Israeli co-creator of Tehran dies during filming in Greece – The Jerusalem Post

Lead

Israeli producer Dana Eden, 52, a co-creator and producer of the Emmy-winning series Tehran, was found dead in an Athens hotel room on Monday, February 16, 2026. Eden was in Greece with her production company for the shoot of the show’s fourth season. Greek media and local authorities said bruises and pills were reported at the scene, and investigators are exploring the possibility of suicide. The production company and Israeli officials stressed there is no verified link to nationalist or criminal motives and that family assistance is underway.

Key Takeaways

• Dana Eden, 52, was discovered dead in an Athens hotel room on February 16, 2026; she had been staying there since February 4, according to Greek reports.
• Greek outlets reported bruising on Eden’s neck and limbs and pills in the room; authorities are investigating a possible suicide.
• Donna and Shula Productions, co-founded by Eden and Shula Spiegel in 2007, said rumours of nationalist or criminal involvement are unfounded.
• The Israeli embassy in Athens confirmed contact with Eden’s family and said it is offering consular assistance.
• Eden was a senior figure in Israeli television and a producer of Tehran, which won the International Emmy for Best Drama in 2021 and is distributed internationally on Apple TV+.
• Tehran has filmed in Athens since its first season because filming in Iran was not feasible; season three was released in Israel in late 2024 and reached Apple TV+ audiences only recently after a reported delay.
• Eden remained active on social media in the week before her death and was on location in Greece for season four production.

Background

Dana Eden began her television career producing a 1998 pilot and rose to become one of Israel’s prominent female producers. In 2007 she and producer Shula Spiegel founded Donna and Shula Productions, which produced Tehran and other series credited with raising Israel’s international television profile. Tehran follows a Mossad agent — played by Niv Sultan — and has drawn both international acclaim and criticism for its depiction of Iranian politics and society.

The series won an International Emmy for Best Drama in 2021 and has featured international stars across seasons, including Glenn Close in season two and Hugh Laurie in season three. Because shooting in Iran was never an option, producers have used Athens as a recurring stand-in city since the show’s launch. The program streams domestically on KAN 11 and internationally on Apple TV+.

Main Event

Greek media outlets reported that Eden’s brother found her body at the Athens hotel where she had been staying since February 4. Local coverage noted bruises on her neck and limbs and pills discovered in the room; police opened an inquiry and said they were considering suicide as a possible cause. Greek authorities have not yet released a final determination, and local investigators continue to process the scene and interview witnesses.

Donna and Shula Productions issued a public statement saying the company is “shocked and saddened” by Eden’s passing and that she was an internationally known creator with over thirty years in the industry. The statement also said rumours alleging nationalist or criminal motives for her death are unfounded, and the company asked for privacy while family and colleagues grieve.

The Israeli embassy in Athens confirmed it is in contact with Eden’s family to offer assistance related to consular and administrative needs. KAN, a broadcaster that collaborated with Eden on several projects, released a message acknowledging her central role in Israeli television and expressing condolences to her family and colleagues.

Analysis & Implications

Eden’s death arrives amid international attention on Tehran, a series that has become a cultural touchstone for debates about Israeli intelligence, regional tensions, and fiction’s role in public understanding of security issues. The series’ international distribution via Apple TV+ magnified Eden’s profile and made her work part of wider discussions about representation and geopolitics. Her passing will likely affect production timelines for the fourth season while the company addresses both creative continuity and the logistics of a grieving workplace.

From a production standpoint, losing a founding producer mid-shoot raises immediate challenges: contractual obligations, leadership succession, and potential delays. Donna and Shula Productions will need to name interim production leadership and reassure partners and distributors, including Apple TV+ and domestic broadcasters, about schedule and quality control. The project’s high visibility means stakeholders will be attentive to how the company manages the transition.

Politically, Tehran has provoked official criticism in Iran and been labeled propaganda by some government-linked outlets. Eden’s death has, therefore, prompted careful statements from the production and Israeli institutions stressing no evidence of politically motivated foul play. That measured public posture seeks to avoid inflaming regional tensions or inviting speculation while investigations continue.

Comparison & Data

The table highlights the series’ production pattern and recent distribution timing: season three’s delayed international streaming coincided with the broader regional tensions referenced in press coverage. That release cadence influenced public attention to the show and to its creators.

Reactions & Quotes

Donna and Shula Productions released an immediate statement recognizing Eden’s long career and contributions to Tehran and other works. The company emphasized grief and requested privacy for the family.

“We are shocked and saddened by the untimely passing of our beloved friend and partner, Dana Eden.”

Donna and Shula Productions (production company)

KAN, which worked with Eden on multiple projects, issued condolences and noted her central role within Israeli television. The Israeli embassy in Athens said it is assisting the family and monitoring the investigation.

“We are saddened by the passing of our friend and partner in a long line of productions.”

KAN (Israeli public broadcaster)

In a 2025 interview Eden reflected on the overlap between current events and the show’s subject matter, noting Tehran’s thematic relevance to real-world developments concerning Iran and nuclear issues.

“For the past two years, I’ve been living in this overlap between reality and the show… Season three is extremely relevant.”

Dana Eden (past interview with Ynet)

Unconfirmed

• Reports that bruises on Eden’s neck and limbs indicate a struggle remain unverified pending police forensic findings.
• Media accounts that pills found in the room point definitively to suicide have not been confirmed by public authorities.
• Any suggestion of nationalist or criminally motivated involvement has been denied by the production company and has not been substantiated by investigators.

Bottom Line

Dana Eden’s death is a significant loss for Israeli television and for the international creative community behind Tehran. The immediate priority for family, colleagues and investigators is to establish the facts surrounding her death while respecting privacy and due process. Production partners will now face decisions about leadership, schedule and how to honor Eden’s role in the show’s future.

For audiences and stakeholders, the unfolding investigation and the production company’s response will shape both how the fourth season proceeds and how the industry navigates grief in a high-profile project. Observers should expect updates as Greek authorities complete forensic work and as the production issues formal statements about next steps.

Sources

• The Jerusalem Post — (Israeli news outlet; original report of Eden’s death)
• Ta Nea — (Greek media outlet; local reporting cited by multiple outlets)
• Documento — (Greek media outlet; local reporting)
• Proto Thema — (Greek media outlet; local reporting)
• Walla — (Israeli news site; quoted Donna and Shula Productions)
• KAN — (Israeli public broadcaster; issued statement)
• Ynet — (Israeli news site; past interview with Eden)