She’s known to fans of soap operas, sitcoms, cop shows, and films alike. And actress Susan Sullivan has never wanted for work – a feat worthy of celebration. Equally worth noting is that this beloved entertainer is poised to celebrate a very special milestone.
Happy Birthday, Susan Sullivan!
And that’s because she was born on November 18, 1942, in New York City, New York, which means that this talented performer is turning 78 years old today! Sullivan’s work in the Broadway play Jimmy Shine, opposite Dustin Hoffman, led to small roles in the 1964 film Revolt of the Barbarians, an episode of Dark Shadows, and made-for-TV movies such as The Winters Tale (1967) and Macbeth (1968).
In 1969, Sullivan signed a contract with Universal Studios. Though there were plans for her to become the next big movie star, Sullivan instead became well known for her work in daytime soap operas. She initially succeeded actress Julie Mannix in the role of April Morrison on NBC’s The Best of Everything, before gaining acclaim for her starring turn in A World Apart.
Between 1971 and 1976, Sullivan appeared on Another World as Lenore Moore Curtin Delaney – a role she inherited from Judith Bancroft. Subsequently, Sullivan could be seen in episodes of City of Angels (1976), Bert D’Angelo/Superstar (1976), Kojack (1976, 1977), and Dog and Cat (1977).
Begining in 1977, Sullivan took on the role of gynecologist Julie Farr. First, she played her in the made-for-TV movies Having Babies II and Having Babies III (1978). Then, she continued the role in the same-titled TV series, which aired for eight episodes between 1978 and 1979 and earned her a Primetime Emmy nomination for lead actress in a drama.
In 1980, Sullivan joined the cast of the ensemble sitcom It’s a Living with Ann Jillian, and one year later, she joined the inaugural cast of the CBS serial Falcon Crest. For the next eight years, Sullivan played the oft-put-upon Maggie Gioberti. When Sullivan chose to leave the series, the producers showed her beloved character drown in a swimming pool when her huge diamond ring got caught in a filter, horrifying devoted fans.
In 1997, film fans were thrilled to see the actress pop up on the big screen in the Julia Roberts-vehicle My Best Friend’s Wedding, playing the mother of the bride, Roberts’ rival, played by Cameron Diaz.
Sullivan continued to act on television in the 1990s, and she found a new generation of fans who thrilled at her portrayal of snooty matriarch Kitty Montgomery in the sitcom Dharma & Greg (1997-2002).
Likewise, Sullivan enjoyed immense popularity as a cast member of the ABC procedural series Castle (2009-2016) with Nathan Fillion. In that series, she starred as a former actress, of questionable talent, whose resume parodied Sullivan’s own including stints on soap operas and an episode of The Incredible Hulk – which allowed for the producers the opportunity to incorporate clips of Sullivan’s previous work into episodes of Castle.
She has continued to work steadily with recurring roles on The Kominsky Method, a voice role on Big Hero 6: The Series, and Last Man Standing. In 2021, she will appear in the film Marzipan with Madeline Zima (The Nanny) and Jon Lindstrom (Ryan/Kevin, General Hospital).
Entertainment Hub would like to wish Susan Sullivan a very happy birthday, and you can too by clicking on the Twitter link below.
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