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Susan Sullivan

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Susan Sullivan
Sullivan in March 2010
Born1942 (age 81–82)
Alma materHofstra University
OccupationActress
Years active1964–present
PartnerConnell Cowan

Susan Sullivan (born 1942)[1][2] is an American actress known for her roles as Lenore Curtin Delaney on the NBC daytime soap opera Another World (1971–76), as Lois Adams on the ABC sitcom It's a Living (1980–81),[3] as Maggie Gioberti Channing on the CBS primetime soap opera Falcon Crest (1981–90), as Kitty Montgomery on the ABC sitcom Dharma & Greg (1997–2002), and as Martha Rodgers on Castle (2009–2016). She earned an Emmy nomination for Lead Actress for the role of Julie Farr in the 1978 series Julie Farr, M.D. and a Golden Globe nomination for Supporting Actress for her role in Dharma & Greg.

Life and career

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Sullivan was born in New York City, the daughter of Helen (née Rockett) and Brendan Sullivan, an advertising executive.[citation needed] She was raised on Long Island in Freeport, Nassau County,[4][better source needed] where she graduated from Freeport High School in 1960.[citation needed] She earned a BA in drama from Hofstra University in 1964.[5]

She got her start in acting in the 1960s playing opposite Dustin Hoffman in the Broadway play Jimmy Shine.[4][better source needed] She landed a contract with Universal Studios in 1969, guest-starring on several series. It was during this time that she played roles in daytime dramas.[citation needed]

Sullivan in Rich Man, Poor Man, Book II (1976)

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 from Judith Barcroft, Sullivan played the role from 1971 to 1976. She played Charlton Heston's girlfriend Ann, a new character written into the television version of the film Midway (1976). She then played Dr. Elaina Marks opposite Bill Bixby in the Incredible Hulk pilot in 1977 and portrayed Poker Alice opposite James Garner as Bret Maverick on The New Maverick the following year. Sullivan also appeared in Barnaby Jones; episode titled “Final Judgement”(01/26/1978).

She played the role of Maggie Porter in the television drama Rich Man, Poor Man Book II.[6][better source needed] She played Dr. Julie Farr in Having Babies from 1978 to 1979, and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series,[7] which was made into two television films and later a short-lived weekly series in 1978. During a week in February 1978, she was a panelist on Match Game, both on CBS and in syndication. In 1980, she appeared on the sitcom It's a Living, playing head waitress Lois Adams.[citation needed]

In 1981, Sullivan won the role of Maggie Gioberti in the CBS primetime soap drama Falcon Crest, replacing Samantha Eggar, who had appeared in the pilot. The series became a 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. At the time Sullivan decided to leave the series in 1989, she had appeared in every episode of the series up to that date (207 of the 227 episodes produced). Sullivan appeared in the first episode of season nine, when her character drowned.[citation needed]

Following Falcon Crest, Sullivan appeared on The George Carlin Show, co-starred on the short-lived political drama The Monroes in the mid-1990s, and played a supporting role in the film My Best Friend's Wedding (as the mother of Cameron Diaz's character) (1997).[8] On Dharma & Greg, she played the snooty country-club matriarch Kitty Montgomery from 1997 to 2002. The series reunited Sullivan with actor Mitchell Ryan (who played her husband Edward), with whom she had worked on Having Babies. She appeared in four episodes in season three of Hope and Faith as Nancy Lombard, Faith's therapist. Sullivan voiced Queen Hippolyta on the animated series Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. She has also appeared on the television series Brothers & Sisters,[9] Joan of Arcadia, Two and a Half Men, Dead Like Me, The Kominsky Method, and Last Man Standing.

From 2009 to 2016, Sullivan co-starred alongside Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic and Molly Quinn on Castle. Her character Martha Rodgers' acting career has somewhat paralleled her own, including references to appearances on soap operas.

Personal life

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In 2023, Sullivan was diagnosed with lung cancer, and underwent surgery to have it removed.[10]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1967 The Winter's Tale Perdita Television film
1968 Macbeth Third Witch Television film
1970 The Best of Everything April Morrison Series regular
1970–1971 A World Apart Nancy Condon Series regular (324 episodes)
1971–1976 Another World Lenore Moore Curtin Delaney Series regular (221 episodes)
1972 Between Time and Timbuktu Nancy Television film
1975 Medical Center Joanna Courtney Episode: "No Hiding Place"
S.W.A.T. Julia Episode: "The Vendetta"
McMillan & Wife Maggie Arnaud Episode: "Requiem for a Bride"
Petrocelli Janet Wilson Episode: "Too Many Alibis"
1976 Barnaby Jones Ruth Sorrell Episode: "Deadline for Dying"
Bert D'Angelo/Superstar Sharon Andress Episode: "Scag"
Bell, Book and Candle Rosemary Television film
1976–1977 Kojak Carol Krug
Kelly McCall
Episode: When you Hear the Beep, Drop Dead
Episode: Both Sides of the Law
Rich Man, Poor Man Book II Maggie Porter Series regular (20 episodes)
1977 The City Carol Carter Television film
The Incredible Hulk Dr. Elaina Marks Television pilot
Roger & Harry: The Mitera Target Cindy St. Claire Television film
The Magnificent Magical Magnet of Santa Mesa C.B. Macauley Television film
Having Babies II Dr. Julie Farr Television film
1978 Julie Farr, M.D. Dr. Julie Farr Series regular (7 episodes)
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Deadman's Curve Rainbow Television film
Having Babies III Dr. Julie Farr Television film
The Comedy Company Linda Greg Television film
Killer's Delight Dr. Carol Thompson
The New Maverick 'Poker' Alice Ivers Television film
1979 Breaking Up Is Hard to Do Diane Sealey Television film
The Love Boat Dr. Emily Bradford Episode: "Doc, Be Patient"
1980 Taxi Nora Chandliss Episode: "What Price Bobby?"
Marriage Is Alive and Well Sara Fish Television film
The Ordeal of Dr. Mudd Frances Mudd Television film
City in Fear Madeleine Crawford Television film
1980–1981 It's a Living Lois Adams Series regular (13 episodes)
1981 Fantasy Island Dorothy Nicholson Episode: "Perfect Husband, The/Volcano"
1981–1989 Falcon Crest Maggie Gioberti Channing Series regular (207 episodes)
Nominated - Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role: Prime Time (1988–89)
1983 Cave-In! Senator Kate Lassiter Television film
1986 Rage of Angels: The Story Continues Mary Beth Warner Television film
1990 Doctor Doctor Laura Stratford Episode: "Family Affair"
1991 Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter Twyla Cooper Television film
1994 A Perfect Stranger Kaye Television film
1994–1995 The George Carlin Show Kathleen Rachowski Recurring role (7 episodes)
1995 The Monroes Kathryn Monroe Series regular (8 episodes)
1997 My Best Friend's Wedding Isabelle Wallace
Two Came Back Patricia Clarkson Television film
1997–2002 Dharma & Greg Kitty Montgomery Series regular (119 episodes)
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (1999)
Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (1998, 2000)
2001 Puzzled Anabel Norton
2001–2002 Justice League Hippolyta Voice, 5 episodes[11]
2003 Dead Like Me Mary Kate Hourihan Episode: "Business Unfinished"
I'm with Her Rosalyn Episode: "Meet the Parent"
2004 Joan of Arcadia Rich Woman God Episode: "The Gift"
2005 Judging Amy Patricia Millhouse 2 episodes
Justice League Unlimited Hippolyta Voice, episode: "The Balance"[11]
2005–2006 Hope & Faith Nancy Lombard Recurring role (4 episodes)
2006 Two and a Half Men Dorothy Episode: "Walnuts and Demerol"
2006–2007 The Nine Nancy Hale Recurring role (7 episodes)
2007 Brothers & Sisters Miranda Jones Episode: "Game Night"
2009–2016 Castle Martha Rodgers Series regular (173 episodes)
2017 The Real O'Neals Victoria Murray Episode: "The Real Secrets"
2017–2020 Big Hero 6: The Series Fred's Mom (Mrs. Frederickson) Voice, 4 episodes[11]
2018 The Amaranth Patsy Howard
2018–2019 The Kominsky Method Eileen Recurring role (8 episodes)
2018–2020 Last Man Standing Bonnie Recurring role (5 episodes)
2021–2023 Smartphone Theatre Bevi 2 episodes
2022 The Drop Lex's Mom
Diary of a Spy S
The Grotto Lila Kendall

References

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  1. ^ "'Castle' star Susan Sullivan gives health update after lung cancer surgery". EW.com. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  2. ^ "Falcon Crest Star Susan Sullivan on Lung Cancer Surgery and 'Painful' Recovery: 'I Didn't Want to Give Up' (Exclusive)". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  3. ^ "The New York Times". Archived from the original on 2012-07-15. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  4. ^ a b "Susan Sullivan". Movies.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-20. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
  5. ^ "NO SMALL FEAT BRINGING LIFE TO BROADWAY'S LITTLE WOMEN". Hofstra University. April 14, 2005. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  6. ^ "Susan Sullivan - Biography - MSN Movies". Movies.msn.com. 1942-11-18. Archived from the original on 2009-12-24. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
  7. ^ "Susan Sullivan profile". Emmys.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
  8. ^ "Susan Sullivan biography". Tvguide.com. Archived from the original on 2013-06-03. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
  9. ^ "Brothers & Sisters Shows Some Dharma Initiative - Today's News: Our Take". TVGuide.com. 2007-03-14. Archived from the original on 2011-11-06. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
  10. ^ Ausiello, Michael (October 18, 2023). "Castle Vet Susan Sullivan Reveals Cancer Battle". TVLine. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  11. ^ a b c "Susan Sullivan (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
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