Susan Sullivan

Infobox actress


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name = Susan Sullivan
birthname = Susan Michaela Sullivan
birthdate = Birth date and age|1942|11|18
location = New York, New York, U.S.
deathdate =
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occupation = actress
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Susan Michaela Sullivan (born November 18, 1942 in New York, New York) is an American character actress. She is primarily known for her television work, in particular the roles of Maggie Gioberti on the popular 1980s soap opera, "Falcon Crest" (which she played from 1981 to 1989), and as Katherine "Kitty" Montgomery on the popular 1990s sitcom "Dharma & Greg". Sullivan has also acted in films and stage plays.

Early career

While putting herself through college at Hofstra University, she worked as a Playboy bunny Fact|date=July 2008. She got her start in acting in the 1960s, playing opposite Dustin Hoffman in the Broadway play "Jimmy Shine". She also landed a contract with Universal Studios in 1969, guest-starring on several shows. It was at this time, she played parts in daytime dramas. Starting with a role on "A World Apart" in 1970, she moved to a five year stint as Lenore Moore Curtin Delaney on the daytime soap opera "Another World". Taking over the role from Judith Barcroft, Sullivan played the role from 1971 to 1976, and it was this role that first established her as a household name. Sullivan was tapped to play Charlton Heston's girlfriend Ann, a major new character written into the TV version of the film "Midway" in 1976. She also played Dr. Elaina Marks opposite Bill Bixby in the Incredible Hulk TV Series pilot in 1977 and portrayed Poker Alice Ivers opposite James Garner as Bret Maverick in "The New Maverick" the following year.

An Emmy nomination for her role as Maggie Porter in the television drama "Rich Man, Poor Man Book II" brought her even more attention. She also played Dr. Julie Farr in "Having Babies", which was made into two television movies and later a short-lived weekly series.

In 1980, she appeared on the sitcom "It's a Living", playing head waitress, Lois Adams.

"Falcon Crest"

In 1981, Sullivan won the role of Maggie Gioberti in the CBS primetime soap drama "Falcon Crest". The series became a huge hit and Maggie became Sullivan's most prominent role to date. She appeared on the series from 1981 to 1989, during which time she was nominated for three Soap Opera Digest Awards. When Sullivan decided to leave the show in 1989, the writers of the series had her exit in dramatic fashion, with Maggie drowning at the bottom of the family pool, the result of her wedding ring being caught in the pool drain. Until her character was killed off at the beginning of the final season, Sullivan had appeared in every episode of the series (207 out of the 227 episodes produced).

"Dharma and Greg" and current career

Following Falcon Crest, Sullivan appeared on "The George Carlin Show" and co-starred on the short-lived political drama "The Monroes" in mid-1990s. However, it was not until a supporting role in the movie "My Best Friend's Wedding" (as the mother of Cameron Diaz's character) that ABC executives were interested in Sullivan for a part on a new sitcom, "Dharma and Greg". She played the snooty country-club matriarch, Kitty Montgomery, on the series from 1997 to 2002 and gained a new audience altogether. The series reunited Sullivan with actor Mitchell Ryan (who played her husband Edward), whom she had worked with on "Having Babies".

Sullivan also has a recurring voice artist role on "Justice League Unlimited" as Queen Hippolyta.

Personal life

Sullivan has never married or had children, but her partner for over fifteen years has been psychologist and author, Connell Cowan. She also previously dated, among others, screen icon Cary Grant Fact|date=July 2008.

Endorsements

From 1984 until 1996, she was the spokeswoman for Tylenol brand pain reliever. In 1998, she won the Jane Wyman award at the Arthritis Foundation where her former "Falcon Crest" co-star, Wyman, was a regular member Fact|date=July 2008.

Additional Information

Despite insistence from some fans of "Star Trek", she is not the same actress as Susan J. Sullivan, who briefly played a victim of a transporter accident in "" (1979).

External links

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