Susan Flannery (born July 31, 1939) is an American soap opera actress. She is known for her role as Stephanie Forrester on The Bold and the Beautiful (1987–2012) and for her role as Dr. Laura Spencer Horton on Days of Our Lives (1966–1975).
Susan Flannery | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | July 31, 1939 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1963-2012 |
Personal life
Flannery was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and attended school in Manhattan.[3] She has a daughter, Blaise, who is currently attending Macquarie University in Australia. Flannery currently lives in Santa Barbara, California.
Career
Flannery is known for playing Dr. Laura Spencer Horton on Days of Our Lives from 1966 until 1975 where she met writer and daytime legend William J. Bell (who would later cast her in the daytime soap he would create called The Bold and the Beautiful in 1987). She acted in feature films including The Towering Inferno (1974) and The Gumball Rally (1976). She also acted in the primetime television series Dallas, playing Leslie Stewart during season four (1980–1981), and appeared opposite Kirk Douglas in The Moneychangers. She has also worked alongside Michael Jaffe as a producer.
Flannery since became best known worldwide for portraying Stephanie Douglas Forrester on the American soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful (1987-2012). She was one of four original cast members, two of whom still appear on the series, along with Katherine Kelly Lang, Ronn Moss, and John McCook. Flannery is also a regular director on the show, and has twice been nominated for a Directors Guild of America Award for her work. After 25 years, she decided to leave the show in 2012. In her final storyline, Stephanie Forrester lost her battle with lung cancer, and died.[4][5]
Flannery appeared in two episodes of ABC's situation comedy Hope & Faith in 2004, with other well-known actors from rival soaps.
Flannery also appeared as a special guest on Good News Week. She appeared in a special episode of Wheel of Fortune with Deidre Hall (Marlena, Days of Our Lives) and Peter Bergman (Jack, The Young and the Restless) in 2006. Flannery also directed the October 13, 2008, episode of Guiding Light.
Flannery came in at #1 in the Top 50 Soap Actresses of All Time poll on the internet blog We Love Soaps in 2010.
She has taken an active role in the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) in securing cable rights and foreign residuals for actors when their work appears in other mediums. Her efforts have had a positive impact on how The Bold and the Beautiful actors are paid when the show is televised in countries outside the United States.[6]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Guns of Diablo | Molly | |
| 1967 | The Gnome-Mobile | Airline Stewardess | |
| 1974 | The Towering Inferno | Lorrie | Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year - Actress |
| 1976 | The Moneychangers | Margot Bracken | TV miniseries |
| 1976 | The Gumball Rally | Alice | |
| 1978 | Anatomy of a Seduction | Maggie Kane | TV movie |
| 1979 | Women in White | Dr. Rebecca Dalton | TV miniseries |
| 1982 | Money on the Side | Karen Gordon | TV movie |
| 1983 | Shaft of Love | Dr. Rose | TV movie |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Burke's Law | Lily's Secretary | Episode: "Who Killed Harris Crown?" |
| 1964 | Slattery's People | Nancy Rossman | Episode: "Question: What Are You Doing Out There, Waldo?" |
| 1964 | Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea | Katie/The Sister | 3 episodes |
| 1965 | Death Valley Days | Jenny Hardy | Episode: "Birthright" |
| 1965 | Ben Casey | Elinor Cabot | Episode: "A Nightingale Named Nathan" |
| 1966-1975 | Days of Our Lives | Laura Spencer Horton | Contract role Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series |
| 1966 | Felony Squad | Stewardess | Episode: "The Immaculate Killer" |
| 1966 | The Time Tunnel | Louise Neal | Episode: "The Day the Sky Fell In" |
| 1966 | The Green Hornet | Janet Prescott | Episode: "Trouble for Prince Charming" |
| 1981 | Dallas | Leslie Stewart | 11 episodes |
| 1987-2012 | The Bold and the Beautiful | Stephanie Forrester | Contract role Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (2000, 2002-2003) |
| 1993 | The Young and the Restless | Stephanie Forrester | 1 episode |
| 2004 | Hope & Faith | Laura Levisetti | 2 episodes |
Awards (won)
- (2000, 2002, 2003) Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for The Bold and the Beautiful
- (1975) Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Days of Our Lives
References
- ^ http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/susan-flannery/bio/194896
- ^ http://movies.msn.com/celebrities/celebrity/susan-flannery/
- ^ Susan Flannery online interview
- ^ http://www.tvguide.com/News/Susan-Flannery-Leaves-Bold-and-Beautiful-1052131.aspx
- ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/20/susan-flannery-leaving-the-bold-and-the-beautiful_n_1813679.html
- ^ http://www.welovesoaps.net/2009/12/susan-flannery-wls-interview-part-three.html