Susan Lucci

Susan Lucci was born on December 23, 1946, in Scarsdale, New York. She grew up in Garden City, developing an interest in performing from a young age through voice lessons, dance, and community theater. She maintained a strong academic record, participating in honors classes and school musicals, and graduated with honors from Garden City High School. Subsequently, she attended Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theater arts. After college, Lucci pursued acting in New York City, taking on various roles including Off-Broadway understudy work, day-player parts on soap operas, and extra work for films.

In 1969, at the age of 23, Lucci auditioned for the new soap opera “All My Children,” securing the role of Erica Kane. This role, which she portrayed from 1970 to 2011, became a significant part of her career and is widely recognized as one of television’s most iconic female characters. Her performance earned her numerous Daytime Emmy Award nominations, with her first nomination in 1978. After 18 nominations, she won the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series award in 1999, which was met with a four-minute standing ovation. Her consistent nominations and eventual win garnered significant media attention and established her as a prominent figure in daytime television history.

Beyond “All My Children,” Lucci expanded her career into primetime television, film, and theater. She made guest appearances on shows like “Dallas,” “Hot in Cleveland,” and “Army Wives.” In 1990, she hosted “Saturday Night Live.” Her film credits include roles in “Joy” (2015) and the upcoming “Outcome” (2026). Lucci also ventured into Broadway, playing Annie Oakley in a revival of “Annie Get Your Gun” in 1999. In 2013, she was inducted into the Ride of Fame, and in 2015, she was honored as a Disney Legend. She received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 50th Daytime Emmy Awards in 2023, acknowledging her contributions to television.