Susan Lucci Biography
Susan Victoria Lucci (born December 23, 1946) is a Daytime Emmy Award-winning American actress. Lucci has been called "Daytime's Leading Lady" by TV Guide, with New York Times and Los Angeles Times citing her as the highest-paid actor in daytime television. Her salary is reportedly over $1 million a year
Early life
Susan Lucci was born to Jeanette and Victor Lucci. She attended Garden City High School in Garden City, New York, graduating in 1964. She then attended Marymount College at Fordham University, and graduated from Marymount in 1968.
Daytime television
Lucci is best known for playing the larger-than-life diva Erica Kane on the ABC television soap opera All My Children, on which she has appeared since the show's inception on January 5, 1970. She and Ray MacDonnell, who plays her former father-in-law, Dr. Joe Martin, are the show's only original stars left on the show today. Lucci's long tenure on the show has made her an iconic presence on daytime; she is closely identified with both the role of Erica and with daytime television itself.
Lucci was nominated for the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Emmy for her work on All My Children almost every year since 1978. When Lucci didn't win the award after several consecutive nominations, her image in the media began to be lampooned, as she became notoriously synonymous with never winning an Emmy. NBC's Saturday Night Live exploited this by asking her to host an episode (unusual for a daytime serial actor), where her monologue parodied the cast, crew, and even stagehands carrying Emmys of their own in her presence. In addition, she appeared in a 1989 television commercial for the sugar substitute "Sweet One", intended to portray her as the opposite of her villainess character, yet throwing one of Erica Kane's characteristic tantrums, shouting "11 years without an Emmy! What does a person have to do around here to get an Emmy?"
After 18 failed nominations in a row, it came as a shock to both her and the viewing audience when she finally won in 1999.When presenter Shemar Moore announced Lucci's name, the audience erupted in a standing ovation, lasting several minutes. As the sobbing actress took to the stage, cameras caught All My Children co-stars Kelly Ripa and Marcy Walker weeping openly, along with long-time supporter, actress and television host Rosie O'Donnell. Actor Ingo Rademacher was seen bowing in the aisles and talk show host Oprah Winfrey rushing the stage cheering from the wings. Lucci's win and subsequent teary-eyed speech made headline news on television and in print for several weeks thereafter.
Primetime television and film
Lucci has appeared in a number of television shows and television films. In 1990, she began a series of guest spots on the popular nighttime soap opera Dallas. She hosted NBC's Saturday Night Live in October of that year; in one skit, she appeared as Erica Kane competing on a game show.
In 1995, Lucci appeared in the Lifetime television film Ebbie. This film was an updated version of the Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. Lucci played a Scrooge-like department store owner visited by Marley and the three ghosts on Christmas. Critics praised her performance, and the film has become a holiday favorite.
Dancing with the Stars
Lucci is scheduled to compete in Season 7 of Dancing with the Stars, airing in fall 2008; her dance partner will be Tony Dovolani. Lucci said that Dancing had asked her to appear before, but she had turned it down in part because of the travel it would require (Dancing tapes in Los Angeles, while All My Children tapes in New York). She changed her mind, though, in part because of the experience of fellow All My Children star Cameron Mathison, who finished fifth in season 5
Info-mercials
In 2008, Lucci appeared as a spokesperson for Malibu Pillates excercise equipment. The informercial aired on September 20th, 2008, on the ABC network, at 2:00pm. The special was placed in a time slot between the Dean Martin DVD Collection Infomercial, and the Texas A&M University vs. University of Miami collegiate football game, that aired at 2:30pm. While Susan claims she is a user of the Mailbu Pillates machine, it's highly speculated that she was a paid spokesperson/actress. All My Children co-star Cameron Matheison was also featured in the infomercial.
Lucci is also a spokeswoman for "Youthful Essence," a home microdermabrasion system. Recent infomercials have featured past and present AMC costars: Eva LaRue, Walt Willey, Eden Riegel, Alicia Minshew, and Rebecca Budig. Actress Emily Proctor (CSI: Miami) is also featured.
In addition, Lucci has a line of clothing and jewelry that is featured on HSN.
Other credits and achievements
Lucci starred in the Broadway revival of Annie Get Your Gun in 1999 to 2000, taking over from Bernadette Peters.
In 1991, she launched the Susan Lucci Collection of hair care products. Her career as a businesswoman continues, with many lucrative skin care, fashion, jewelry and makeup lines selling on HSN.
For much of the 1980s and into the 1990s, Lucci did many commercials for the local Ford dealers in the New York City area.
In early 2005, Lucci earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Personal life
Lucci's father, Victor, was a first-generation American. Phyllis Diller, contrary to various internet rumors, is not her mother.Lucci has been married since September 13, 1969 to Austrian businessman Helmut Huber. They are the parents of soap opera actress Liza Huber (who plays Gwen Hotchkiss on the daytime serial Passions) and Andreas Huber (who did not follow his mother and sister into an acting career). She became a grandmother when her daughter, Liza, gave birth on December 23, 2006 — Lucci's 60th birthday. The baby was named Royce Alexander. Her daughter Liza is currently expecting Lucci's second grandchild.
Awards
Won
* Daytime Emmy Awards: 1999, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for All My Children
* Gracie Allen Awards: (2005) Outstanding Female Lead in a Daytime Drama for All My Children
* Women in Film Lucy Awards: (1994) Lucy Award
* Soap Opera Digest Awards
o (2003) Soapnet Diamond Award - For Glittering Excellence in Daytime Television
o (1993) Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Lead Actress for All My Children
o (1988) Soap Opera Digest Award Editor's Choice
* People's Choice Awards: (1992) People’s Choice Award
* Crystal Apple Awards: (1994) Crystal Apple Award
* American Academy of AchievementAwards: (1991)
* Made in NY Awards: (2005) MINY
Other awards
* Soap Opera Digest Awards
o (2005) Soap Opera Digest Award Favorite Couple for All My Children
-Shared with Walt Willey
*
o (1992) Soap Opera Digest Award 'Best Love Story: Daytime or Prime Time
-Shared with Walt Willey
*
o (1989) Soap Opera Digest Award Favorite Super Couple: Daytime for All My Children
-Shared with Larkin Malloy
*
o (1986) Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Contribution by an Actor/Actress to the Form of Continuing Drama who is currently on a Daytime Serial for All My Children
TV/Guest roles
* All My Children (Erica Kane: 1970-Present)
* That's So Raven (Ms. Romano: 2005)
* Hope and Faith (Jacqueline Karr: 2004)
* Blood on Her Hands (Isabelle Collins: 1998)
* Seduced and Betrayed (Victoria Landers: 1995)
* Ebbie (Elizabeth 'Ebbie' Scrooge: 1995)
* French Silk (Claire Laurent: 1994)
* Between Love and Hate (Vivian Conrad: 1993)
* Double Edge (Maggie Dutton/Carmen Moore: 1992)
* The Woman Who Sinned (Victoria Robeson: 1991)
* Dallas (Hillary Taylor/Faux Sheila Foley: 1990-1991)
* The Bride in Black (Rose D'Amore-Malloy: 1990)
* Lady Mobster (Laurel Castle: 1988)
* Haunted by Her Past (aka Secret Passions) (Karen Beckett: 1987)
* Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna (Darya Romanoff: 1986)
* Mafia Princess (Antoinette Giancana: 1986)
* The Fall Guy (Veronica Remy: 1984)
* Invitation to Hell (Jessica Jones: 1984)
* Fantasy Island (Gina Edwards: 1983)
* The Love Boat (Paula: 1982)
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