’91; MFA, ’95) was recently profiled by TVOvermind.com, a website dedicated to television news, celebrity interviews and more.
The first-ever recipient of CCM Acting’s “Julia Winter Cohen Career Excellence Award,” Riva has been a regular on series television since 1996. Known for her comic timing and characterizations, her TV credits include “Man with a Plan,” “The Good Guys,” “The West Wing,” “CSI,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “The X-Files," "Castle,” “Ghost Whisperer,” “Reba,” “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch,” “Philly,” “The Drew Carey Show,” “Party of Five,” “Murder One,” “Common Law” and “NYPD Blue,” among many, many others. Learn more about Riva’s TV credits
Reflecting on the benefit of her training at CCM, Riva once commented, “There is simply an overabundance of competition in this business. I am convinced that CCM Acting … prepares an actor with a strong, multi-leveled, balanced, professional foundation, giving a CCM Acting student the advantage in pursuing an acting career with elite skill and a competitive edge.”
In addition to providing an overview of her impressive career, TVOvermind.com highlighted Riva’s hometown roots in Cincinnati and her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Related Stories
German TV highlights UC expert's ancient Maya discoveries
March 2, 2026
The German television show 'Unsolved Case' talks to a University of Cincinnati expert about ballcourts used by the ancient Maya for a program examining how people used spheres as both tools and toys.
UC studies supplement, therapy alternatives to treat depression
March 2, 2026
Media outlets including Cleveland.com and Cleveland's WKYC News highlighted a new University of Cincinnati clinical trial funded by an approximately $3.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health to test two new nonpharmacological treatments for teens and young adults with depression.
Cincinnati a top destination for street art, museums
February 27, 2026
Discover why Cincinnati is a top destination for street art and museums, ranked among USA Today’s 10Best for 2026. Explore how University of Cincinnati research shows public art boosts community vitality, and find the best things to do near UC’s campus for students and visitors alike.