Dana Eden, the producer and creator of the Israeli spy drama series “Tehran,” broadcast on Israeli state television Kan 11 and distributed worldwide by Apple TV, was found dead in an Athens hotel on Sunday. The woman had been staying at the Athens hotel since February 4 to oversee the filming of the show’s fourth season. The decision to film the spy thriller in Athens, instead of Tehran, was made by Eden, who had visited Greece during a family vacation and was struck by the similarities between the two cities.
According to reconstructions by Greek media, the first person to enter the hotel room where the 52-year-old woman was staying was her brother. Local police have ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death and have begun collecting security camera footage and testimony from hotel staff. Currently, the most likely lead is suicide. Pills were reportedly found in the room.
Reuters, based on information released by the police, confirms that investigators are treating the death as a suicide, but also reports that a coroner has found bruises on Eden’s neck. Some Israeli media have hypothesized that the producer may have been killed by Iranian agents, given that since its first broadcast in 2020, the series has been described by the Islamic Republic’s media as hostile propaganda. The production house of “Tehran” has meanwhile published a statement denying these rumors.
“We call on the media and the public not to publish unfounded theories and to act responsibly and sensitively,” the statement said, while broadcaster Kan paid tribute to a “prominent figure in the Israeli television industry,” whose professional and personal legacy “will continue to shape Israeli television for many years to come.” The spy series set in Tehran stars a Mossad agent of Iranian origin who grew up in Israel, played by actress Niv Sultan. The third and final season of “Tehran,” set to end in 2024, was postponed due to the war in the Middle East and was then broadcast starting in January on Apple TV.
The series won the award for best drama series at the 49th International Emmy Awards in 2021. Its cast includes Glenn Close in the second season and Hugh Laurie in the third. The mystery surrounding Eden’s death comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States, supported by Israel, are rising. US President Donald Trump has authorized the deployment of a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East Region just days ago.