About Susan Lucci
Susan Lucci is an American actress who has appeared in a large number of television projects, as well as film and stage productions--but she is clearly best remembered, and always will be, as bad-girl villainess Erica Kane on ALL MY CHILDREN. (Man, yet another "AMC" fooler. We've gotta get our own disambiguation page!)
What has been most notorious about her television reign is the sheer number of (daytime) Emmy nominations she stacked up without a win, something like 167! Ok, I exaggerate, but she was nominated 21 times and only squeaked out a win once, in 1999 after her lack of wins triggered public attention. She herself had some fun with the fact, lampooning her own character going into histrionics in a variety of ads and other public appearances. Let me just go out on a limb, here, "Erica", and state that you deserved at least three wins out of that batch. 'Sall I'm saying.
In any event, Susan Victoria Lucci is a U.S. actress, (if you want to consider soap acting that) TV host, author, and entrepreneur. While best-known as Erica Kane (1970-2011) on ABC's -ALL MY CHILDREN, she has in fact acted in a number of other projects and productions, including roles in film and onstage. She continues to act since the show's demise, and has been outspoken in criticizing ABC's decision to pull the plug (after 41 years!) in her memoir, ALL MY LIFE.
Born in Scarsdale, NY, on December 23rd, 1946 (which makes her now, yikes!, 76), Susan is almost universally considered an icon, and has been called "Daytime's Leading Lady" by TV GUIDE. The New York Times and the LA Times have both cited her as the highest-paid actress in daytime television--and, as mentioned, her failure to secure the Emmy became a point of general public hilarity. (I have always suspected that Susan Sarandon's soap-actress on FRIENDS was largely based on her.)
Re: the foregoing, I have just a few points to make. First, having been born in Scarsdale, NY, makes her more to be pitied than hated. Second, Christmases must have been rough, or at least her birthdays must have been. Third, that is REAALLY OLD, even by my standards! However, she has kept right on going, as mentioned, with a variety of other projects, before, during, and even after AMC. Just for instance, she has had numerous guest appearances in shows like THE LOVE BOAT, FANTASY ISLAND, and THE FALL GUY. (With a variety of film and stage roles, as well.)
Ms. Lucci also has her own beauty-care-regime line, the Susan Lucci Collection. (Kind of lacking in originality, no, Susan?) She began her star turn pretty shortly after graduating from Marymount College in Tarrytown (?!--I'll bet the wikipedia people just made that up!) with a BA in Drama in 1968. At first she had only a few uncredited film roles in the likes of GOODBYE, COLUMBUS--but by 1970 she was already on the ABC/AMC gravy train. Woot-woot! (And we could not be prouder, of course.)
In more recent years, Ms. Lucci has had to undergo emergency cardiac surgery with a couple of stents implanted, which I happen to know from first-hand experience can be both harrowing and frightening. I wish her only the best in her continued recovery, and I salute her courageous decision to share that part of her story with the rest of the world. I can't do much about those (X!&6^!@$) Emmy people, but that much I can do for you, Susan, and happily.
Come on over to my house anytime you get a bad girl part in a Mexican telenovela and you need a partner to rehearse with; I AM HERE FOR YOU. Meantime, thanks for all the laughs (and tears) and take care of you!
