Diane LaVey

Diane LaVey was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1942. After Diane's father died, her mother brought the family to San Francisco, and later remarried. Diane lived and went to school in Pacifica, California. The striking blonde beauty was spotted by Anton LaVey when the SeaVue theater manager took his employee, "usherette" Diane, to Mori's Point, a restaurant and roadhouse overlooking the Pacific Ocean. LaVey later left his first wife for Diane. They lived at the famous "Black House" and Diane became hostess for his early Magic Circle meetings, and was partner in creating the Church of Satan in 1966. During this time Diane knew many celebrities who were involved with the Church, such as Sammy Davis Jr., Jayne Mansfield, and Kenneth Anger, the grandfather of Indy filmmaking. She did most of the Church's administrative, press and member relations work. She appeared in many documentaries of Church rituals, and scenes of home life, and with their pet lion, Togare. She raised Anton LaVey's eldest daughter Karla, then their own daughter Zeena Schreck, born in 1963. As Church of Satan founding High Priest and High Priestess, Anton and Diane LaVey hit the front pages around the globe and network TV news with the first (public) Satanic wedding, and then with the first (public) Satanic baptism for 3 year old daughter Zeena. She was a close collaborator with Anton LaVey in formulating policy and in running the Church. Diane is the editor and silent co-writer of The Satanic Bible, The Satanic Rituals, The Compleat Witch (aka The Satanic Witch) and The Devil's Notebook. As a preschooler, then as an older child, grandson Stanton LaVey lived with her for many years. After leaving Anton LaVey in 1984, she resumed use of her birthname, Diane Hegarty, and went on to a career as a handwriting expert.